Most of the emphasis when it comes to our health is what’s on the inside. We try to eat right, take multivitamins and get plenty of exercise. All of this is hard enough to fit into our schedules when we have kids, but many of us manage to do at least a little.
However, there’s a crucial aspect of looking and feeling good that we tend to ignore. It’s what’s on the outside — specifically, taking care of our skin. As the largest organ in the human body, our skin requires a lot of special attention to keep it in good condition. That’s why it’s important for all men to remember some key steps for creating a successful skin care routine.
For example, teaching their sons to shave is a big moment for fathers. Unfortunately, the methods they teach aren’t always the best for healthy skin. The recommended technique is to let the shaving cream sit on your face for a few minutes, then shave in the direction the hair grows.
Applying moisturizer after rinsing your face is necessary for keeping skin from becoming too dry. In fact, moisturization is more important than most men are willing to admit. Hydrating daily can reduce the appearance of lines or wrinkles, so you don’t look older than you really are.
Protecting your outside is just as big a part of living a healthier lifestyle as caring for what’s inside. Even if your schedule is loaded with work, parenting and other responsibilities, it doesn’t take long to establish good habits that can make a difference.
To learn more about how to take better care of your body’s biggest organ, look at the accompanying infographic. It contains simple measures that can lead to a more youthful appearance.
Author bio: Sandra Caldwell is Chief Operating Officer for Blume Skin & Body, a company specializing in nonsurgical cosmetic skin treatment procedures. She has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and focuses on medical aesthetics, laser treatments and retail operations.
There is no doubt that people’s views are divided on the crisis facing the world right now. Some of that division – though not all – is along political lines, while some is based on little more than hope or instinct. One thing that is, however, definitively true is that if anyone tells you they know how things are going to go from this point, they are misinforming you. At this stage, the smartest epidemiologists have a range of confident predictions, but they don’t know how things will end up – so neither do any of us.
One thing that we can say, though, is that there is a propagation of myths that is far from helpful when it comes to staying healthy during this time. These myths are not a matter of opinion; they aren’t about trusting your instincts. They’re simply things that have somehow become understood as true by some individuals. If you see them shared on Facebook, and you feel up to correcting them, go ahead – but most importantly, just know that they’re completely and dangerously untrue.
We just need to wait it out into the summer – the virus will die in the heat
This is a myth based on a certain amount of knowledge, but not enough to really understand epidemiology. Yes, viruses classically like cooler weather; this is why you don’t get as many colds in summer. However, this detail is not uniformly true. Ebola, one of the most aggressive viruses known to man, lives and thrives mostly in Africa in temperatures well above what Americans will live with this spring and summer. The MERS coronavirus spread in Saudi Arabia in August – when the average high is 108 degrees.
The truth is, we don’t know how Covid-19 will behave in the summer, because it was only identified in December 2019. We haven’t lived through a summer with it. And even if it does die down, that doesn’t rule out a nastier second wave in autumn, and self-isolation over the holiday season.
Don’t buy anything from China – the packages will be contaminated
Leaving aside, for one moment, the fact that China has more successfully “flattened the curve” than most countries, this myth ignores that the survivability of a virus is limited outside the body of a host. While it is true that inspection of plastic surfaces has detected the virus up to 72 hours after the item was last touched by an infected person, any delivery you receive from that part of the world will take a lot longer than three days to reach you. You’re genuinely at greater threat if you shake hands with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while.
Bleach will destroy the virus inside the body
Let’s just deal with this one swiftly. If you drink bleach, coronavirus will very rapidly become the least of your worries. This is also true if you inject it. Bleach has no place inside the human body, and it’s not even necessary should you wish to kill the virus on the outside of the body – washing your hands or any contaminated area with soap and water will destroy the virus’ structure perfectly well. At the moment, the truth is that there isn’t a cure for Covid-19; it simply needs to be treated per doctors’ advice.
It’s easy to get carried away with a condition that has spread so fast and affected so many – Covid-19 has had an impact we could never have imagined back in January – but it’s vitally important to stick to the facts. Myths catch the attention in a way that mere facts can’t possibly hope to match – and that’s why, like the virus itself, you need to be vigilant in spotting and flattening them.
With everything going on with COVID-19, your family’s health has never been more important. Despite the risks to health right now, especially for vulnerable people, staying at home due to lockdown is actually encouraging some healthier habits among families.
How are your family adjusting to lockdown? Will it make you rethink your habits in the future once restrictions start getting lifted? Permanent changes to your lifestyle can help your family live better and longer, as well as boost your immunity against sickness in the future.
Whether you’re already making changes or you want to form better habits going forward, here are some ideas for 15 ways you can improve your health this summer.
Daily exercise is important for keeping your body healthy. It not only helps you regulate your weight, but it can strengthen your heart and lungs, as well as your muscles. Exercise should consist of cardio, strength and flexibility to help ensure the best results.
There are some great exercises you can do at home to tone your whole body, making daily exercise easy.. Many people are looking forward to their daily exercise at the moment, so if you’re recently discovered a passion for running, cycling or walking lately – make sure you keep it up this summer!
2. Get some fresh air
Fresh air is important, and while a lot of people are making an effort to go for walks, etc., during lockdown, it’ll be easy to take it for granted again when restrictions are lifted.
