How to Recharge Your Mind And Body Over Summer Break Nov 21, 2022 Share Let’s be frank: the last three years haven’t been particularly easy. But with lockdowns behind us and the world opening up again, 2023 is looking pretty sweet! Summer is the perfect time to relax, recharge, and start feeling your best again. If you’re lucky enough to get some time off over the festive season, use it wisely! Whether you’re heading off on holiday or staying home, it’s worth investing in a few healthy lifestyle changes. Here are our top tips for seeing in the new year in the best shape possible! Get into nature Whether it’s the bush, the beach, or the mountains, being in nature can do wonders for your health. Clinical studies show that regularly spending time in a natural environment has positive benefits for mental health and cognitive function, and may even reduce the risk of several chronic diseases.[1] And no matter where you live in New Zealand, you’re never far from trees and water - so get amongst it this summer! Dive into a book Reading a book offers so much more than just reading social media. A good story - whether fiction or nonfiction - can whisk you away to another time and place, stimulating important neural connections in your brain and improving cognitive function. Ask your friends for recommendations or join a book club. Prefer audiobooks? No problem - researchers have found that listening to a book stimulates the same cognitive and emotional areas of your brain as reading from a page! Ditch the tech Take a digital detox! Try to only use your laptop or phone when you really need them. Or, set aside an hour a day of screen-free time. One study found that people who underwent a “social media detoxification” reported that they felt more positive, experienced less anxiety, and enjoyed better sleep.[2] You’ll be amazed at just how much there is to do when you’re not scrolling - especially if you encourage the rest of your friends and family to put down their phones as well! Clean up your diet Indulging in festive fodder is fine - but try to balance it out with some quality nutrition! The abundance of summer fruits and vegetables means you’ve no excuse for skipping your 5+ a day, and your body will certainly thank you for the nutrients. Snack on fruit instead of sweets, bring a salad to the barbecue, and make a habit of smoothies. Check out some of our healthy smoothie recipes including some great healthy smoothies for weight loss, if that’s one of your goals. Get your gut functioning Has 2022 left you feeling a bit bloated? Bowels a little sluggish? It could be time for a fibre boost. The friendly bacteria in your gut play a major role in almost every bodily system: digestion, metabolism, hormone production, immunity, and even your brain function![3] These bacteria depend on dietary fibre as their main source of “food”, so you’ll be doing your whole body a favour by increasing your intake. Adding extra fibre to your daily diet is easy. You can toss some Metamucil Multi-Health Fibre into a shake or smoothie, or take a couple of capsules like Lifestream Fibre Biotics or Good Health Multi Fibre. Give your brain a workout When was the last time you did a crossword or a jigsaw puzzle? Research suggests that the neural stimulation from these “brain games” can sharpen your mental focus and possibly even reduce your risk of cognitive decline as you age.[4] Get your brain into gear this summer by swapping the TV for Sudoku. Take up painting or clay sculpture. Encourage the kids to join you in an arts and crafts project. Support your structures Collagen makes up about 30% of your body’s total protein content, including most of your structural components: ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and bone. But as we get older, our collagen production slows down. Wrinkles start appearing and joints stiffen. Good news: you can top up your body’s collagen stores with yummy collagen creamer! Just add a scoop to your morning coffee or hot drink. Collagen creamer is also a great addition to those healthy smoothies we mentioned above! Work up a sweat If you’re serious about recharging your body, physical activity is key! Exercise boosts circulation and can help to lower your blood pressure while burning excess calories and fat. You’ll also enjoy an uptick in serotonin production, which can improve your mood and sleep. Whether it’s a jog in the park, a swim at the beach, or a few rounds of backyard cricket, your entire being will benefit from regular exercise. Make it a habit! You’ll find everything you need to relax and rejuvenate this summer at Bargain Chemist. Pop into one of our stores or check us out online. Oh, and grab some more inspiration from our health and wellness blog! [1] https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/9/4790 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7717533/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8719029/ [4] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2598835 Share Previous articleNext article