Sunscreen, Hydration, and Not Ruining Day 2

Ask anyone who’s done a PCB spring break what wrecked their week. It’s rarely the thing they were warned about. It’s the sunburn on Monday and the dehydration on Tuesday that turned Wednesday into a lost day. Here’s the routine that prevents it.

Sun

March sun on the Gulf is stronger than it feels. The air is cool, the water is cool, and you don’t notice you’re burning until you’re red.

• SPF 30+, reef-safe, applied before you leave the condo. Not at the beach. Before.
• Reapply every two hours and after swimming. Set a phone alarm the first two days until it’s habit.
• Hat and sunglasses. Your face and eyes take the most.
• Shade for an hour mid-afternoon. The day party has shade. Use it.
• Aloe in the condo for when someone ignores this list.

Water

The math is simple: sun plus alcohol plus dancing equals a lot of water out. Replace it or Day 2 replaces you.

• A full bottle before you leave the condo, morning and evening.
• One water per drink. Every venue will give you a cup of water. Ask.
• Electrolytes once a day. Sports drink, coconut water, a packet — whatever you’ll actually drink.
• A bottle by the bed. Drink it before you sleep and when you wake up.

Sleep

Not glamorous, but the group that sleeps six hours a night is the group that’s still standing Friday. One full rest day mid-week. The rhythm of the week is built around it.

Food

Breakfast every day, something real before the day party, and food after the club. Breakfast and cheap eats cover it.

When it goes wrong

Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion in the heat — that’s heat exhaustion, and it’s serious. Shade, water, cool down, and if it doesn’t improve fast, urgent care. Know where the nearest one is before you need it. Safety post.