Even if it’s just for a short time, a walk outside can do you a world of good. It can help you feel refreshed, get you some vital vitamin D and give you a break from whatever you’re doing.
Don’t forget you can enjoy fresh air at home too. Get involved in some garden games with your kids and enjoy some fresh air together.
3. Start each day with a hearty breakfast
A healthy, hearty breakfast is a great way to start the day. A lot of people grab something to eat in a hurry, which can often lead to some unhealthy choices. Even store-bought smoothies can be full of sugar, counterbalancing the added vitamins you’re taking in. Why not take it in turns to make breakfast each day so that it doesn’t all fall on one member of the household?
With most restaurants closed and takeout getting tired (and expensive!), more people are cooking from home right now. Some home cooking is ideal for preparing healthy dishes, without the processed ingredients that can be hidden in your food. Start getting into the habit of planning your meals for the week ahead, it’ll help you commit to eating healthier while cutting back on your food waste too.
One idea to get everyone excited about home cooking is to do theme nights. A simple theme like Mexican or Italian night can give you something to look forward to, and could encourage everyone to start helping in the kitchen.
5. Up your hydration efforts
During the summer months, hydration is more important than ever. Our bodies need water to function, and you’ll need even more of it when the weather is warmer and you’re losing more of it through sweat. There are plenty of ways you can stay hydrated, but drinking water throughout the day is the easiest and most important one.
Why not equip the whole family with their own water bottle and keep them close by to help everyone stay hydrated?
6. Take care of your skin
Taking care of your skin is important, and in the summer, when UV rays are at their strongest, it’s even more important. It’s easy to neglect your SPF, but by making it a part of your daily routine, you’ll be used to protecting your skin in all weather. Wearing SPF doesn’t just protect against skin cancer, but it can stop you experiencing premature ageing too!
7. Enjoy a break from tech
Technology can be all-consuming. We spend a lot of our daily lives on our phones, using computers, etc. That’s been even truer since lockdown restrictions have been put in place. Taking a break from technology is important, and when the sun is shining – why wouldn’t you want to get out and enjoy it?
Spending quality time as a family, away from tech, can be a great way for you all to bond and enjoy each other’s company. You might even find you don’t miss it as much as you thought you would!
8. Practice good hygiene
Practicing good hygiene is common sense. Washing your hands, keeping your home clean and showering often are things we should do anyway, but it might be time to turn things up a notch to help keep your family well.
There are steps you can take to keep your home germ-free, as well as practice better hygiene when you’re out and about. Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it regularly throughout the day – it could make a big difference to stopping germs from spreading.
9. Keep summer allergies under control
Dealing with symptoms of a cold can be miserable. But what if they weren’t caused by a virus, but by allergies instead? Hay fever and other seasonal allergies are common at this time of year, and can leave you feeling miserable. If anyone in your home suffers from common allergy symptoms during the summer, it’s worth making sure you have plenty of antihistamines and other medication to help ease your symptoms. It helps if you know what you’re allergic to, as this can make sure you treat your allergy symptoms accordingly.
10. Set some goals to keep you busy
Most of us focus on setting goals for the new year, but why not set yourself some part-way through the year instead? From making over your home to having a fitness goal, having something to aim for can give you some focus and put an end to those lazy summer days. By the time fall comes around, you’ll have achieved something amazing!
11. Walk more
Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise, and it’s an effective way of keeping active. Staying at home recently has likely meant that daily walks are a part of your routine, and is something you can easily maintain when you’re at work or on weekends. A short walk at lunchtime or before dinner can help you make up for a day spent sitting down, while also boosting your cardio health.
If you find walking boring, why not try some fun walking apps that will be sure to get you moving?
12. Cut down on snacking
Snacking is many people’s go-to for relieving boredom, but all of those salty or sugary snacks could be contributing to weight gain, as well as making you feel tired and sluggish. Instead of reaching for the chips or chocolate, try a healthy snack instead. If you are snacking because you’re bored, you could take your mind off things by reading or finding a hobby that keeps you occupied.
13. Take some time to yourself
It’s important to take some ‘me time’ now and again – life gets busy, after all. When you’re working and taking care of a family, it’s easy to become exhausted. If things start getting too much, make sure you ask for some help – friends and family might not realize that you’re struggling.
Treat yourself to some time to do the things you enjoy – it can help you rest and recharge ready to face a new day.
14. Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is important, but do you ever find it’s harder during the summer months? There are many reasons for this. The sun rises earlier and it’s hotter – making sleep uncomfortable. Learning to sleep in the heat will help you get your 8 hours, so try everything you can to keep cool at bedtime.
15. Don’t forget about your mental health
While it’s easy to just think about your physical health, it’s important to focus on your mental health too. You can take care of your mental health by following many of the steps above, especially by exercising and taking a break from time to time. If you’re concerned about your mental health, or anyone in your family, make sure you book an appointment like you would for a physical problem. There’s help available to you, you just need to seek it out.
Taking care of yours and your family’s health should always be a priority, even during the carefree summer months. It’s a great time to form new habits and enjoy being outdoors, as well as spending time together as a family. Use the time you have at home to help your family become healthier and stronger – when restrictions are lifted, you’ll be able to keep up your self-care habits ready to enjoy your time together.
An at-home dad on a mission to keep it real when it comes to food, fun, and raising a healthy, happy family.
