Become Unrecognizable By the End of Summer With These 6 Habits Summer is often a time of rest, relaxation and socializing. But, summer can also be a time for improving and living our best lives. Follow these six healthy habits and you're bound to make this summer one you'll never forget.

Summer is fast approaching. For some, summer provides the perfect excuse break routines and take a step back. Longer days and warmer weather can provide an all-too-convenient distraction from the things that matter most. But it doesn't have to be that way. Adopting the following six healthy habits is a surefire way to guarantee your summer will be both productive and fun.

1. Make and keep commitments

For many, summer means that backyard barbeques, other celebrations and family travel are on the brain. It's easy to get swept up in all the little joys that summer offers. Some of that is good, but if you don't want to show up on Labor Day with nothing to show for your time, it's important to be proactive and intentional with how you spend your time.

Each week, take 30 minutes (at the start of the week) and write down your most important priorities and goals for the days ahead. Maybe there's a home improvement project you've been wanting to do. Perhaps you'd like to clean your closet and donate old clothing to Goodwill. Maybe you've always wanted to write a book. Summer is the perfect time to do these things, but they won't happen on their own. At the start of the week, write down three big things you want to accomplish that week. When you repeat the process the following week, check in with yourself. Ask, "Did I reach my goals the previous week? If not, why?" If you did, take a moment to celebrate that. Setting small goals for ourselves and then achieving them feels good, and it keeps us focused and driven during a time when it's easy to be lazier.

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2. Get 30 minutes of physical activity every day

Because summer can be a time of increased socialization and/or travel, it can be easy to eat and drink more than we normally do. This can result in us sleeping in and blowing off our fitness routines. Make a point of staying physically active by investing in your health for at least 30 minutes a day. Since the days are longer, summer provides a perfect opportunity to do things outside earlier or later than the rest of the year. Talking a walk early in the morning is a great way to jumpstart your mood. Biking, hiking, swimming and running are also the perfect summer activities. Since it's hotter, drinking plenty of water (daily) is a great idea. Balance the fried and/or greasy food you're consuming, most likely when you go out to eat, with plenty of fruits and vegetables when you're at home. Make time for rest and recovery, as well. We do our best when we feel our best. Our bodies often feel their best when they spend a part of each day in motion, and we consider what we're feeding it.

3. Reach out to the people who matter

Many of us spend additional time with our families during the summer. Kids (and teachers) are out of school, making it the perfect time for family vacations and an increased focus on the familial unit. That's important, but don't forget about your friends and communities. Reaching out to one or two non-family members each week is a great way of staying connected with others. Bonus points for reaching out to people you don't normally interact with (someone other than your best friend). Schedule time to see these people. Perhaps there's a friend or colleague that you won't see as much over the summer. Proactively dropping them a line to ask how they are shows that you care about others, and that feels good to everyone involved.

4. Make time for yourself

Increased socialization over the summer can cause us to forget about ourselves. Making time for self-care keeps us feeling calm, connected and at peace (with ourselves). You might invest in a day at the spa, a relaxing bubble bath or a good book. You should also invest in your hobbies. Make time for the things you're passionate about. Maybe you have hobbies around painting, golfing or sewing. Schedule time to do those things and do them. Don't just ignore them for the course of the summer. These are things that make us feel most like ourselves, so they need time and attention.

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5. Choose gratitude

Gratitude isn't something we either have or don't have. It's practice. It also has a snowball effect. When we make time to specifically focus on what's good in our lives, we then begin noticing more of what's good. That, in turn, allows us to create more of what's good. Starting each day with gratitude helps us have (and make) better days. Each morning, say out loud (or write down) three specific things you're grateful for. I tend to pick three specific things that happened the day prior. When I do this, I find that I'm in a better mood all day. I'm also more prepared to handle any temporary setbacks I encounter or bad news that comes my way.

6. Challenge yourself to learn and grow

As humans, we're meant to develop and evolve, especially over time. Engaging in a process of continual learning stimulates our brains, but also our hearts. We tend to feel more fulfilled and happier when we're learning new things and stretching ourselves. There are several ways to do this. You can read. You can take a class (even if it's just a pottery class or a poetry class). You can attend a workshop or seminar. You can also make it a point to do something new this summer. Bonus points if it's something hard that scares you or makes you uncomfortable. Doing new things challenges us to get out of our comfort zones, and that's a hugely important part of growth.

Whatever you've got on your plate this summer, you're bound to feel better and be more successful if you incorporate these six healthy habits, too. You might not think you have time for all of them, but I've found that making these habits part of your daily and weekly routines actually causes us to feel like we have more time; not less.