Summer is the time to head outdoors and have fun.  Whether swimming, pickle ball, sports, gardening or maintaining your walk/run schedule…the weather is bright, the days are long and you aren’t bundled up in heavy coat. But sometimes the heat can make it daunting…and with more heat waves, you have to take some precautions.  Here are teh best tips for outdoor exercise in the heat.

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Common sense says be careful and avoid the hottest part of the day. Usually around 4 pm is when the heat peaks, so between 1-5 is the worst time.  You shouldn’t exercise with the same intensity and take frequent breaks, which is perfect if you are playing a sport or gardening.  Water is essential, so drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration is a key factor in heat illness. Fluids helps your body sweat and cool down by staying well-hydrated with water.  In fact, sweating can release endorphins in the brain which make people feel good.

Manage your day, do activities in the early morning or late afternoon/evening.  According a study, during hot days, the best option is to run in the early morning. This is especially true in urban locations which have concrete buildings soak up the sun throughout the day and may make late in the day runs hotter than expected.

In order to acclimatize to the weather successfully, the process must be gradual. Head out for your run earlier than usual, with your water bottle, and complete your a shorter and gentler version of your workout. Check your heart rate and your level of heat and continue to do this until you feel like you’re feeling back to normal.

In order to acclimatize to the weather successfully, the workout process should be gradual. Start your activities earlier than usual, with your water bottle, and complete your a shorter and gentler version of your sports/workout/ tournament. Consider a “warm up period” where you aren’t keeping score.

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An icy drink beforehand, like a slushie or a smoothie, might make your outdoor exercise more pleasant. According to researchers, you should aim to drink 16 ounces of cold fluid 20 minutes before you go out for your run or an activities sport.  Avoid alcohol until you are ready to cool down.

While it doesn’t keep you from overheating, wearing sunscreen can help you prevent feeling the heat when you are done. You also want to dress in layers and nothing to tight to give your body a chance to breath.

If you are starting to feel nausea, dizziness or cramps, you could be overheating. Check your heart rate and your level of heat and continue until you feel like you’re feeling back to normal. If you have symptoms, stop the workout and seek shade and some tap water.  If possible, work out with a partner.

While in school, summer was the dream. Weeks of days open to adventure, sleeping in, exploring and hanging with friends. It held a magical quality and there usually always seemed something new to try. It turns out people carry the feeling into adulthood, in fact, a majority of adults see the summer as a chance for a bit of adventure.

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Not everything is crazy like a cross country road trip, but maybe having different foods, camping or learning to grill. Data says summer is the times to try different things. One survey was clear 59% of people want to try something new this summer. Among the desires include 17% cited a desire to go to see a new state or city, while more than a third (39%) said seeing friends and family is a must for their summer vacation. Going bungee jumping, paragliding, trying marijuana and making your ice cream are also things people want to explore.

Some people have already made or have completed some of their summer wish list. Among the actives include waterskiing (44%), wakeboarding (43%), surfing (41%). Other want to learn something new like how to make water balloons, bowling and gardening. Others want to attend outdoor concerts, travel and most of explore.

And, some want to experiment with craft cocktails, summer drinks, and marijuana.

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Studies have previously discovered teenagers and college students were more likely to try alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana for the first time during summer months, but a study published in the Journal for General Internist Medicine, focused its attention on age groups including adults. In addition, the researchers were interested in the time of initiation for cocaine and hallucinogenic drugs for various demographics.

Palamar, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU School of Medicine, and other researchers suggested an explanation for why people were more likely to experiment with drugs in the summer. The emergence of music festivals and outdoor concerts along with more free time in the summer.