The summer season is raging, so it’s important that you feel at your absolute peak! Our fitness expert is sharing her insights so you are exactly that.
BY HILARY HOFFMAN
- Keep good company and be good company.
Nothing in the world makes you feel more like your best self than being surrounded by people who share your humor, your preferred A/C temperature, your ratio of going-out to staying-in nights and are comfortable with ordering “a pizza for the table.”
- Hydrate.
I wish this one wasn’t true, but it does make me feel invincible. But that invincibility stops during all 15 pee breaks.
- Rewear your favorites.
If asked, “How would you describe your style?” I answer, “Outfit repeater.” When you find a fit or color that looks stunning on and makes you feel fabulous, why mess with perfection?
- Find your version of meditation.
There’s no correct way to find your “center.” How ever you choose to practice mindfulness is the right path. Accessing patience, building awareness, and finding mental clarity can come via seated breathwork or a plank.
- Stick to the two-out-of-three rule.
It’s easy to overindulge during the summer. And don’t get me wrong, some nights call for having it all. However, if your goal is to feel great the next day, I’m a big proponent of following the the two-out-of-three rule: Alcohol. Dessert. Bread. Indulge in two out of the three (in moderation).
- Your energy can outshine any pimple.
While easier said than done, on days where your skin is having a “moment,” get the curler out, take a few extra minutes on your brows, throw on your favorite outfit, and remember that people will remember your energy and smile, not the blemish on your chin or forehead.
- Sleep is queen.
Novel, I know. As the 14,568,100th person to recommend a restful slumber to feel fantastic—after wearing a Whoop and witnessing the direct correlation between a good night’s sleep and productivity—I’m now willing to save watching the rest of Silo on Apple TV until the next day in favor of some zzzs.
- Let them make the left turn.
We’ve all heard the sayings “Keep shining” or “Be the light the world needs,” so why not put these words into action and be the advanced green light on Montauk Highway. While this may feel like a selfless act, I can promise you, it’s selfish to the core.
As someone who despises driving, anytime anyone gives me that little hand gesture to make the turn onto Scuttle Hole Road while traffic piles up, I liken them to a saint or a Ghandi-esque figure. So now, when I can do this for someone else, I walk with a little extra pep in my step for the rest of the day.
- Practice Gratitude.
When you’re on the other side of that left-turn gesture, you better be simultaneously waving aggressively while mouthing “Thank you” to the angel who just shaved four minutes off your arrival time. Some people may journal. Others keep an ongoing mental list. But the small moments add up.
- Do a SOTO workout.
Working out is never the most important part of the day, but it amplifies your ability to access your best self. For me, reserving five, 10, or 30 minutes for SOTO Method in the morning, afternoon, or night is a nonnegotiable. Feeling the “burn” daily serves as a powerful physical reminder of my agency. It becomes a tangible feeling that I can carry into my life and rekindle when I need it most. And it just might do the same for you!