4 Mistakes That Inhibit Outdoor Comfort During the Summer

It’s no secret that people do most of their outdoor recreation during the summer months. In fact, if you live in an area known for bitterly cold winters, summer may represent the only time of year you can comfortably enjoy the great outdoors. From camping to hiking to beach trips, summertime holds a seemingly endless array of outdoor possibilities. However, this isn’t to say that you won’t have to exercise caution. To help ensure that you stay comfortable outside throughout the summer months, take care to avoid the following mistakes.

1. Wearing Bulky Clothes That Are Ill-Suited to Hot Weather 

No one should be without a comfy, practical summer wardrobe. The right clothing can help you maintain maximum comfort while looking your best all season long. However, if you insist on wearing bulky, heat-retaining clothes throughout the summer, you’re likely to have an extraordinarily uncomfortable few months. While having only one wardrobe for the entire year may strike you as convenient, it’s hardly conducive to comfort. 

So, if your summer closet could use some updating, there’s no time like the present to start shopping. For example, if you’re interested in purchasing women’s shorts, make sure to seek out products made from light, breathable materials like cotton, linen, nylon, silk, and bamboo.      

2. Not Applying Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is an essential tool for anyone who spends time outdoors, especially during the summer months. If you intend to be outside for 15 minutes or more during daylight hours, make a point of applying sunscreen to any uncovered areas of your body. Furthermore, take care to reapply it as often as the manufacturer recommends. 

Failure to wear sunscreen can result in a host of undesirable consequences. For starters, there’s sunburn, fine lines, premature wrinkles, and skin discoloration. Shrugging off sunscreen can also place you at high risk for skin cancer. Even if you haven’t been a big proponent of sunscreen in the past, now would be the perfect time to change your tune. 

It should also be understood that sunscreen shouldn’t be used exclusively during summer. No matter what season it is, sunscreen should be applied whenever you’ll be in the sun for 15 minutes or longer.      

3. Failing to Stay Hydrated 

Although proper hydration is always important, it can be particularly vital throughout the summer. With this in mind, take care to provide yourself with ready access to water at all times. To start with, you should never leave the house without water on hand. If you’re not a fan of bottled water, simply invest in a good filter and a resilient water bottle. Alternatively, if you engage in a fair amount of outdoor exercise during the summer, a dependable hydration pack is likely to be a worthwhile investment. Per the name, this product is essentially a backpack created for the sole purpose of carrying water. 

Whenever you start to feel thirsty and/or fatigued, get out of the sun (if possible) and have some water. In addition to helping you beat the heat, staying on top of hydration can leave you feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the world.  

4. Refusing to Take Breaks 

While sunscreen can prove tremendously helpful in combating sun damage, it shouldn’t be treated as the only tool in your arsenal. Although sitting back and allowing sunscreen to do all the work may sound convenient, it’s simply not a viable option for anyone who’s serious about staying safe. Not only should you regularly apply sunscreen, but you should also make a point of taking regular breaks from the sun. This means finding a heavily shaded area and drinking some water when you begin feeling fatigued and/or uncomfortably warm. 

Even if you dutifully apply sunscreen, you’re likely to regret staying out in the sun for excessively long periods of time. As such, you should never pass up an opportunity to get out of the sun for a bit and recharge your batteries.  

Wanting to engage in outdoor recreation throughout the summer months is perfectly understandable. After all, depending on where you reside, summer may represent the only time of year you can comfortably enjoy yourself outside. However, if you aren’t careful, you’re liable to find yourself contending with exhaustion, heatstroke, sunburn, and various other undesirable ailments. In the interest of avoiding such problems, steer clear of the blunders discussed above.