Summer is a wonderful, warm and fun time. It is a time for you, family and perhaps friends to travel.  Vacation days are filled with beaches, sightseeing, outdoor barbecues and parties.  

Whether you’re traveling to exotic places or just having dinner out, summer time is often when our schedules and everyday habits go into a spin.  This is the right time to remember good habits and it is important to implement certain survival techniques to make sure all of your hard work does not go to waste.

The first really important step is to remember to take time to think;  it is a source of power.  Everyone knows how it feels to daydream. Place yourself in that state of mind and go with the flow.

When you have a particular event in your future that may challenge you to change your healthy habits, plan the event in your mind.  If you know there will be food that isn’t included in your healthy diet, eat a nice fresh salad before leaving your home.  Maybe you will want to take a fresh fruit salad or vegetable tray to the event.   

See yourself getting ready to go, looking forward to the fun and excitement, meeting with friends, etc. Picture yourself when the event is over, and feel the pleasure of being in control of the choices you made, imagine how easy and effortless it was for you.  Especially, feel the pleasure of having a great time and try to sense the attention you received by looking and feeling your absolute best.

Extensive research has shown that seeing yourself performing the behavior increases your comfort and helps to ease it into everyday life.  So spend some time patting yourself on the back for being successful and allowing yourself to take charge of your life.

Don’t forget water. It is very easy to become dehydrated in the warm, active summer days. Plan to keep your water intake up during outside activities in the hot summer months.

Remember to play and to move your body. Exercise in moderation is key here. It will improve the energy you experience in your body and will help to relieve stress in your mind.  It also reinforces the fact that you’re a healthy person who makes healthy choices.   

Use your wits by planning to meet those challenges of special summer experiences, and come out stronger and healthier with your healthy habits still intact.