How to Have the Healthiest, Adventurous and Best Summer Yet

With finals in full swing and the semester coming to a close, summer is finally near, which means more sun, beach and vacation! Each year we strive for the perfect summer, so why not make that a reality this year? There are so many new trends and healthy ways to keep active and maintain a “summer body” in style. Temptation is everywhere, with delicious ice cream and milkshakes to cool us off, but there are ways to find a balance between avoiding and enjoying them. Start your summer off the right and healthy way and make it one to remember with these helpful tips!

1. Eating Healthy

The concept of having a ‘summer bod’ is always a topic of conversation. In order to keep it maintained, it is important to continue to eat healthy and feel confident throughout the summer and rest of the year. Now, this idea of eating healthy and maintaining weight is a mindset and cannot happen overnight. If it is forced, it won’t happen as easily. Eating healthy during the summer isn’t as hard as it seems. Fruit is now in season, which means you can substitute fruit as a sweet tooth craving instead of having a milkshake or other sugary foods. You can also be creative with fruits, especially watermelon. Make healthy eating fun by getting together with friends, creating fun fruit concoctions and eating them in the heat outside. To give you a better picture, think of how artsy the Pinterest or Tumblr creations look and bring that to life. Summer is about feeling good, so it is important for your body to feel good by putting healthy food in it. But, of course, if you’re on vacation, having a milkshake or two doesn’t hurt!

2. Hiking/Running/Walking Outside

Since it is finally warm and sunny outside, hiking is the best and most fun form of exercise. You can get together with a group of friends, or even hike alone, and just enjoy the nature around. While hiking, you can easily walk for miles and not realize how much distance is covered. At the end of the trail, the view is amazing and breathtaking. From experience, the end result of the view is gorgeous and definitely worth the hike. The pictures are also always a plus and you feel so accomplished afterwards. Running outside your neighborhood or town is the best way to free your mind as well. Just being around your neighborhood and seeing people you know or haven’t seen in a while can definitely become a good conversation starter. And, of course, afterwards, you can treat yourself to a delicious protein smoothie.

3. Concerts and Music Festivals

Outdoor summer concerts are by far the best experiences. My personal favorite are outdoor country concerts, where you are surrounded by people who love the music as much as you do. The environment is peaceful and the sun is setting just right. Of course, country concerts aren’t the only summer concert option. Any time spent outside listening to music is a time well spent and definitely key to a great summer. Outdoor music festivals are a great way to experience new music and vibe with different people. Whether it is a jazz festival or a Coachella-like music festival, the experience is something that will last a lifetime.

4. Spending time with Friends and Family

Being home from college over the summer means you can finally spend time with family and friends from home. Use this opportunity of being home to catch up with your parents and siblings. Family will always be there for you, so why not thank them for everything they have done? Hometown friends have been with you since the beginning, and it is always a plus to be in the same town again after coming back from school.

5. Living in the Moment

The most important tip for having the best summer is to live in the moment. This means that whichever event you are at, be it a concert or getting food with friends, to put your phone down and to just enjoy the people around you. Living in the moment means to enjoy each other’s company, without the distraction of technology in the background. It’s hard to not have your phone on you constantly, but in order to create memories and have the time of your life before another year of school, you should be in the moment and enjoy life. I am definitely guilty of looking at my phone while being with my friends or family, but I try my best to catch myself and join in on the conversation. Live in the moment and create the best memories that will last a lifetime.

These aren’t the only ways to have the best summer yet. Remember, summer only comes around once a year and it is so important to enjoy these four months of freedom, for the most part, with the people around you!

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• family
• friends
• fun
• healthy
• summer
• vacation