Playbook’s Summer Wellness Guide: 4 Tips for a Healthy Body & Mind

It’s officially summer, and that means it’s time to hit the beach, dust off the barbecue grill, and soak up some vitamin D! Taking care of your mind and body is essential year-round, but I find my mental and physical health tend to thrive in the summer. There’s just something about the warm, fresh air that lifts my spirits. If you’re looking for a summer wellness guide to stay happy and healthy this season, look no further. Check out our tips below!

1. Move Your Body

Switch up your typical workouts and get moving outdoors! Exercising outside provides major health benefits — it’s a natural antidepressant and is a great way to socialize with friends — so when it comes to your summer workouts, consider taking them al fresco.

Here are a few great ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer:

• Take a walk! Walking is good exercise and has great physical and mental health benefits.

• Go for a run. We recommend this running program for beginners, which includes several outdoor running exercises.

• Grab a jump rope. Jumping rope is an excellent way to stay fit while enjoying the great outdoors. Plus, you can take a jump rope anywhere!

• Try a summer workout program. No matter whether you like working out at home or at the gym, check out the following summer workout programs in the Playbook app: Brynley Joyner’s SPICY4SUMMA program, Demi Bagby’s Summer Shred program, and Ida Jemina’s Summer Challenge.

• Work your core. Before hitting the sand, strengthen your core with one of the following workout programs: Chelsea Williams’ Core Power challenge, Little T’s Ab Workouts, and Danny Saltos’ TWD 6-Week Beach Ready.

2. Nourish Your Mind

Your mind deserves just as much attention as your body, so make sure to prioritize your mental health as well. While exercise and mental health go hand in hand, meditation is a great way to nourish your mind and can help to manage stress, improve your sleep quality, lower your blood pressure, and more.

When it comes to caring for your mental health this summer, check out the following meditation and mindfulness programs in the Playbook app:

• Sound Bath Meditation by Sadie Jane

• Me, Myself & Meditation by Morgan Tyler

• Meditations by Talia Sutra

• Mindfulness & Motivation by Juice & Toya

• Meditations by Kayla Nielsen

• Morning Meditation by Playbook

3. Practice Self-Care

Self-care knows no season, but focusing on your wellbeing during the summer months means staying safe while you soak up the sun, remaining hydrated, and more!

Here are a few great ways to set aside some “me time”:

• Amp up your skincare routine for the season with Nina Agdal’s beauty tips — including skincare for sun kissed makeup, a post-workout no-makeup beauty routine, and more! Morgan Tyler also offers beauty and wellness tips on her app, which includes her routines for glowing and beautifully bronzed skin.

• Get your daily dose of vitamin D by getting outside as much as possible. Doing so can regulate your mood and may even help you maintain a healthy weight.

• Always wear SPF — whether you’re heading outdoors or not. Taking care of yourself means prepping your skin and protecting it from harsh summer rays. Learn how to layer your sunscreen and makeup properly for the best protection before you hit the beach!

• Stay hydrated! It’s key to your overall health and is arguably the easiest form of self-care there is.

• Catch up on your Zzz’s. It’s easy to spread yourself too thin during the summertime, but it’s important to get enough sleep every night.

4. Fuel Yourself

Summer is my absolute favorite season for cooking, and seasonal produce is a staple on my table all summer long. Eating fresher foods just seems simpler when it’s warm out, doesn’t it?

Here are a few quick ways to plate up tasty summer meals:

• Learn how to build the perfect summer salad for an easy protein-packed lunch or dinner. Not a fan of greens? Try these lettuce-free salads instead.

• Dish up low-calorie summer veggies for meatless Monday. Even the pickiest of eaters likes zucchini bread for breakfast, right?

• Blend up a healthy smoothie or green juice recipe to cool down while consuming a huge dose of your daily nutrition.

• Treat yourself! When the craving for a soft serve cone hits, blend up Brynley Joyner’s Banana Mango Nice Cream — a healthy, fruit-packed ice cream alternative — at home.