3 Tips for Working Out Outside in The Summer

As the summer starts getting closer and it’s deemed safe to spend time outdoors, more and more people are going to be venturing outside to get some exercise. But while this can be great for certain parts of your mind and body, if you work too hard in the heat of the sun without taking a break in a cool or air conditioned environment, you could actually be causing some major harm to your body as well.

To help you find the right balance here, here are three tips for working out outside in the summer.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Whether you’re outside working out or you’re just spending some time in the sun, the most important thing to do to keep yourself healthy is to ensure that you’re adequately hydrated.

To best do this, Joe Decker, a contributor to Active.com, recommends that you drink a few glasses of water before you even go outside to start working out. And once you head out the door, be sure that you bring some water with you so you can quench your thirst and cool off your body while you’re outside. Ideally, you should be drinking some water every 15 minutes or so. Then, once your workout is over, make sure you rehydrate as well.

Take A Towel With You

When it’s hot outside, you’ve got to find a way to effectively cool your body off after you’ve been exerting a lot of energy and generating your own heat.

One way you can do this, according to Emily Abbate, a contributor to GQ.com, is to bring a small towel with you and periodically get it wet. Once you have the towel wet, you should place it on certain parts of your body that will help you to bring down your body temperature. Some of the best spots to focus on include your wrists and your neck. This simple trick can lower your body temperature for around an hour.

Avoid The Hottest Times

If it’s particularly hot outside, the best thing you can do to protect your body and keep yourself from overheating while working out in the outdoors is to avoid exercising during the hottest times of the day.

According to Stephanie Mansour, a contributor to NBC News, getting outside in the early morning or evening hours will help you avoid the times of the day when the sun is the strongest and the temperature is the highest. The worst time to be out during a hot day is between noon and about 2 p.m.

If you love working out outside but are worried about getting too hot during the summertime, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay cool while getting fit.