Three tips to maintain a productive & healthy summer
Vasudha Bisani, Marketing Intern, View Inc.

Three tips to maintain a productive & healthy summer

The summer solstice on June 21st marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is the unofficial start to our summer season. During the summer, you’re exposed to more hours of sunlight, which is fabulous if you’re on vacation - but can be not so great if you’re sitting in the office with glare and heat beating down on you at your workstation.

More sunlight also means less darkness, which can play havoc with your sleep cycle and affect your overall health and wellbeing. However, when you’re well prepared, midsummer is a great time to start the day early and reap the benefits of more natural sunlight.

Here are 3 tips to enjoy this summer, while staying healthy and productive too:

1. Lighten Up: - While traditional windows let sunlight in, they often come with the uncomfortable side effects of heat and glare. This forces people to shut their blinds or curtains during the day, disconnecting them from nature and the outdoors. However, by investing in a smart windows, you can cut out the unwanted heat and glare and still enjoy the light and views. By avoiding blinds and shutters and letting in optimized light, you’ll be surprised by how much your productivity can improve. According to a study conducted by Cornell Professor Dr. Alan Hedge, workers in office environments with smart windows reported a 51 percent drop in the incidence of eyestrain and a 63 percent drop in the incidence of headaches, both of which can detract from productivity. If you don’t have smart windows yet – or worse – have no windows at all in your office, be sure to frequently step outside and enjoy some sunshine. You will return to work better for it.

2. Stay hydrated during the day: - Drinking plenty of water during the day will help you keep cool and refreshed through the evening. We all know, that coffee or soda can seem so much more delicious; however, caffeine can dehydrate you and further cause sleep disturbances, so be sure to consume them wisely.

3. Exercise Comfortably, even in the heat: - Just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising. Try some different activities like water sports, swimming, or indoor boot camps to avoid the sun when it is the strongest. This will not only keep you healthy, but also improve your efficiency for the day.

Midsummer is a great time to focus on improving your health and happiness by getting closer to nature and celebrate the energy of summer. How are you going to take the advantage of the extra hours of light this year?

Featured Image by: Paul Townsend via Flickr

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