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shorter, we experience less light exposure, which means our bodies don’t create that essential vitamin D. As a result, many people experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. Meanwhile, getting outside and soaking up the sun does provide a healthy source of vitamin D, which can improve your mood and leave you feeling happier!
Furthermore, as you get outside, this could help you live longer. A Swedish study of 30,000 women found that those who were exposed to more sun throughout their lifetimes lived an average of six months to two years longer. Imagine what you could do with an extra two years? STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES AND YOUR IMMUNITY Just as vitamin D helps improve your mood, it can also offer a boost to the immune system and your bones. This powerhouse nutrient has been linked to a stronger immune system and increased production
LOSE MORE WEIGHT AND LIVE LONGER The sun isn’t a cure-all to help you shed those stubborn 10 pounds, but it has been linked with a healthier lifestyle and fat and weight loss. One study found that spending as little as 30 minutes outside between 8 a.m. and noon has been linked to weight loss. There are likely other factors involved in these findings, including the fact that just the mere act of being outside prompts you to be more active. Other experts have found that living in warmer climates helps you shed more fat, simply because your body needs less insulation. When you move from a cooler climate to a warmer area, your body sheds fat that it no longer needs to keep warm. This could take years, but it does happen.
of calcium — the compound that makes your bones healthy. In fact, some studies have found a link between low levels of vitamin D and severe COVID-19 symptoms. More studies need to be done to fully understand this connection, but researchers believe it’s a revelation about vitamin D’s role in our immunity. From lifted restrictions to improved health, there are many reasons why you should get outside during this final month of summer. I hope you have a fantastic August and enjoy all the things that make summer great: family, fun, and sunshine!
Got a Lawyer on That Back-to-School List?
The kids are going back to school soon, and it may feel too soon, even rushed. Back-to-school season is a perfect excuse to slow down and take care of business, though. Once you get this stuff taken care of, you might feel a little better about summer ending and the kids heading off to new adventures. The first thing to consider is going to be helping any new adults in your household get on top of the “adult stuff” that comes with turning 18. You might be thinking of setting up accounts for them to pay into retirement or savings, and that’s a good idea, but don’t
forget to help them get an estate plan and a will in order, too. They may still be dependents who are on your health care plan, but when a person turns 18, they’re no longer a child, and having the legal documents in order is a part of that transition. Other legal considerations for kids on their way to college are medical care documents, such as do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and other health care directives. It’s a hard, sometimes scary talk to have, but that’s part of being an adult, and your child will likely appreciate being treated as such. For younger children, nothing is more important than figuring out guardianship in case you end up incapacitated or otherwise unable to continue being their guardian. For teenaged minors, make sure they’re included in these decisions. Would they prefer to live with an aunt or uncle, their grandparents, or maybe even an older sibling? Finally, make sure that the potential guardian is okay with the arrangement and understands their potential responsibilities. Send the kids back to school the right way, which is to say with the security in knowing their futures are planned for. It’s a great example to set as well as a massive weight off everybody’s shoulders. How often do you get to do that? Your attorney will know more and help you out with any questions you may have.
2 • www.ptstn.net
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