Sun Safety

Hello Dear Ones, 

Today is the first Monday in May, so it’s Melanoma Monday. This day’s meant to bring awareness to people about the risks of Melanoma and what you can do to prevent skin cancer for yourself and your loved ones. Caring for your skin and practicing sun safety this summer will help you enjoy being outside without the sunburn.

First, I think it’s important to acknowledge that there are tremendous benefits to getting out in the sun! We get our Vitamin D (although not enough if you live in the Midwest) from sun exposure. Getting outside helps with our mental and physical well-being. Taking a walk outside helps us be more mindful and connected to the world around us. Who doesn’t feel better after walking around in the fresh air and spring sunshine for a few minutes? It’s a powerful way to be able to reset and feel better. 

That said, it’s important to know a few things about UV exposure we get when outside, especially going into the summer months.

• UV Rays can damage the skin in just 15 minutes

• Peak sun hours are between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm each day

• Water, snow, and sand are reflective and may increase the risk of sunburn

Sun safety and sharing this information with you today is important to me because, in 2011, I was diagnosed with Melanoma. Up until that point in my life, I hadn’t given much thought to skin cancer, or taking steps to protect my skin from UV damage. In fact, I’d done everything I could to get and maintain a tan. Here’s a pic of my “ideal” skin tone on a trip to Australia in 2009.

As you can imagine, this is not my natural coloring. Skin cancer can be mild, but in my case, it took a year of chemo and multiple surgeries for me to get a clean bill of health. It’s something that’s worth putting in the effort to protect yourself and your loved ones from having to experience in the first place.

One thing I’ve learned along the way after getting diagnosed is that our skin is like an elephant; it never forgets the damage we’ve done to it. So all those times I spent out on my trampoline with baby oil as a teenager are catching up with me as I age. The most impactful skin damage is done before the age of 18, so make sure you’re teaching the kiddos in your life about sun safety while setting a good example yourself 🙂 

What we can all do now is ensure that we prevent our skin from further damage. I’m going to share some resources on sun safety with you so you can enjoy a sunburn-free summer and maximize your enjoyment of being outside this season.  

Sun Safety Practices: 

• Stay hydrated to help regulate your body temp

• Obey the shadow rule:

  • An easy way to tell how much UV exposure you are getting is to look for your shadow:

    • If your shadow is taller than you are (in the early morning and late afternoon), your UV exposure is likely to be lower.

    • If your shadow is shorter than you are (around midday), you’re being exposed to higher levels of UV radiation. Seek shade and protect your skin and eyes. (trees, umbrellas, etc)

• Wear protective clothing and gear

  • Hats 

  • Lightweight long sleeve shirts 

  • Lightweight pants 

  • Sunglasses 

• Wear sunscreen! 

  • Look for products with non-nano zinc oxide 

  • Make sure its broad spectrum so you get protection against UVA and UVB rays

  • SPF stands for Sun Protective Factor (15-50 are the recommendations, the fairer your natural skin tone, the higher you should go)

Thank you all for allowing me to be on your well-being journey. Getting outside is great for your mental and physical well-being and I hope you each enjoy your time outside safely this summer. 

If you have questions on sun safety or sunscreen, please feel free to respond so we can talk about it. If you’d like support with your mental and physical well-being reach out to me or schedule a free Where to Begin session here. 

With love and kindness, 

Jessica 

P.S. The fun thing I’m doing right now to take care of myself has been to add a mindful transition routine to my workday. I have a very short list of 3-4 things I’m doing to “open” and “close” my work each day. Since I primarily work from home, creating this routine has helped me be more productive and mindful of the space and mindset I’m in. It’s made it easier for me to know what to do, and I’ve been way more successful with staying present in the space and role I’m in. 

How do you transition in and out of work each day? I’d love to hear your ideas and routines!