Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/537639
Stress-Free Vacation Tips for a 3 1 2 3 EVER FELT LIKE you needed a vacation from your vacation? On your next break, skip the stress and hassles. Try these tips meant to help you truly enjoy your time away from work: Let go of electronics. While it's tempting to stay connected and available (especially to those in the office), your smartphone and laptop can both distract you from time with family and keep your stress close at hand. Try leaving your devices at home or turning off any work- related notifications. Build in a buffer. It can be hard to transition out of work mode at the beginning of a vacation and back into work habits once you return. Take an extra day on the front and back ends of your vacation to allow yourself time to decompress and readjust. Stay flexible. Planning ahead is important for a successful vacation, but don't let last-minute changes stress you out. Keep your expectations low and your mind open to new adventures that might present themselves along the way. YOU KNOW HOW important it is to keep your children protected from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, so you always slather them with sunscreen when you're outside (even when it's cloudy). You might even default to a sunscreen with a higher-than- recommended sun protection factor (SPF) because you hate having to reapply. Yet your kids still get sunburned. What gives? The truth is that no matter which SPF you choose, all sunscreens need to be reapplied at least every two hours, and sometimes more frequently if kids are getting wet or sweaty. Read the back of the bottle to make sure you know how often to reapply sunscreen on your children. Additionally, above SPF 50, the increased amount of sun protection a sunscreen provides is minimal. Experts recommend choosing a sunscreen that has an SPF between 30 and 50. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside and used in combination with other sun-protection precautions, including: Wearing protective clothing (including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses) Seeking shade when outside Reducing time spent in the sun as much as possible Really Better? Is Higher SPF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER-CENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 3