How to Look and Feel Good in Your Body
Self-care from head to toe
The last year has been chaotic and stressful. One thing to take away from quarantine and pandemic life is how important it is to take care of yourself, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You only get one body, so it is important to take care of it inside and out. No one else cares about you as much as you, so you have to prioritize yourself.
Part of self-care is appreciating and loving your body regardless of the supposed flaws you see. Whatever point you are at in life, your body has gotten you here. Your feet carry you every day. Your arms wrap around those you love and provide comfort. Your smile greets those you pass and brightens their day. It is key to remember that for everything you wish you could change, someone else wishes they had what you do.
Hair Care
Whether you wash your hair every day or once a week, spending time on your hair is important. A number of things can dictate the level of maintenance your hair requires including:
- Length
- Texture
- Color (natural or dyed)
- Other chemical treatments
It is important to consult your hairstylist for recommendations about products specific to your hair. Additionally, salon products are guaranteed and come directly from the manufacturer. If the product doesn’t work, you can get your money back. You don’t have to worry about getting a product that could be tampered with, watered down, or completely mislabeled. Ulta is the primary location outside of a salon that is recommended for purchasing hair care products.
At least once in a while take the time to style your hair in a different way. If you always wear it up in a ponytail, let it down. If you always blow dry or heat style your hair, take a day to let it air dry.
Skin Care and Make-up
Your skin is the largest organ on your body and requires care. Additionally, different parts of your body have unique aspects to the skin that may require extra care. Whether it’s your face or your butt, there are products out there for every inch of your skin. While taking care of your skin is important, it can also be relaxing.
Few things are as relaxing as applying a detox or brightening face mask and just letting it do its magic. In the hustle and bustle of your day, the first thing that could be sacrificed is your face care routine. It is important to wash your face in the morning and before you go to bed. If your routine has gone out the window, take the time to get back into it.
Find a skincare line that you like. Look for one that is designed to meet your skincare goals. Put your money where your mouth is and purchase products from companies who align with your values. Some considerations when looking for a skincare line include: cruelty-free, vegan, and supporting minority-owned businesses.
Apply the same rules for skincare to your make-up. If you haven’t been wearing much make-up during the pandemic due to never going anywhere, it is probably time to replace most of your collection. Take this opportunity to explore new products and companies. Another consideration when looking into companies to frequent is what they do to give back. One such example is Moxie Lash which is a sponsor of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
Your face care and body care may come from different companies. You may find a product that you love for your face, and then you may find a completely different product that does wonders for a different body part.
Nutrition
A key element of looking good and feeling good inside and out centers around the food you put in your body. It is important to ensure you are getting a good balance of macro and micronutrients. Any eating plan that completely cuts out entire food groups is suspect and not sustainable in the long term.
Eating is about more than your physical body. We associate food with emotions, social situations, and memory. It is important to recognize the impact certain foods have not only on your body, but on your mind. Just because a food may be fattening or sweet does not mean you shouldn’t enjoy it.
Many people find that eating whole foods or clean eating is key to feeling good, having energy, and performing well throughout their day. Life is about balance, and if you have certain foods that you really enjoy, it is helpful to work those treats into your day or week.
Regardless of how you eat, what foods are included in your diet, or what other nutrition guidelines you are following, it is impossible to get all the nutrients your body needs from a diet, no matter how balanced. Due to changes in our environment such as soil depletion and the use of genetically modified organisms, our food is not as nutrient-dense as it used to be. The best way to fill this gap is with supplements such as LifeExtension multivitamin. When looking at multivitamins, you want to ensure that the vitamins are designed for maximum absorption. You also want to ensure that the ingredients used are optimally sourced using quality ingredients and processing methods.
Dressing down or up
Whether staying in or going out, the right outfit can completely change your outlook on the day. It is important to find clothes that fit your activities and your personality. Based on how many different sides of your personality you want to show off, you could have an extremely eclectic wardrobe.
Your outfits could range from loungewear to office wear to clubwear. Whether you are going out dancing with your friends or staying in with your significant other, you may want to kick it up a notch with something new. Check out rave outfits for a huge selection of sexy outfits to wear at home or on the town.
Wind down and de-stress
The number one thing that is important for self-care is managing stress. Stress has a lot of negative effects on the body, including contributing to insomnia, weight gain, headaches, and wrinkles. No matter what you prefer to do to wind down and de-stress, ensure you build some time into your day for at least one relaxing activity.
It is also important to have time set aside before bed to be off electronic devices. The blue light from your TV, phone, computer, and tablets is scientifically proven to impede your ability to fall asleep. Take at least 30 minutes before bed to detox from your electronics. Use that time to brush your teeth, wash your face, and apply a relaxing body lotion.
If you are one of those people who like to read before going to bed, try using a blue light filter on your device or use blue light glasses. You can also go old-school and read an actual printed book or even listen to an audiobook.
Implementing some of these routines and practices into your daily life will invariably make you feel better, and when you feel better, you look better. Prioritizing self care will allow you to exude relaxation and confidence which will seep into other aspects of your life. Do not lose the time you gained during the pandemic to take care of yourself as we build our new normal.
