This week officially marks the beginning of Summer, and a long, hot Summer it is promising to be! We are lucky enough to have some of the finest weather in New Zealand over the holiday months, so it’s important to make the most of it while also ensuring that you look after your body. There are a few things I do to stay healthy inside and out during the wonderful warmer months – read on for more information!

Fresh, Local, Organic

My number one piece of advice for keeping healthy throughout the Summer is eating well. It can be easy to indulge in all of the delicious foods available in the lead-up to, and wake of Christmas and the New Year, but maintaining a balance is essential to looking after yourself. There are so many beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables in season at this time of year, so swap the big breakfast for a homemade muesli with fresh fruit, organic yoghurt and honeycomb, or exchange that soft drink for a carrot and beetroot juice. Berries, apricots, watermelon, asparagus and avocado are all in right now.

Skincare

The more we are exposed to the sun, the more important it is to protect your skin and keep it hydrated. Applying sunscreen should become a part of your morning beauty regime during summer – choose an oil-free one for a natural look, or simply replace your foundation with a tinted sunscreen. As well as this, you need to moisturise your face and body at least twice daily. My go-to products are Xtendlife’s body lotion and day and night creams. They are loaded with nutrients which work to repair and rejuvenate the skin in a light form. Shop these amazing items here. And remember – drink lots of water!

Fitness

There is no excuse for avoiding exercise when the weather is beautiful day after day. I recommend biking as the perfect form of exercise for all fitness levels – if you are just getting into things, take your bike for a ride around your city’s parks or waterfront; or if you are more experienced embark on one of the many trails around the country. Water sports are another fun, fitting way to work your body. Think swimming, kayaking and snorkelling.

Health Drinks

These beauties should be drank year-round, however there is no time like the present to make these a regular part of your diet. Smoothies are a great meal alternative, as you can incorporate oats and seeds into them to fill you up. Juices are a wonderful refresher and full of important nutrients, so be sure to add these to your list of things-to-get. For a simple, healthy drink at home, I choose green tea. Packed full of minerals, antioxidants and nutrients, green tea cleanses the body and assists in fat loss and brain function, as well as lowering the risk of cancer. Available in a range of flavours and in hot and iced form, green tea is the ideal year-round healing drink. I love Green Tea X50, a natural energy drink which is completely free of artificial colours, flavours and sugars. Get yours here!

Relax the Mind

As well as keeping our bodies healthy, we need to keep our minds healthy. Make sure you give yourself some time to rest this Summer, whether it’s reading your favourite magazine, listening to some music like Natalie Wood below, or doing the daily crossword in the paper. Get off your smart phone or tablet and engage your mind in other ways for a period each day – you will be amazed at the difference it makes!