The self-love glow up you need

Is it spring yet? Are you ready for a 2021 glow up?

Whether you spent most of 2020 in lockdown, trying to get used to the new normal and combating the hustle mentality, or you adapted some new healthy habits during quarantine, it’s always a good time for an additional glow up.

According to Urban Dictionary, a Glow Up is a mental, physical, and emotional transformation for the better. More often than not though, a glow up is promoted as a way of becoming prettier through incorporating a variety of beauty routines and self-care rituals.

The traditional glow up journeys you would hear about include pampering yourself, using a variety of beauty products, and buying new clothes and accessories. Well, this is not the glow up I’d like to talk about.

For me, self-love and self-care don’t begin and end with taking a bubble bath, doing a face mask, and painting your nails. I believe that the actual glow comes from within, and it’s a process, not a single occasion. Glowing up should include improving your mental state, physical health, and general wellness, as well as learning to love and take care of yourself intentionally.

Here is the self-love glow up you should actually aspire towards in 2021.

Mind

How to get clear skin a clear mind

• Declutter your mind. In order to love yourself more, you should become mindful of what you think, feel, and want. Try to accept and process the thoughts you think, the feelings you feel, and the emotions you might have bottled up. Write them down, cry them out, talk and think about them and try to let them go if they are not serving you in a positive way.

• Declutter your space. You might wonder how vacuuming the flat and doing the dishes might help you get mental clarity, but it’s proven that doing your domestic chores alleviates stress and can have a therapeutic effect. Getting rid of the clutter can be soothing, and the post-cleanup feeling of accomplishment combined with having a neat and organized home will indeed make you happy. Remember, when you take care of the environment you live in, you take care of yourself.

• Mindfulness. As Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches, “Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Mindfulness is being intentionally aware of what is occurring in the present and includes practises like breathing, meditation, journaling, and expressing gratitude.

Body

How to get the best body learn to love and take care your body

• Hygiene & Self-care. When you want to show love to your body, you should start small. Brush your teeth, wash your face, put on some fresh clothes you love. Try to accept your body for how it looks without judging its imperfections, and appreciate everything it is doing for you. If you have the time and you feel like it, you might as well do the beauty pampering and take a bubble bath, do face and hair masks, or paint your nails. These activities, however, should not be aimed at becoming pretty overnight. When you take care of yourself, you should aspire to feel good, relaxed, and confident in your skin.

• Nutrition & Exercise. The best way to take care of your body is to nourish it and do some pleasant physical activity. Make sure to eat healthy and nutritious food, but don’t hesitate to indulge yourself in a tasty treat – it’s all about the balance! When it comes to exercising, it doesn’t need to be an extremely challenging physical activity like lifting weights or doing cardio for an hour. A much more effective way to take care of your body would be doing a physical activity you love, like going on a walk or dancing to your favorite song.

• Sleep. A good night’s sleep is just as important for your body as eating healthy and exercising. It can improve your mental state, energy levels, and emotional balance. Some tips for getting better sleep include reducing naps, sticking to a nighttime routine, and avoiding using your phone or staring at the TV late at night.

Soul

Get some new clothes rid of the things, which no longer serve you and let into your life things, which bring you joy

• What makes your soul happy? This should be an easy one! The best way to practice self-love is actually doing something you love. Think of all the things that make you feel good, make a list, and start engaging in activities that bring you joy.

• Set boundaries. Setting boundaries is an important aspect of every self-care practice. As Dr. Debora Khoshaba explains in her article A Seven-Step Prescription for Self-Love, “you’ll love yourself more when you set limits or say no to work, love, or activities that deplete or harm you physically, emotionally and spiritually, or express poorly who you are.” Setting boundaries is meant to protect your mental health and well-being, but remember that boundaries can look very different for different people. Respecting others’ boundaries (and setting realistic expectations towards the people in your life) is just as important as setting your boundaries.

• Be kind to others. I have to admit this is my favorite self-love practice. How so? Being intentionally helpful, considerate, and empathic means that you are selfless. And this doesn’t mean that you’re putting others’ priorities above your own, but that you are aware and in touch with yourself, and you can be actively kind to others. Among others, kindness releases feel-good hormones, eases anxiety, and reduces stress. And remember, a little kindness goes a long way, and it most certainly will return to you.

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