OUT AND ABOUT
Getting some sun will help you shine as a healthy caregiver
BY:ALLISON CHRISTY HOOVER
Make it a point each day to spend at least 30 minutes outside. According to a University of Michigan study, warm sunny weather can restore and maintain mental health. Other benefits include mood-boosting, memory-sharpening and openness to new information and creativity.
"Being outside in pleasant weather really offers a way to re-set your mind-set," says Matthew Keller, PhD, who led the study. Dr. Keller points out that the amount of time you spend outside, as well as the season, will have an effect on your mood. Researchers have gone so far as to say that 30 minutes in 72-degree weather is the optimal condition. And soaking up the sun through the window of your living room doesn't count; you actually have to go outside.
As a caregiver, it's easy to put your own health on the back burner, but taking responsibility for your wellbeing is extremely important. So get out the suntan lotion, pour yourself a glass of lemonade, and feel the sun on your face.