Last Updated on July 17, 2024 by Angela Vaz
My birthday is in the Summer.
And this gives me a little more motivation because I want actually to look my best – it hurts less when I age up 1 year but look nice. =D
I know that feeling of wanting to change your life because you’re tired of being stuck, unmotivated, or dull.
And the best way to make significant change is to pile up tiny habits.
Why?
Because tiny habits don’t put so much pressure, they’re easy to sustain.
This means, that even after summer is over, you’ll have developed some good habits that you can continue.
The key here is sustainability.
So, don’t overdo it.
Don’t start working out 2 hours every day if you’ve lived a sedentary lifestyle for most of your life.
Start small – and build the habits slowly.
It will be more permanent!
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1. Just focus on moving
If you’ve never exercised before, don’t just start going to the gym.
For a lot of people, it can be quite intimidating.
Instead of hitting the gym, work out by yourself in a more comfortable place.
You don’t have to build abs and become toned in 1 day.
It’s impractical.
Just move first.
And do it every day – this will allow your body to get used to movement.
For instance, when I started working out – I just did home workouts for 10 minutes daily.
I combined this with an additional 10-minute uphill walk on the treadmill.
Once I could sustain this habit for a whole week, I gradually increased my workout to 20 minutes.
I can now work out 45 minutes, and it doesn’t feel stressful or tiring.
Focus on any movement, but do it every day (at least 5-6 days a week).
Incorporate any movement in your day.
- Please park your car a bit further and walk to it.
- Take the stairs when you can.
- Dance in the kitchen while you’re preparing a meal you love.
- Sway your hips when vacuuming or air-strum while listening to rock music.
Honestly, be creative.
Do something you love – playing hoops, swimming, aerobics, or lifting weights, go for it.
Most people exercise for health reasons or want to look fit, but they continue exercising because of how it makes them feel.
Those endorphins quite literally charge you! And it improves blood flow which makes your skin glow!
Consistency is vital, so make it a non-negotiable.
And you’ll notice your body becoming more fit and toned and your skin glowing from within.
Which brings me to my next point…
2. Invest in GOOD skincare
If your skin looks amazing, your appearance will improve significantly.
I love makeup, but my goal has always been to use less.
I want to be naturally beautiful, and because I’ve had acne for most of my life – it’s been a real challenge.
So, whatever your skin concern is, work on it right now.
Because I have acne, my skincare currently targets breakouts and pigmentation:
This is my skincare routine that works for me:
- Morning: Gentle cleanser, glycolic acid (helps with fading hyperpigmentation and smoothes skin), CORSX Snail Mucin Repair Cream, sunscreen
- Evening: Cleanser followed by Salicylic acid/Niacinamide (I alternate between both) and any moisturizer
Skincare takes 6-8 weeks to show, so be patient and try to be consistent – and trust me, the hype of good skin care is totally worth it.
When summer is over, your skin will glow and no longer dull.
3. Get a haircut that suits your face and start a hair routine
Because I have intensely curly hair, it’s taken me years to find a hairstylist who knows how to cut my hair and frame my face.
And a good haircut can change your look completely!
I’m sure you’ve seen actors/singers who have appeared to glow up after a good haircut.
So, do some research on Pinterest and see what hairstyles suit certain face shapes, and then once you get your haircut – learn how to style it.
Avoid heat because that will only damage your hair.
Instead, go in with a hair mask once a week and care for it just like you would your skin.
4. Reduce sugar and alcohol (or cut it out completely)
This is one step that you will not see a difference unless you do it.
It’s difficult to explain, but you’ll notice your body feeling lighter and your skin improving.
Sugar and alcohol quite literally have no benefits.
They’re both very addictive, so cutting them out requires quite a bit of willpower.
But I’ll tell you what my friend told me, “Try it for a month and see how you feel. You will never want to go back.”
Although I could not eliminate sugar from my diet entirely (I still love dark chocolate), I have cut it out for the most part.
I thought quitting alcohol would be really hard.
But after stopping it for a month, I genuinely don’t enjoy it anymore.
I don’t feel lethargic or overly hungry the next day anymore and it’s such a lovely feeling because I can focus better and have sustained energy throughout the day!
