Embrace the Sunshine
We're getting outside again this week, and this time it's to embrace the sunshine!
When I think back to summers as a kid, those memories are filled with sunlight and time spent outdoors.
And, sunshine sometimes got a bad rap.
If you're in your 20s or 30s, you probably grew up hearing that sunlight was bad for you. Then you were lathered down in sunscreen before you could even think about going outside in the summer. My mom was an oncology nurse, so you know I was given that heavy-duty 50+ SPF.
While there are measures we should be aware of to safely enjoy the sun, we don't need to cut out the sun completely or worry about sunscreen every time we go out. (Healthy boundaries, am I right?)
As adults, many of us don't get outside that much. We spend most of our days indoors, working at our desks, and taking breaks in the break-room, in our cars or at a picnic table next to asphalt.
We miss so many of the joys of sunshine, and so many of its benefits, when we don't make time for it.
Embracing the sunshine, especially this summer when it's abundant, can be so good for you:
Getting just a few minutes of sunshine first thing can help wake up your body! With electricity, streaming services and the internet, we have the ability to stay awake later and work longer hours. While that's great for things like staying up to read a good book, it's been detrimental to other things—namely, your circadian rhythm.
Taking yourself outside first thing in the morning can help wake up your body, which can also make it easier to wind down and go to sleep at night. This helps your body move more like how it was meant to with the sun's cycle.
And, you don't need to be out there for long. Just 5–15 minutes in the sun can get you going for the day, and you don't even need sunscreen for that small amount of time! So, grab your water, coffee or matcha, and head outside in the A.M.
Sun exposure can help reduce stress. We're only on our second Summer of Wellness practice, and we already have two ways to reduce stress? I'd say this is going to be a relaxing summer!
Sunlight exposure is our #1 source for Vitamin D, which helps with a host of bodily functions. Since sunlight in the morning can help regulate your circadian rhythm, this means you're probably sleeping at more regular times and resting better—which can also lead to a more stable mood and less stress.
A 2013 study also suggests that sunlight could be linked to serotonin, which is the chemical in your brain that boosts your mood. (Exercise can also produce this essential chemical.) Serotonin is also responsible for helping with digestion, stress, sleep and more.
Vitamin D, which your body produces when exposed to sunlight, supports bone health. According to the National Institute on Aging, one in five women over 50 are affected by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones and increases their break-ability. As young women, that might not seem so important now, but we'll be glad for good bone health as we age!
Both Vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise (ahem—walking and strength training) can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis and other bone and muscle-related issues. As you think about having children, pursuing a physical fitness goal, going through menopause, or even the potential for an injury, supporting your bones and muscles now can be crucial in recovering well later.
Here's a bright idea! You can pack a double-whammy with your wellness practices this week. Take your walk outside in the morning or after dinner, and you'll get the benefits of both a walk and the sunshine.
Want these Summer of Wellness practices sent directly to your inbox each week?
Each Sunday now through July, we'll drop into your inbox with:
a simple (and fun!) wellness practice,
the research behind why it's good for you,
how to implement it throughout your week,
and additional resources to help you get the most out of your Summer of Wellness practices, including new FREE movement videos hitting the SU Collective each week!
By August 1, your proverbial beach bag will be full of nine wellness practices that you can take with you wherever you go this summer. Join the fun with us: