Summer will soon be in full swing and it’s the perfect time to soak up all that sunny, vibrant energy. We’ve put together our top five handy tips to help you focus on your wellbeing and overall health, at a time where it might take a backseat.
1. Make keeping active part of family fun
Make the most of the nice, dry weather and get outside! Hit the playgrounds, get some frisbee in the park going, or grab the opportunity for the Kiwi summer classic - a game of beach cricket, think about the chances for some family connection and togetherness that have being active at their centre. And it's not about who's winning, being super competitive or trying to be the next Mitchell Satner - keep it fun first and foremost. Sport New Zealand is keen to remind parents about the value that play can have for everyone's wellbeing - listen here for some great and easy ideas.
2. Take your BBQ game to the next level
When the temperature starts to rise, summer BBQs become an essential part of every Kiwi household. They are a great way to enjoy the fresh air, and by tweaking what you cook and choosing healthy things to grill, a way to make a difference to your health. Everyone has their own go-to place to find recipes (TikTok cucumber salad anyone?), but here at The Y we're a big fan of NZ Registered Nutritionist Claire Turnbull - check out some of her great recipes on her website here.
Plus, this time of year brings a massive variety of fruit and vegetables into the shops and everyone's gardens - choosing to eat what's in season is an excellent hack to eat healthy on a budget.
3. Be smart about the heat and the water
It can be really easy to underestimate the impact that being out in the hot sun and not drinking enough water can have. Planning ahead by using the early mornings and late evenings to your advantage can go a long way to avoid dehydration and sunburn, so you're not spending the next week regretting that careless 20 minutes in the heat. Having a 'sunsmart pack' that's always with you and your family - hats, shades, sunscreen, and maybe a chilly bin full of drink bottles of water will mean that you're never caught out.
And if you're hitting the beach, lake or river when it's hot - New Zealand's water can be unpredictable. Every family should be familiar with the Water Safety Code - read it here.
4. Spare a thought for your mental health too
Christmas can bring a lot of unspoken pressure to be 'perfect' - finding the perfect present, making the best Christmas dinner ever, being happy and creating special memories all the time. Life isn't always like that - Christmas can also bring financial worries, family tension, loneliness, stress, anxiety and a lot of complicated feelings! Your mental health is just as important as your physical health - be kind to yourself if you're feeling less than festive. The Mental Health Foundation has put together some expert advice for anyone with worries on their shoulders this season - read here for some great tips and support.
5. Set yourself up for 2025 success
Holidays are a time for letting go, chilling out, relaxing, switching off... and all the other ways we can say 'taking the pressure off'. With a bit more time up your sleeve away from the commute or the school run, think about small, achievable ways you could put in place some great habits that you could carry into 2025. The best habits are ones that you don't even notice that you're doing after a while - taking the stairs instead of the lift, choosing water over soft drinks, catching up with a friend over a walk instead of a coffee. There's always a lot of chat about setting New Year's resolutions and how many people achieve them - rather than put that pressure on yourself, grab the small wins and build from there.
6. Not all health advice is created equally
From TikTok to Instagram to blogs to good old-fashioned magazines - there is so much health and fitness chat out there. It's really important to find information that you can trust and has your best interests at heart - info can go from misleading to downright dangerous. When you see something - take a second to think about why it's being shared - is someone being sponsored by a product? Are they qualified to be giving out this advice? Before making massive changes - speak to your GP and other medical professionals and check if what you're planning is right for you.
We hope that these tips will give you some ideas, inspiration, or just pause for thought! The Y has been looking after Kiwis since 1855 - and we want you to thrive in 2025.