Over the summer, many of us feel a drive to become healthier and to feel more confident in ourselves. During the winter we can swathe ourselves in blankets at home, but with all the socialising you do during the summer, you may feel some pressure to be on top form as you get out there in the world. Here are some tips on how to improve your health this summer.

Get Moving

Why not take up a new form of exercise this summer? Nobody’s saying you need to start jogging in the midday heat and slowly roasting yourself under the sun, but it’s a great time of year to get out of the house, get moving, and to feel your body becoming stronger. You don’t have to join a gym or spend a lot of money to get healthier – remember that it isn’t all about losing weight, and it’s much more important to improve your overall health. For a full-body workout, why not try Yoga With Adriene? Yoga will help improve your body’s core strength and tone your muscles. Swimming is also an excellent thing to do – as the water supports the weight of your body, it won’t exacerbate any old injuries or problems.

Cut Out Those Cigarettes

A lot of people give up bad habits in January, but let’s face it: it can be extremely difficult to quit something in the most dreary month of the year, when everyone is talking excitedly about the resolutions they’ve made and then – a few days later – more miserably about how they’ve already broken those resolutions. When it comes to quitting smoking, it’s best to do it immediately – don’t wait until a new week or even a new hour. Make the decision, and do it. Don’t think you have to go cold turkey – try nicotine patches and gum that will enable you to reduce any crankiness or cravings. You could also try vaping – this is much better for you and it can be great for ex-smokers who find it hard to know what to do with their hands. Sites like Nova Vapes offer a selection of vaping flavours that are definitely all more delicious than actual cigarettes. Quitting smoking is hard and the best way to not give in is to keep yourself out of those situations – don’t go into the smoking area at a bar, don’t wait while your friend is smoking outside. Focus on yourself and your own health.

Drink Less Alcohol

During the summer there are a lot of parties and BBQs and so you might find yourself drinking more alcohol than usual. Of course it’s great to have a few drinks – and a few more on special occasions – but why not try to keep those units down as much as you can? You’re advised not to drink more than 14 units a week, spread over several days, so try to have a couple of drinks and leave it there. You should also make sure that you drink plenty of water – alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body and your hangovers will be considerably worse if you haven’t had any water. 

Staying healthy this summer doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult – just cut down on the things that are bad for you, and start moving a little more. You can’t go wrong!

We’re proud to bring you this feature in association with Nova Vapes. For more tips and advice, please pay a visit to our lifestyle page.