Why Are My Energy Levels So Much Higher in the Summer
Written by: Maggie Bloom
Summer increases the energy levels of everyone. People eagerly anticipate it because they can plan picnics and outdoor runs, and vacations, which is why taking care of yourself while staying hydrated will help you reach your peak energy levels for maximum enjoyment. The following reasons explain why summer brings increased energy levels to people.
More Sunlight and More Vitamin D
There is more Vitamin D produced in the body during the summers as there is more sunlight. Your body also releases higher levels of dopamine, which elevates your mood, and also serotonin that helps keep your mood stable. Vitamin D also regulates blood sugar levels. Sunlight also boosts mood as it reduces the chances of you getting mood disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD, which occurs when you are not exposed to enough sunlight, and makes you feel depressed.
Better Sleep Patterns
You must have noticed that during summers, you can sleep well and that is because of the high levels of sunlight that are available. Sunlight can regulate your sleep levels, so you sleep properly at night. So, people sleep well during summer and wake up feeling refreshed. The warm temperatures also cause muscles to relax, which results in improved sleep quality. Moreover, some people turn on the air conditioning during the night, which makes sleep a blissful experience, and they get to complete their sleep, so they do not wake up exhausted.
Higher Activity Levels
Unlike in winters, when everything is so gloomy and you feel like staying indoors, or because of the cold, you do not step out, the summer season is for everyone to go outside and make the most of it. Especially in colder regions like Canada, there are not many activities during winter as everything is shut off or covered in snow.
In the summer, all activities reopen, and people venture out, especially during weekends. Parks and the seaside are filled with people trying to make the most of their summer break. In the US, over 75% of families take a summer vacation. People also go on bike rides and for walks, and plan activities like hiking and strawberry picking. Such activities boost your mood and boost energy levels in your body.
Summer Foods and Hydration
During the summers, you tend to eat lighter foods that make you lazy, for example, you do not have an appetite for having too many heavy foods like pasta or bread, or food with too much oil, like you would have in the winter seasons. Rather, you prefer having light and refreshing foods like watermelon and cucumbers that are full of water, and which keep you hydrated and energized.
You also have foods with more liquid content like ice cream, that have carbohydrates and give you instant energy, and you also drink lemonades and coconut water that balance the electrolytes in your body, and shakes and smoothies that make you instantly active, and let you stay hydrated and fresh, and in the case that you feel like you do not feel energetic enough, you can also incorporate supplements like daily vitamin B complex supplements in your diet, which will increase your metabolism and help convert your food into energy much faster.
Hydrating Yourself
High temperatures that also result in profuse sweating make you start to feel drained, which makes you want to drink water, and in fact, you end up drinking a lot more water when you feel only slightly dehydrated, which is good for your energy, as higher water intake means much more metabolism. Also, the heat and sweat make you want to take long, cold showers so you can cool down your body and feel clean. Such showers lower your body temperature and make you feel refreshed.
Conclusion
During summers, you can either not take care of yourself or spend the summer sulking indoors. Or you can take care of your body by hydrating, eating the right foods and avoiding oily foods and junk, sleeping better and having the right supplements to ensure that you stay active throughout, and make the best of your summers and do all the activities you have been waiting for the entire year to do.