Self-Care Summer: 7 Practices To Try

woman in a blue swimsuit sitting on a pink flamingo inflatable in a pool and laughing out loud

Summer is a season of change, of renewal, of optimism. The days grow longer, the sun shines brighter, and the world bursts into life with a riot of color. As nature transitions, so can we. This is a perfect opportunity for new beginnings, a time to embrace self-care, and to use the natural vitality of the season to rejuvenate our own well-being.


Self-care is the practice of taking active steps to preserve or improve your own health, well-being, and happiness. It involves understanding your needs and taking the time to meet them, which is an act of self-love and self-respect. Ignoring self-care can lead to burnout, stress, and a variety of physical and mental health issues.

So, why is summer an excellent time for self-care? Simply put, the warm weather, increased daylight, and the availability of a variety of outdoor activities naturally lend themselves to an energy boost, which can motivate us to try new things and better care for ourselves. Each change of season brings new opportunities for growth and exploration, and summer is no exception.

So, without further ado, here are seven self-care practices to try this summer:

Find fun ways to enjoy the outdoors

man and woman sitting on white bed reading bookPhoto by Anastasiia Rozumna on Unsplash

Summer is the perfect time to connect with nature, soak up some sunshine (don't forget your sunscreen), and enjoy the great outdoors. Plan a picnic with your favorite foods, go for a relaxing walk in the park, or, if you're a fan of the night sky, spend an evening stargazing. You could also join a hiking club or try outdoor yoga. These activities not only provide a healthy dose of Vitamin D but also help reduce stress and increase happiness.

Establish a healthy sleep routine

woman covered in white blanket sleeping on white bed comforterPhoto by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

In the summer, with extended daylight hours, it's easy to let our sleep patterns become erratic. Yet, quality sleep is essential for our physical health and mental well-being. Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule by setting a regular bedtime and wake-up time. Make your bedroom a sleep-friendly environment: cool, quiet, and dark. You could use blackout curtains or an eye mask to block out the summer light. Limit screen time before bed, as the blue light emitted can interfere with your sleep cycle. Remember, a good night's sleep is crucial for restoring energy and rejuvenating your mind and body.

Stay hydrated with delicious drinks

two women drinking a jarritos soda and laughingPhoto by Jarritos Mexican Soda on Unsplash

As the temperature rises, so does our need for hydration. Drinking water is essential, but why not mix it up a bit? Try creating delicious homemade limonadas, infused waters, or refreshing summer mocktails. You can use fresh summer fruits like watermelon, strawberries, and of course, lemons. Hydration is vital for overall health, including skin health, so drink up!

Fuel your creativity by trying something new

woman in white long sleeve shirt sitting on chair and paintingPhoto by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Summer’s longer days provide extra hours for you to explore new interests. Join a book club to stimulate your mind, participate in a hiking club to feed your adventurous side, enroll in swimming lessons to cool off, or sign up for an online course to learn a new skill. Daring to step outside of your comfort zone is a form of self-care that promotes growth and self-confidence.

Incorporate in-season foods into your diet

group of people eating on backyardPhoto by Lee Myungseong on Unsplash

Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Incorporating these into your diet not only benefits your health but also supports local farmers. Visit your local farmer's market, explore the vibrant colors and smells, and try to add a new fruit or vegetable to your meals each week. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can boost your immune system, improve digestion, and provide essential vitamins and nutrients. You can also check out some Luz-approved “biohacks” that can improve your health.

Add a touch of green to your life

woman holding water sprayerPhoto by Trung Thanh on Unsplash

Bring the outside in by adding some houseplants to your living space. Studies have shown that being around plants can improve concentration, reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. Furthermore, plants can improve indoor air quality by releasing oxygen and absorbing toxins. If you're new to plant care, you might want to check out our top houseplant picks for beginners.

In any case, tending to plants can be a rewarding practice that encourages mindfulness and connection to the natural world. And there's something special about the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing your green friends grow and thrive.

Make room for all the good stuff coming your way

assorted color apparelsPhoto by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

Lastly, use the energy of the season to declutter your space. Start with your closet. As you sift through your belongings, consider donating items you no longer need to a local shelter. Clearing out physical clutter can lead to a decluttered mind, resulting in less stress and more tranquility. Creating a clean, calm environment can significantly impact your mood and mental health.

Remember, self-care is not one-size-fits-all, so feel free to adapt these practices to fit your lifestyle and needs. Embrace the season of change and growth, and most importantly, take care of you!

woman surrounded by colorful illustrations
Image by Sayuri Jimenez.

Nathalie Molina Niño has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers, and now, she’s focusing her attention on a new mission: demystifying corporate boardrooms for women, especially Latinas. Molina Niño is the President of Known, an asset management and financial services firm, a veteran tech entrepreneur and builder capitalist, and a board member at the iconic lingerie Brand, Hanky Panky, and others.

Like many corporate boards, Hanky Panky hadn’t publicly disclosed its board composition until recently. After the brand survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Molina Niño decided it was time for more women, specifically more Latinas, to know what it means to be on corporate boards.

Coincidentally, the decision to finally be more vocal about this topic aligned with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which served as the perfect kick-off to the work.

