End of Summer Health Reset: Healthy Habits to Carry Into Fall

Summer often brings later bedtimes, more vacations, and extra treats. With school and fall activities on the horizon, now is a great time to focus on resetting habits that support your family's physical and mental health. 

Making a few changes now will help children and adults stay healthy and feel their best as the busy school year begins. 

Schedule annual check-ups 

Back-to-school season is a helpful reminder to schedule annual wellness visits for your family.

These appointments offer an opportunity to monitor growth, review medications, discuss health concerns, and recommend screenings. They also allow you to complete any required school or sports physical forms before classes and activities kick off. 

If you don’t have a primary care doctor, take the next step to establish that relationship. Check out Beebe’s directory to find the right provider for your family’s needs. 

Stay up to date on vaccines

Vaccinations help protect your family and the community from serious illnesses, including measles and other preventable diseases. 

Before school starts, check to make sure your child is up to date on any required immunizations including Tdap, Meningococcal, and HPV.

If you’re not sure if your child is due for any vaccines, talk to your primary care provider. They can review their immunization record and answer any questions you might have. 

Don’t forget about vision and hearing screenings 

Many learning difficulties are first noticed in the classroom, but can stem from undiagnosed vision or hearing problems. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any of these signs: 

• Squinting or rubbing eyes frequently 
• Persistent headaches
• Sitting very close to screens or holding books close to their face 
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Trouble paying attention or following directions 

By catching these issues early, you can address them before they start impacting learning and development. 

Get sleep schedules back on track

To ease back into a good routine, start adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times one or two weeks before school starts.

Try to aim for consistent sleep and wake times throughout the week and limit screen time. This can help the brain wind down, which improves sleep quality. 

Getting enough sleep supports learning, memory, mood, and overall health, leading to better energy and focus and throughout the day. 

Prepare for flu season 

Summer winding down means flu season is right around the corner, and one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is by getting an annual flu vaccine. 

The flu shot reduces your risk of illness, lowers the chance of hospitalization, and limits the spread of flu throughout the community. 

Beebe Healthcare hosts community flu clinics throughout Sussex County. Check out Beebe’s calendar of events for upcoming clinic dates and locations. 

In addition to getting vaccinated, follow these best practices:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Cover coughs and sneezes 
• Stay home when you’re sick 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces 

Reset healthy eating habits

During the summer, it’s easy to fall into less structured eating habits. As the school year approaches, now is a good time to re-shift. Aim to: 

• Pack balanced lunches
• Eat a healthy breakfast every day 
• Drink plenty of water
• Prioritize fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains
• Limit sugary beverages and highly processed snacks 

Healthy eating helps fuel learning, supports the immune system, and boosts energy throughout the day. 

Encourage regular physical activity

Temperatures cool down in fall, which means it’s easier to spend time outdoors. Find opportunities to stay active as a family, such as: 

• Taking a walk after dinner 
• Riding bikes together 
• Playing outside
• Engaging in school sports or other recreational activities 

Children should ideally have about one hour of physical activity daily. Staying active offers many benefits including improved heart health, stronger muscles and bones, and better mood.

Start the season off strong 

The shift from summer to fall is the perfect opportunity to reset healthy habits before life gets busy again. By making a few small changes now, you can help your family start the school year off right and stay healthy throughout the months ahead.