The arrival of the summer season means it’s time for a well-deserved educational break for students. The summer months are a period where teens participate in extracurricular activities such as summer outings, sports camps, etc. But did you know that there are several common ways teenagers abuse their bodies, no matter how energetic they are? We’ll look at these today and their respective preventive methods that are definitely much better than medicine for fever or muscle pain.
1. Sleep All Day, Part-ay All Night!
With the school nights officially over for the next two months or so, teens see summer as a time to finally party all night and sleep all day. That’s not a good idea. Their Circadian rhythms will be out of sync and when school rolls in, they’ll be…ineffective.
Solution:
For summer nights, the latest your kids should be out is 11 pm ideally, although 12-1am is a little more realistic for this generation. However, parents need to make sure that they still get the right amount of sleep (8 hours at least, 9 hours max – oversleeping ain’t good either).
2. Lack Of H2O
While you can get away with drinking about 5-6 glasses of water per day the rest of the year, this is strictly ill advised during summer. The intense heat will make you sweat more and expend more energy even with minimal effort.
Solution:
Replenish those electrolytes during by drinking 8-12 glasses of water per day. You decrease your risk of fainting due to fatigue or dehydration.
3. Soakin' Up The Sun
Beach hopping and sun bathing might as well be the top two leisure activities for teens during the summer, since they unwind and get that natural tan they’ve always wanted. But, there’s a danger to that, too. If you’re under the sun too long, you could suffer from heat stroke, sunburn, or heat exhaustion.
Solution:
Stay away from the sun during these times - 10 am to 4 pm – as these are hours when the sun’s UV rays are at its hottest and most harmful to the human body. If you do need to soak up the sun, wear sun block with an SPF figure that will protect your skin or wear/go under shade. A pair of sunglasses and/or big straw hat will do.
4. Eating Inadequately
Just like the first item on this list, teens think grabbing a quick bite before dashing off to their activities will be enough. Lack of proper nutrition will cause you to suffer fatigue more easily.
Solution:
Have a balanced diet of meat (fish, beef, or chicken), carbohydrates (rice or potatoes), and vegetables (particularly sprouts, since these convert food and stored fat into energy).
5. Engaging In So Much Physical Activity
When one’s body has sweat too much because of too much physical stress (yes, teens can be hyperactive balls of energy), they suffer from heat cramps in their abdomen, arms, or legs. If left unnoticed, heat cramps could further develop into heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Solution:
Immediately rest from physical activity (preferably in an air-conditioned room) and drink lots of fluids (water or Gatorade) to replenish electrolytes. Even after the pain subsides, do not engage in strenuous activity for at least 24 hours.
6. Slothing
Nothing else is music to a teenager’s ears than the sound of a show or video game on the TV as he/she becomes a couch potato for the rest of the summer. While this kind of unwinding is a dream, it isn’t beneficial in the long run because a long period of inactivity will make a teenager even more lethargic.
Solution:
Set aside 2 to 4 hours a day for a child to unwind with video games/TV. Any longer than that should be subject to disciplinary action.
7. Lifting Heavy Weights Immediately
Sure, teens want beach bods during the summer, but they’re not going to get that by bench-pressing 200 lbs. on day one. This becomes counter productive, as this injures your muscles and keeps you away from the gym.
Solution:
Don’t be afraid to start small. Do light weight training first and then gradually build up to heavier weights. You’ll gain lean muscle and shed off your weight more effectively.
What are other ways you know how teens abuse their body during summer break? Let us know in the comments section below.