If like me you’ve been waiting for that yellow glow of the sunshine and longer daytime hours, then you’re in luck. I don’t think anyone else is as happy as I am when the days are longer and there’s lots of glorious sunshine. It certainly helps with my mood: I’m happier and even more tolerant. Here are my tips for enjoying the sunshine and getting the benefits. The benefits are in the last paragraph. One or two did surprise me when I did the research!
I am sure you have heard of the harmful benefits of overexposure to the sun so please be warned.
Sunlounger
Find a nice spot that lets in just enough sunshine for you to stretch out in your outdoor lounge chair with a book, a drink and your phone. What better way to soak up your quota of vitamin D for the day. Make sure there is enough shade and that you treat your skin with the appropriate protection.
Take to the beach to enjoy the sunshine
I’m hoping that unlike me, you have access to a picturesque beach spot near to home. If not, then you need to get ordering! Go to Amazon to get yourself a blow-up pool like mine, a cheap Inflatable palm tree and this beach ball. You can do it, set the scene and enjoy. Your neighbours will be jealous and eventually ask if they can join you. The photo here was actually taken in my back garden years ago when the kids were younger. And yes the neighbour’s kids also enjoyed it.
Have a BBQ in the sunshine
This is one of my favourite thing to do in sunshiny weather! Invite a few friends round. You’ll have people willing to donate or contribute drinks, ice, disposable plates and cups and their company. A good time can be had by all with only a few hours of planning. Make sure to use disposables and put a bin bag outside in which to dispose of what’s not needed. The menu idea is yours. You can email me for my jerk chicken recipe. It’s easy really, the most important thing is the amazing jerk sauce used to marinate your meat before putting it on the barbecue. Don’t stress it, though, do what you are comfortable with doing. It’s meant to be a chilled time while you soak up the sunshine. I’ve made a post to show you how to make your own Jamaican Jerk Marinade from scratch!
Did you see our summer BBQ with Aldi products?
Take long walks to enjoy the sunshine
Get the walking boots and put some comfortable and suitable clothes on and enjoy even a half an hour walk. Not only will you benefit from the extra vitamin D from the sunshine but you also boost your metabolic rate (making you burn energy faster), make your bones supple and gets you out into your community. Much better to get vitamin D this way rather than taking supplements.
Use of a conservatory
If you’re fortunate to have a conservatory, what better way to spend an early morning when the sun is just coming up than with a magazine or book, a drink and the most comfortable spot to sit and get the warm glow of the sunshine on your skin. It can be awfully hot in the day when the sun is at its highest, so pick an early evening time for a little snooze or chat while your skin soaks up the last bits of the yellow glow.
I’ve never done this and not sure if I’d be brave enough to try one either ( I have a trust issue) but my sister has bought one and the teenagers have been basking in it. So many people enjoy gently swinging in a hammock while listening to the sounds of nature! Whether it is that gentle swinging motion, the fact that you’ve probably had a drink, or the soothing sounds of nature, whatever it is, you’ll wake up to find inner peace, accompanied by a broad smile that the sunshine produces. Try it when you get a chance and see.
Get a lie in when there is sunshine
Well now that I’ve left my job of 11 years in order to de-stress, I find sleep so much better now. So it’s nice to wake early and pull the curtains back and fall right back asleep until the sunshine tells you that you’ve had enough sleep and its time to face your day. The extra early morning sunshine just seems to put a spring in your step.
Visit the sick or shut-in
Guess what? There are people who are not able to go out and enjoy the sunshine as you can. Sad, isn’t it? Well, take the opportunity to go visit them, get a seat by the window where the sunshine comes in and enjoy some pleasant time together. Chances are, if no one visits, they’ll just stay tucked in bed when they could have moved a little closer to the window and enjoyed the sunshine! So seize the chance, go make someone else feel better, and share the sunshine. I think it will do wonders for their healing and their mood.
Be inspired by the glow and make lemonade
There is something about lemonade and sunshine! The two really go well together. I remember my mom making bucket loads of lemonade and putting ice in it when we were younger. So after playing a game or two of sightings (dodge-ball) or skipping out on the street or front yard, we would drop the skipping rope and balls and rush in out of the sun to get a cool drink of lemonade. Being out in the sunshine and then drinking the lemonade would give us a massive brain freeze but we would still keep coming back for more!
This, along with waffles using supplies from JM Posner always does the trick.
Go fishing!
What a relaxing way to enjoy the sunshine! Ever been fishing in the early morning? Try it. Plan a holiday or weekend where you get the chance to do some fishing. The ripple of the water drenched in different hues as a result of the sunshine beating down on it looks invitingly refreshing! You will need a hat to protect your head though that will give you just enough shade to enjoy the activity but still get the benefits of the amazing sunshine as it produces its vitamin D on your skin.
The benefits of sunshine include:
- Helping the body fight against cancer, protecting against dementia,
- helps with weight loss,
- supports the body’s immune system,
- helps with acne and eczema,
- lowering cholesterol,
- lowers blood pressure,
- helps with jaundice in newborn babies, growth in babies… and my favourite –
- it lifts our mood and prevents depression.
Why not share with us how you like to enjoy the sunshine. You may use the comment box below. Talk soon
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It is so easy to get our vitamin D from the beautiful sunshine, no cost free, free, free. All the best guys, you are doing a great job.
Hi Tia. Hope you are getting out and about to enjoy the sunshine! It helsps with your mood, doesn’t it. Have a lovely day
Lots of value here. Cheers to an unstoppable post!
I love the sunshine, too- part of the reason we relocated to the Gulf Coast ten years ago! Also, don’t forget the other sunshine benefit- Vitamin D, which your body makes when the skin is exposed to the sun
I have mentioned the vitamin D. Thanks
Thank you for this inspiring article!
Long walks on the sunny days are a win-win combination, indeed.
I also like playing sports and sun-bathing. It’s a great way to combine physical activity, social interaction, and the amazing benefits of sunlight.
All the best and keep up with the amazing content!
How lovely of you to stop by and check us out! We are so grateful. All the best with getting in some long walks and using up all the benefits of the sunshine.
Sorry for the delay and thanks a lot for your reply!
Best,
Alex
A lot of value to these tips! Thank you for sharing!