Summertime Fun

If you’re like most people, you have probably found yourself blaming your winter laziness on the weather.  You have probably also noticed that every time you ever used this reasoning, it was readily accepted, and completely understood, by whoever you told it to.

This phenomenon is real and it affects all people eventually.  The ways in which this curious happening affects people varies from person to person; but at some point in everybody’s lives it does.  This makes total sense considering we, as people, are also a part of the animal kingdom.  The largest measurable differences between, we as humans and our animal counterparts, is our ability to reason, and the limitations our conscience puts upon us.

Biology has taught us for years that every living thing has the same basic needs in order to survive.  We have also learned that what usually affects one species will most likely affect others in very similar ways.

So that tired lazy feeling that strikes us just as the days start to grow shorter and colder, signaling that winter is well on its way, is not just some random coincidence; it is our bodies fighting the natural urge to hibernate.  Hibernating animals find a safe shelter and go into a deep state of sleep.  While in this sleep, the animal’s heart rate slows, as does their breathing which helps eliminate the need to eat during the months that may be hard for them to find food.

As tempting as sleeping away the winter months is, it is not necessary for our survival like it is for some of our animal friends.  Because we have the ability to get the food we need, and keep our bodies warm and sheltered from the cold, we can be as active as we want, but still we are less active, and tend to eat more in the winter.

In case you haven’t noticed, spring brings about some changes in people, and in animals, that are undeniably inspired by Mother Nature herself.  The warm days and breezy nights of spring have every creature howling at the moon, and at each other.  During this season many people willingly turn over their more civilized habits for the wild abandonment of feeding the animal side of their personality.

The hot scorching weather of summer finds animals and people seeking relief from the unrelenting months of punishing heat in a lot of the same ways.  Animals migrate to cooler locations with lots of water, and humans go on vacations to places with lots of water.

Whether it’s lazing around pools of cool water to beat the summer heat, or eating a lot and staying in a semi dormant state during the freezing cold of winter; one thing is for sure, animal or human, we are all in this together.

Summer has not officially started yet, but the summer heat is having lots of fun flirting with us and teasing us into anticipating her arrival.  One of the few things that makes summer such a big event is all the change it brings with it.
There are definitely rituals that take place in preparation of summer’s arrival.  The winter sweaters and boots are stored in places less easy to access and forgotten for a few months.  People start taking closer looks at the state of their bodies to try and figure out what can be done, on such short notice, to make it look like they are ready for shorts and bathing suits.  Summer cookouts are planned and vacations are arranged.  But with all this excitement going on, some important things can get over looked, and they are usually the things that can turn summer fun into a summer disaster.
Bathing suits are usually purchased when the weather turns warm, sunscreen should also be thrown into the shopping cart with them.  Waiting until you need it to buy it will raise the odds of unprotected sun exposure happening at least once.  It’s also a good idea to store it with the summer clothes as an added reminder to use it.  Sunscreen is usually sold in close proximity to bug repellent; another necessity to have for outdoor activity in the summer months.  Places that don’t show one sign of disease carrying insects during the day will be swarmed with them once the sun goes down.
Air conditioning for your car is not something that has likely crossed your mind lately, but when you find yourself stuck in traffic and the temperatures are in the triple digits, you will strain yourself trying to remember when you last had your car’s air conditioning serviced.  This will be especially true when you go to use it and it blows nothing but recycled hot air from the outside in your face.   This goes for home filters as well.  It is a good idea to put a fresh filter in your central air unit twice a year; it cleans the air and keeps the cost of running it down.
Prevent heat stroke and wallet choke by having plenty of portable water containers to take with you where ever you go.  Any car ride, even to the grocery store, is going to cause yours and your kid’s temperatures to rise, making a cool drink a necessity.  Instead of paying double the price for a cold drink at a convenience store, bring your own.  Staying well hydrated also makes it a lot less likely that you or a loved one will suffer from deadly heat stroke.
Meal planning needs to undergo an extreme makeover during the months that you would rather starve than slave over a hot stove all day.  To prevent spending a lot of money on unhealthy fast food, create some new basic menus to accommodate less cooking time, and that require little to no oven use.  By creating the menus in advance you can adjust your shopping list accordingly.
Board kid syndrome also seems very prevalent during summer vacation and has been known to drive, otherwise mentally stable adults, over the edge.  Post schedules of structured activities where kids can see them and look forward to them, and remind them to take their water bottles outside with them, when you sending them out to play, is on their schedule.