How To Spend a Summer With SMA

Summer is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited for all the warm weather and thunderstorms to come. With summer here, I wanted to share some ways I spend my summer with SMA and share some fun things I do to keep myself occupied during this time of year before winter hits and I’m stuck in the house again.

Get outside (but don’t forget the sunscreen)

Warmer weather means it’s the perfect time to get outside and soak up the sunshine. I love to take a book outside and read in the warmth or do my nails. You can even set up a gaming system or TV outside so you can soak up the vitamin D while binging your favorite game or show.

When I lived in the mountains of West Virginia, I’d spend hours outside with my dogs. Gardening is another way to get some sun time. I tend to feel less stiff during the warm summer days because I’m not cold. My mobility is at an all-time high and that’s such a serotonin boost for me. But don’t forget the sunscreen!

Plan a small day trip

Traveling is tricky for people with SMA, so I like to plan small day trips to avoid being cooped up in the air conditioning all summer long. Some places that I recommend that are wheelchair user friendly are listed below.

• Zoo & Aquarium
• Park
• Library or Bookstore
• ShoppingVisit a nearby town and go window shopping for the day
• Berry picking
• Farmers Market
• Nature Trails and Picnic
• Attend a Concert

All of these are wheelchair friendly and accessible and great ways to get out and about with family and friends or even with a caregiver. A lot of these are financially friendly as well. My favorite outing is attending concerts and television fandom conventions where I get to meet my favorite celebrities from my favorite shows.

Go on vacation

Going on vacation requires planning for someone with SMA, but it’s totally doable and a great time to go on vacation is during the summer or in the off season when it’s less crowded in certain areas like the city or beach. I tend to go visit family out of state during the summer because my mobility is better during the warmer months and I can spend time outdoors more and go swimming with family. I’ve got a family trip coming up soon I’m looking forward to. There’s plenty of wheelchair friendly vacation spots that are out there like going on a cruise.

These are just a few ideas on how to spend your summer with SMA. Sometimes though I tend to just take the time in the summer to relax and do whatever my body will allow me and a lot of that time it’s just relaxing indoors. And that’s okay too! We don’t have to be constantly on the run to have a fun successful summer. Sometimes all you need is the sun shining through your window and a good book.