Sweet Summer Sixteen

“Sweet Summer Sixteen”

By: Kayla Denise Thomas

With the summer season knocking on our doors, it is time to get your plans in order to go hard in the summer season.

Everyone wants to have an eventful summer with the weather being warm (hot) and nice, students are out, and of course, beaches and day parties are in full effect.

So, with it already being May, what are those top things to get done and remember before the summer is officially here? Well here’s a mixture of fitness, beauty, and some other items to get your summer started on the right note.

1. Hit the Gym

In all honesty, coaches say you should have already started hitting the gym up before this time but hey, it’s never too late to switch up some things and get on track to getting your body the way you want it! As anyone would tell you, it all starts with nutrition, while it’s not easy it’s awfully rewarding.

1. Sunscreen

Please for the love of summer, wear sunscreen! Sunscreen is so important out here, I do not want any of you out here with any risk for skin cancer. Knowing the level of SPF you need to have in order to keep your skin protected. The key is also reapplying as directed.

1. Liquids

By liquids I am primarily speaking of water. It is very easy to get caught up in having so much fun that you forget to keep yourself hydrated. It’s no fun passing out in the heat.

1. Know the Signs of Dehydration

This is very important, this is something I did not pay close attention to these signs last summer and I was mildly dehydrated while working my summer camp last June. Note: Nose bleeds are a big sign.

1. Moisturize

I can not stress this enough. The sun can have damaging effects on your skin, big time. (See #2) making sure your skin is moisturized is important, especially for your face, having a good moisturizer with some SPF in it is good just make sure it’s light. For the rest of your body a good absorbing lotion is great.

1. Chapstick

I think this in itself is self-explanatory. You don’t want to be out here living it up during summer sixteen with chapped lips.

1. A Cooler 

The pool and day party hopping can be real, keep those refreshments on ice! Personally, I want a Yeti cooler but those are expensive.

1. Chargers/Portable Charger

With all the battery life that is going to be killed over the summer, you don’t want to miss any of the action and fun going on with your crew. Don’t be the one whose phone isn’t charged up enough for snapchat. Take it from someone whose phone stays dying at the wrong time.

1. Enjoy the Moment

Sometimes we get so caught up in documenting everything for social media that we miss out on the conversation and camaraderie with friends. I can assure your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds can wait and your friends will thank you.

1. Be Careful with What You Eat

Trust me, summertime can mess up your stomach. Being out in the heat for extended periods of time can easily sour some food items on your stomach. This is especially true with mayonnaise.

This is just some things I find the most important with having a fun summer season. If the sun is out, grab some friends, grab some drinks and enjoy the times.

A Stresser’s Guide to Stress

Imagine thinking every little thing in your world is at odds. Everything that should be working well, doesn’t. What does this most likely lead to? STRESS.

At twenty years old I know a little but more than I feel I should about stress. It is something that disrupts your entire element and psyche. It honestly makes you feel so out of yourself that you can feel like no matter what it is, you feel that it 99.9% of the time will go wrong.

I categorize myself as a recovering stresser, someone who often can have a relapse but doesn’t stress as much as they use to. Here are some things I picked up through the first-hand experience that can help you or someone else in your life that is struggling with a stress session.

1. Don’t tell a stressed person they have no reason to be stressed

While on the outside it doesn’t seem like the end of the world or a big deal, to that person it IS a big deal. To them it is life or death, sink or float and telling them they have no reason to be is more of a hindrance than a help.

1. Don’t add to the stress

Just like #1, just because it may not seem like a big deal to you doesn’t mean it isn’t to them. This goes along with unintentionally adding to the stress. You may not mean to but it can be easy to accidentally make the stress worse.

1. Remind them they aren’t alone

Stressing about some things can easily turn into a small bout of depression if you only stress all day. When I went through my long-term depression, I felt really alone. Each situation is different of course but it can never hurt to remind the person they aren’t facing this adversity alone.

1. Relax

This is can be hard. Trying to relax with so many different things on your mind but it can also be the most helpful. When I finally told my parents everything I was facing, we took a family trip to my favorite beach place about a week later. Being near the water was very calming and even helped fill my mind with optimism. Other ways to relax can be taking a yoga class, hanging out with people who understand your situation, or even doing things you enjoy that remind you of before the conflict.

1. Come to Terms

Let’s face it, we all have the tendency to stress over things that are beyond our control. It’s a sad but true reality. Something that is helpful is coming to terms with the things we are stressing over that we can not control the outcome of. Once you let go of the things you can’t control, the ones you can control become clearer.

While every case with stress and everyone dealing with stress handles it differently but here are some tips that can help you destress and find some inner peace amongst yourself.