"Something that rarely gets talked about and I think almost gets kept opaque by design is boards,” she explains in a recent Instagram announcement. “[This Latinx Heritage Month], that’s what I’ll be talking about.” Her goal? To equip more Latinas with the knowledge they need to navigate onto for-profit boards, where they can thrive and build multi-generational wealth.

For-profit corporate boards often feel like an exclusive club. And in many ways, they are, especially for Latinas, who hold the smallest percentage of board seats in Fortune 500 companies compared to other racial groups. According to the latest report from Latino Board Monitor, while Latinos hold 4.1% of these board seats (compared to 82.5% held by white people), only 1% go to Latinas. Molina Niño, a first-generation American of Ecuadorian and Colombian descent, is part of this boardroom minority.

When asked about her experience as a Latina board member during a recent Zoom interview, she said, “It’s been lonely. There’s not a lot of Latinas on boards.” She went on to explain that even serving on boards of Latina-founded businesses gets lonely because, “A lot of the times, people who serve on their boards represent their investors and, as a result, [...] you still don’t see a lot of Latinas on those boards.”

This lack of representation drives Molina Niño’s determination to increase Latina presence in corporate boardrooms. By sharing her insights, she hopes to give Latinas a roadmap to claim their seats at the table. “If you don’t know where to go, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there,” she says.

The Road to the Boardroom

Getting onto a for-profit corporate board isn’t an overnight achievement, but it’s not an unattainable dream either. People often think you need to be a CEO or have a certain type of background, but that’s one of the biggest myths about boards in Molina Niño’s experience. What they’re really looking for is expertise — whether that’s in finance, marketing, sustainability, or even technology. If you have that expertise, you’re already an asset. It’s simply a matter of which road you should take.

Understanding what boards are and how they operate is key to unlocking opportunities. For-profit boards serve as the governing body for companies, overseeing direction and financial stability, and guiding CEOs and executives in decision-making. But Molina Niño emphasizes that not all for-profit boards are created equal.

“There are two kinds [of for-profit boards] [...]. There’s the publicly traded business board and then, on the privately held side, there are, I would argue, two types of boards [...] the traditional business board and the venture-backed business board,” explains Molina Niño. Traditional businesses are often family-owned or long-established and may only form boards to meet requirements, like securing financing or transitioning through an ESOP. Venture-backed boards, on the other hand, are typically filled by investors who hold major stakes in the company.

According to Molina Niño, understanding the difference between them is how you can create a successful strategy. With publicly traded business boards, the whole world is privy to them, so, “The way that you get in there is a little bit more transparent. Sometimes those publicly traded companies will hire a recruiter to help them find new board members,” explains Molina Niño. For private companies, on the other hand, there’s no legal requirement to make announcements. As a result, most people don’t know anything about them or their inner workings.

“Usually what happens in traditional businesses that don’t have venture-capital investments is that the Founders, Executives, or the board members, if one existed already, they usually go to their friends,” and people they deem experienced to fill board seats. In other words, it’s the founder’s decision, and that’s an entirely different approach than hiring recruiters. When it comes to venture-backed business boards, the seats on the board are filled by whichever investor writes the biggest check.

This is why an understanding of the different types of boards and acknowledgment of their own strengths is what will help Latinas define a sound strategy. Whether that’s working with a recruiter, networking and connecting with founders to build trust, or making the biggest investment.

The Path for Latinas

For Molina Niño, the key to getting more Latinas into corporate boardrooms is education. Knowing what a board looks like and how it functions is how you can position yourself to get on it. In openly talking about this, without the mystique it’s usually shrouded in, Molina Niño is providing women, especially Latinas, with invaluable insights. “If we had Latinas understanding what are the three types of for-profit boards I think that, on their own, they would be able to figure out what their best chance is and adjust their careers to make themselves more competitive,” states Molina Niño.

When asked about the impact of increased Latina representation in boardrooms, Molina Niño flips the narrative. “Boards don’t help Latinas by offering them seats; Latinas help businesses thrive by being on their boards,” she says. “The whole point of sitting on a board is that you have experience and expertise, and as Latinas, you also have some cultural experience that everyone wants. [...] At the end of the day, we [Latinas] have to realize that we have a ton to offer and we have to be selective about where we put that expertise,” she explains.

As demand for access to the Latina consumer rises, Molina Niño predicts that more Latinas will find themselves recruited into boardrooms. But she’s not content to sit back and wait for that moment. By openly sharing her journey and insights, she’s making sure other Latinas know their worth and have the tools to claim their place at the table. “I realized that quietly being on boards that helped me personally is not helping other Latinas. [...] I was lucky enough to have friends who could advise me and share their experiences, so that’s why I’m doing this,” she stated.

With Hispanic Heritage Month as the backdrop, Nathalie Molina Niño’s mission is clear: “My goal is just to give Latinas enough information so they can make a plan for how to eventually get on a board that they’re paid to be on and that will eventually help them build generational wealth.”

flags of latin american countries fly behind performers wearing culturally traditional clothing

Ever noticed how September in Latin America is just one big celebration? As we wave goodbye to summer and avoid winter as long as we can, the streets come alive with parades, music, and festivities. Many Latin American countries celebrate their freedom this month, commemorating their hard-fought battles for independence from colonial domination. Let’s dive into these significant days and understand what makes each unique.

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