Summer is a great time of year to get motivated. The sunny weather is often inspiration enough and helps you start to feel more positive about your goals. Even though you might be taking a break from your studies or work, or planning a relaxing vacation, you can use the time to reflect on your plans for the future. Learning how to set realistic goals is the first step towards achieving them. Why not spend a bit of time outdoors in the park with your day planner and get a head start this year? Here are seven tips to get you going.

Seek inspiration in new places

Setting goals is challenging if you’re not feeling inspired. Lucky for you, it’s the perfect time of year to embrace the outdoors and seek motivation and inspiration in new places. Traveling is one of the best ways to get inspired. Even if you’re not going abroad this year you can explore hidden gems near you. Try seeing your hometown through the eyes of a tourist or getting lost in areas of natural beauty. You’ll return feeling relaxed and rejuvenated and ready to take on any challenge.

Spend more time outdoors

Spend plenty of time outdoors this summer. Getting in touch with nature can be very motivating and there are several health benefits of being outdoors. It’ll help you gain a fresh perspective and improve your mood. You’ll also get physical exercise which will give you the energy boost you need. You could even try out a new outdoor hobby or sport this year. Enjoy a healthy dose of vitamin D and get yourself in a more positive mindset.

Practice meditation

Meditation involves many useful techniques to help you focus. In order to prioritize and set realistic goals, you need to clear your mind of cluttering thoughts and improve your concentration. If you’re new to meditation you could try listening to a guided meditation. This will teach you the necessary skills you need to practice meditation on your own. You can then do this anytime and anywhere, even outdoors. Here is a guided meditation for goal setting.

Set measurable goals

Now that you’ve got yourself in the right mindset to make a proper plan you can get focused. It’s important to set measurable goals, whether they’re related to your studies, work, or health and fitness. This will help you track your progress and stay motivated. You could try following the SMART goals model. This states that all goals should be measurable and time bound, not to mention specific and relevant to you at the moment. If your goal is to look for jobs, for example, set yourself a certain number of applications per week. Break your goals down into tasks and set a deadline for each.

Be mindful of your health

Be mindful of both your mental and physical health this summer. Stress can get in the way of setting goals and can have a negative effect on your overall well-being. If you are feeling stressed or anxious try to get the root of the problem. If it’s health related you could try speaking to a doctor online about any number of issues from mental to sexual health. You can even order an HIV test kit or other prescriptions. Be proactive about your health and this will give you the peace of mind you need to stay motivated.

Keep your brain active

Even though it’s summer vacation and the weather is nice, it’s important to keep your mind sharp. There are plenty of fun activities you can try even if you’re taking a break from work or studying. Find some interesting new reads or even learn a new skill. You could take on a creative craft or DIY project this summer. There are also fun things you can do with friends such as geocaching or an escape room that will help you boost your problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Get out of your comfort zone

Try something different this summer and get out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s learning a new skill or doing an activity you wouldn’t normally, this can be a great way to boost your self-esteem. Getting out of your comfort soon will help give you the confidence you need to motivate yourself to set and achieve the right goals. You could even try volunteering in the local community. This can be very rewarding and inspiring and will help you gain perspective. Find the activity that works best for you.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect over 50 million Americans and is becoming an even more popular condition. Due to our lifestyles, posture, exercise level, and diet, an increasing number of people have started to suffer from chronic pain. In some cases, pain can be minimal and only represent a minor inconvenience. However, in some other cases, chronic pain can take over your life and be so overwhelming that it might prevent you from enjoying even the easiest daily tasks. Depending on the cause behind it, chronic pain can develop from mild to severe. Therefore, while there is no definitive cure, chronic pain needs to be addressed. Here are five non-invasive ways to find chronic pain relief naturally. 

Understand the Underlying Causes

Firstly, it is crucial to understand what are the causes behind your chronic pain. You might have been the victim of an accident, or you might have reported injuries that haven’t healed. Alternatively, an inactive lifestyle and bad posture can also lead to lower back, sciatica, and leg pain. 

