Forming a habit can take anywhere from 21 to 36 days. A lot of people dive into the season of skin by trying to abruptly change their lifestyle. However, a sudden change can set your body up for disaster and your for failure. The following are tips on how to slowly form healthy habits that will benefit you when the warm months arrive.

1. Exercising in the morning

In North Carolina, summer temperatures can easily reach more than 90 degrees. Even sitting outside during the afternoon can cause heat exhaustion if you are not aware. Therefore, the best time to get an outdoor workout in is early in the morning when temperatures are still relatively cool.

Today, you can practice waking up an hour before you usually wake up for class or work. Even if you do not decide to exercise at that time right now, your mind and body will become accustomed to awaking earlier by the time June rolls by.

Photo by Quan Siler

2. Eating fresh foods

Something about summer just screams “fresh food.” Whether you are munching a seafood salad by the ocean, eating cool fruit salad at a BBQ or chowing a grilled corn cob at the state fair, fresh food is the theme of the season.

In order to break the habit of prepackaged, fried or fast foods that we make our comfort foods during the winter months, begin adding fresh produce back to your diet. Try to aim for one raw meal a day. This could be a colorful salad, yummy green shake or homemade blended soup.

3. Drinking lots of water

Rather you noticed or not, humans sweat all day. However, during the warm months, the amount of sweat that we produce doubles. This is why doctors suggest adding two or three servings of water a day during spring and summer.

This being said, many people are not receiving the adequate amount of liquids in their diet in the first place. In order to prepare for summer, you need to set up a drinking schedule. An easy way to remember to drink enough water is drink eight ounces upon waking and going to sleep along with eight ounces with every meal you eat.

4. Getting a full night’s rest

Nights are longer and days are shorter during the warm months, which sets up the perfect scenario to log in your eight to ten hours of sleep a night. However, if your sleep pattern is still disturbed by your hectic school or work schedule, then you may lose the precious sleep hours you need.

Although school has yet to let out for the summer, it is smart to practice good sleeping skills as soon as possible. A good way to get enough sleep is to write your sleep time in your planner and follow by it strictly. Also avoid electronics including televisions, phones and computers an hour before bed because the glowing light disrupts our natural day/night sleep rhythm.

5. Dodging allergens

Spring and summer is time to be carefree and enjoy the outdoors. Yet, it is the outdoors that can put damper on your vacation days. Ragweed, blooming flowers and loose flying dust can cause Hay Fever and other allergic reactions.

While completely avoiding a sniffle or two during the season may be appear to be a challenge, there are activities that you can begin to include into your day that will ward off many of the allergic reactions.

The Neti Pot uses a salt water mixture to flush the dust and pollen from the sinuses and also keep the mucus membranes moist. Set an alarm on your phone for the Neti Pot. Using it once in the morning and once at night can save you from a prescription of Clarityn.