Independence Day is a great day to get together with friends and family and celebrate. It’s also notorious for being a time where we might overindulge with food and drink.  We talk about self-care quite a bit which in essence refers to cultivating joy in your life through social connections, hobbies, downtime . . .or, put simply, making time for the meaningful people and activities in your life.  As we head into this holiday weekend, we wanted to share 4 tips that can help maximize your enjoyment of the holiday and minimize unwanted side effects.

Tip #1 

Enjoy the time off- whether with family, friends or simply not working at the same pace for a day or two, take some time to do something you enjoy that maybe you don’t have much time for in your every day life.  Sleep in or go to bed early. Connect with people you love in person, over the phone, or maybe even write a letter or send a card. Be present and do what makes you and the people around you happy.

Tip #2 

Stay hydrated. Drink water throughout the day, add electrolytes if you are out in the sun or playing hard. If you are consuming alcohol, pace yourself by having a glass of water between each beverage. To minimize hangovers and extra calories, be mindful of the effects of sweet and sugary drinks.

Tip #3 

Have an eating strategy!  Seek out vegetables first and frequently.  Consider skipping the bun or maybe trying open face using lettuce in place of the top half of the bun.  It’s okay to diverge from your typical ‘plan’ but we encourage you to do so with intention- I’m going to enjoy this ‘whatever it is’ because I am choosing to do so rather than hiding it or beating yourself up about it.  Set some parameters that enable you to partake in a way that feels good and right for you and stick to them as best you can.

Tip #4 

Take care of your body! Spending time outside is great for overall health and can even help regulate your sleep cycle, however, skin damage and exhaustion can also result from prolonged exposure. Be sure to apply safe sunscreen and stay cool so you feel your best throughout the day.

All of us here at FiT wish you and your families, an Independence Day celebration filled with fun, laughter and love.  

Happy 4th from your FiT Family!