In some cases, some chronic diseases such as cancer and arthritis might be the cause behind the pain. Before trying to find a solution for your pain, it is crucial to understand what is the underlying cause. This will help you avoid unnecessary painkillers and move towards a longer-lasting solution.  

Use Meditation and Breathing Techniques

One of the main factors that can worsen your chronic pain is stress. Indeed, stress causes damage to cells and leads to increased free radicals. In turn, these can worsen inflammation and prevent your body from healing. 

Breathing techniques and meditation are mindfulness practices that allow you to focus on your breath, repeat a mantra, or focus your attention inward. This can allow you to avoid additional stress and reduce inflammation.

Aim To Move Your Body Regularly

Regular exercise is essential to allow your body to release endorphins – the happiness hormone! These compounds are the ones responsible for the famous “runner’s high” and act as mood regulators. In turn, this can reduce stress levels and allow you to feel more balanced. Exercise is also essential to help you get rid of any extra weight you might be carrying. By doing so, you can lighten up your body, which takes pressure away from your muscles, joints, and bones. And of course, it can help you reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease. 

Consider a Plant-Based Lifestyle

Studies have proven that whole grain, plant-based lifestyle can reduce fatigue and chronic pain. Indeed, fruits and vegetables are famously filled with the antioxidants your body needs to reduce inflammation and the damaging effects of free radicals. Speaking to your nutritionist allows you to get started in the right way. 

Try Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana has been seen to help with certain kinds of chronic pain. If you are affected by severe chronic pain which is impacting your life, or you have an underlying condition such as arthritis or cancer, you might be able to obtain a medical marijuana card. You can learn all about Harvest House of Cannabis and how to apply for a medical card here. 

With health tips and diets around every corner, it can be hard to know what the best course is going to be for your body. Between fad diets and finding the best workout gear, it can be overwhelming. Finding the specific rhythm to support what your body needs is going to be a lifelong journey, but there are things that you can do to get off to a good start.

Establish a Baseline

In order to know what specific health goals you need to have, you first need to establish a baseline. It is important to start with the basics and make sure that you are making generally healthy choices before you can start getting more specific.

Even though each person is different and will require different health goals, there are some things that are in common across all bodies. You need to be getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can mess with your health in surprising ways. You also need to be drinking enough water each day. Most people are not drinking enough water. Being dehydrated can cause you to overeat and to be fatigued during the day. You may be surprised to see how just changing your sleep and water intake patterns can give you an extra boost.

You should also make healthy eating choices and try to get some exercise. If you are just starting on your wellness journey, then you should take small steps. If you try to take on too much at once, you will likely not be able to sustain the change.

You can start by adding more vegetables to your meals instead of trying to change what you eat. Even if you continue to eat like normal, but add in more vegetables, you will eventually be able to change your diet more drastically. You can also try switching to only drinking water instead of any other kind of beverage with your meals. This will also help with your water intake.

For exercise, you don’t have to go running, even though that is probably what pops into your head first. You can start by just doing stretches before bed or going for a walk during your lunch break. Start where you are and then build on that.

Talk to Your Doctor

You should make sure that you go to your regular checkups with your doctor. If you have concerns about specific health issues, then discuss them with your doctor. If you are looking for advice in general, you can ask what their biggest concerns are and where your focus should be for improvements. They have insights into your health that can help you on your path to wellness.

Environment Changes

There may be changes you need to make to your environment in order to be functioning at one hundred percent. You should have your home tested for toxins and hazardous gases to make sure that you are not breathing in anything that may be harmful to you. You may also want to be asking questions like, What is the Safe Distance From Wifi Router? Or, does my electrical wiring need to be updated. Making these changes can improve your health if there is something happening that shouldn’t be happening. You may be surprised to find out how your health can change when these silent issues get resolved.