5 experts on how you can prioritise self-care this summer

Summer is the time for fun outdoors and dinner parties with friends, but don’t forget to invest some energy in taking care of yourself. Here are five simple self-care tips courtesy of our AIA Vitality family. 

Combining your workouts with some sun time is the perfect way to stay fit and acquire your daily dose of vitamin D – which over 30 per cent of Australian adults are deficient in.

“My self-care summer tip is to get outside, enjoy the sun and soak in some vitamin D,” says Laura. “Try doing your normal workouts in the sunshine – I love doing my Keep It Cleaner workouts outside. But remember, whenever you’re exposing your skin to the sun, slap on some sunscreen or put a hat on.

Summer is also a great time to conduct a skin check. AIA members can earn points for doing a skin self-exam at the link – just make sure you’re logged into your AIA membership account.

Warmer weather means family, friends and food. With lots of occasions to celebrate over summer, it can be easy to indulge yourself and – as Marika Day explains – that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“If you’re like me and love food, it’s absolutely okay to indulge,” Marika says. “There’s no need to be so strict with yourself all the time. It’s all about finding the right balance that works for you and your life and feeling comfortable with the decisions you’re making.”

Did you know you can practice mental self-care while you’re on a jog? Mindful running is a technique that connects your mind with your body, allowing you to eliminate distractions and meditate while you run.

“Start by focusing on your breath and your body from head to toe,” Sam says. “Don’t think of your training objectives or your personal records. Just visualise the connections between your body and mind as you run – it’s about you in space. Remember that the purpose of the run is to listen to what your body is trying to tell you.”   

The summer heat means hydration is a top priority. Whenever you head outside, always make sure you have some water on hand.

“Having water nearby is especially important during hot weather, so make sure you’ve always got plenty with you whenever you head outdoors,” Annabelle says.

“My little tip to spice up your boring old water: try popping your favourite fresh or frozen summer fruits into your bottle for some extra vitamins and deliciousness.”

If you follow a regular training plan, it can be difficult to give yourself space to take some time off. However, it might be just what your body needs.

“We’re not robots, and we don’t have to meticulously stick to a training schedule all the time,” Michael explains. “The body is extremely receptive to relaxing – even if that means substituting a workout for a walk outside or taking an extra rest day from the gym. Training shouldn’t be a rigorous, monotonous program. We’re in summer – we can be active, but we should also enjoy ourselves at the same time.”.