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Goodbye books, hello health

With summer on the way, you  don’t want to fall in a rut, so think of a nice easy routine for the following weeks. Something to start your morning with, get excited to do during the day, and something relaxing to cap off your night. 

I love getting up and working out in the mornings during the summer; it’s a great way to start off your day and provide natural energy. Something else to add to your routine might be a new hobby or learning a new trade. Try your hand at  cooking new meals, making your own jewelry,  volunteering at a local shelter or even picking up a  part-time job. Filling your schedule with activities you enjoy won’t have you feeling overburdened, but excited every day you wake up.

Get back in touch with your health. Often during the school year, our health takes a back seat. This summer, listen to your body, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, stretch, move around — whether it’s walking your dog or going on a jog — and drink plenty of water. After a long semester, focusing on your health is the best form of self-care. 

One common issue with eating healthy can be letting  groceries go bad when they sit in your fridge untouched. A great way to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet is to wash and  prepare them when you get home from grocery shopping. 

 Some of my favorite fruits are strawberries, grapes and blueberries. When I wash the strawberries in cold water, I cut them up and place them in a bowl with a dry paper towel on the bottom. I put the two other fruits in separate bowls and leave them in my fridge. This not only keeps the fruit fresh longer, but leaves them accessible for everyone to eat throughout the day. 

For vegetables, I love carrots and celery. Grabbing a bag of baby carrots and a stalk of celery is a great way to add more vegetables in your diet. Wash the carrots in cold water and place them in a plastic container with a paper towel in the bottom. For the celery, cut the bottom and remove all the leaves. I like to cut up my celery into about 2-3-inch pieces and place in a Tupperware container for easy snackage.

Christelle Temple is an WVU honors sophomore. She contributes a weekly column on health, fitness and motivation. Follow her on Instagram @ellesbells2. Contact her at columns@DominionPost.com