Summer will be here before you know it. There’s something about the season that just makes you feel good and enjoy life that little bit more.
Most people, when they think of preparing for summer concentrate on booking a vacation or getting their perfect ‘beach body’, but there are many more ways you can prepare for summer by making a few tweaks.
Get ready to enjoy the sun.
Prepare Your Home, Inside, And Out
Just as you’d prepare your home for winter, you should be getting it ready for the summer too.
While most of us love the sunny weather and higher temperatures, no one wants to be uncomfortable in their own homes when the mercury does start to rise.
Check all of your windows and doors to make sure they’re working and can provide a good flow of air through your home. Look at getting a few oscillating fans or ceiling fans to place around your home. If you are lucky enough to have air conditioning, make sure it’s in peak working order and get your local HVAC Repair, Sales and Service company to make sure it’s as efficient as possible. Then enjoy the cool air on those hot nights.
Have a ‘spring clean’. It’s the perfect opportunity to get rid of clutter and do all of those little cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off. If you’re feeling really ambitious, channel Marie Kondo and go to town on uncluttering and organizing your life. You’ll feel so much better when it’s done.
If you have a garden, deck or other outside space, you’ll want to get that ready for entertaining and relaxing.
Tidy up the garden getting rid of any clutter, weeds and dead plants. Jet wash any paving or decking to remove all the grime that’s built up over the winter months.
Clear out guttering and drains that may have become blocked and give your windows, storms windows and shutters a good clean. If you have any outside plumbing for hoses etc, make sure they haven’t been damaged by the weather. Pipes that were frozen in the winter could easily crack and leak and because you haven’t been using them, you might not have noticed.
Clean and repair any existing garden furniture or treat yourself to some new pieces. If your garden has any children’s play equipment in it, check that it is safe and that there isn’t any rot or damage caused by the cold weather.
Sort Out Your Summer Wardrobe
Photo by jordi pujadas on Unsplash
It’s time to put away those chunky sweaters, scarves, and boots and bring your summer wardrobe to life.
Store any items you won’t be needing until next year in vacuum bags. This will stop them from taking up too much space in your wardrobe and protect them from moisture and moths.
Donate any unwanted items to goodwill and throw any stained or ripped clothes out.
Go through all of the items you plan on wearing over the summer to make sure they still fit, are fashionable and flattering. Donate anything that doesn’t fit the bill and make a shopping list of any items you might need.
Summer Skin Needs Different Skincare
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
Most people’s skin changes with the season’s too. Harsh winter weather and central heating can cause our skin to be dry and sensitive during winter, so people tend to switch to a heavier, soothing skincare routine.
This might be too much for your skin in the summer. Try switching to a lighter skincare regime that focusses on protecting and repairing sun damage. An SPF is vital to protect your skin from the dangers of UV rays. Use SPF on any parts of your body that are exposed to the sun and reapply it often.
Don’t be tempted to use last year’s bottle of sunscreen as their protective ingredients degrade over time. Throw out any old ones and replace them.
You might want to think about tweaking your make-up routine too. Heavy makeup, mixed with sun and sweat, can clog your pores and cause a dreaded breakout. A thin layer of tinted moisturizer or BB cream can even out skin tone while looking natural and allowing the skin to breathe.
Be careful about using the products you’ve had for a long time. Skincare and makeup have a shelf life, after which they become less effective or can even cause problems with your skin if bacteria has built up.
Please note that some of the links above and below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