Cutting out alcohol from my life has been such a game-changer.
Your skin will improve and it will be tight and supple, your hair will become stronger and shinier, and you’ll notice your health improving – it’s almost magic.
5. Eat a lot of greens and stay hydrated
This sounds so simple, but it significantly affects your overall appearance.
There is a reason why everyone says, “Eat your vegetables.”
Vegetables provide fiber, and they’re low-calorie.
This means when you add a handful of veggies to your meals, you’ll consume less food but feel fuller.
Pair this with good protein, and you’ll have beautifully balanced meals.
After increasing my consumption of cruciferous veggies (I noticed my acne decreasing significantly).
I discuss it in my post on how I cleared my skin and got rid of my acne in 10 weeks.
6. Wear sunscreen!
I remember my partner’s mum asking me for advice because she was concerned with her skin aging too fast.
I just gave her good sunscreen since she hates skincare and she loves it!
80-90% of skin aging is attributed to the sun’s rays by the way.
By wearing sunscreen, you’re maintaining the integrity of collagen and elastin and you’ll look more youthful and radiant.
By protecting the skin from UV damage, sunscreen helps to preserve the skin’s barrier function, which is essential for retaining moisture and preventing dryness – helping you look young.
Do not (at any cost) skip sunscreen!
You can use any sunscreen, but right now, I am in love with La Roche Posay.
7. Sleep every day
We all require different amounts of sleep.
My partner can make do with 6-7 but I easily need 8-9.
Go to bed earlier and wind down before you fall asleep – it helps. Don’t ever skip sleep because this is the only time your body repairs itself:
1. It repairs your skin
While you sleep away, your body is hard at work repairing and regenerating skin cells where your skin gets to undo all the damage from the day – think sun exposure, pollution, and stress.
2. It improves blood flow to the skin
Sleep boosts blood flow to your skin, giving you that natural, healthy glow.
4. It decreases your stress
When you’re well-rested, your body produces less cortisol (the stress hormone) and more serotonin (the happy hormone). This balance keeps your skin calm and less prone to breakouts.
5. It balances water in your body
During deep sleep, your body balances hydration levels. Your skin recovers moisture while excess water is processed for removal, reducing the risk of puffiness, dryness, and dark circles. Think of it as your skin’s hydration therapy, leaving it soft and supple by morning.
6. Your body produces collagen while you sleep
Sleep is like a time machine for your skin. It’s when your body produces collagen, which prevents sagging and fine lines. More collagen means plumper skin and fewer wrinkles, keeping you looking youthful and fresh.
So, no matter what you do, increase the amount of hours – don’t sacrifice sleep for productivity.
It’s not worth it.
8. Learn how to wear clothes that suit your body type
First, you need to determine your body type. Here are some common shapes:
- Apple: Wider midsection and slimmer legs.
- Pear: Wider hips and thighs with a smaller waist and shoulders.
- Hourglass: Balanced bust and hips with a well-defined waist.
- Rectangle: Similar measurements for bust, waist, and hips with minimal curves.
- Inverted Triangle: Broad shoulders and bust with narrower hips.
I’d notice that clothes that looked good on someone else would not necessarily suit me.
It took me a while to figure out that I was pear-shaped and there was a way of dressing for pear-shaped bodies.
Once you figure out your body type, watch YouTube videos or look on Pinterest.
Study how people (who have your body type) dress and shop for those pieces.
It takes a while but once you wear clothes that flatter your body type, you can redo your whole wardrobe and look so much better.
The way you present yourself makes a huge difference!
9. Love yourself
When I was depressed (because I was going through a divorce and lost my mom to cancer), I looked sad.
It didn’t matter how much of a show I put on and how much I smiled in public, my face didn’t glow.
Happiness makes you glow from within – so does confidence.
When you’re happy, your eyes light up – you become a radiant human being.
I focused on healing and uplifting myself and I noticed people being drawn to me.
Meditation, journaling, and reading warm and comforting books, actually helped me change my perspective.
Take long walks, practice gratitude, and talk to people.
Note how your face and entire demeanor change.
This is the biggest opportunity to glow up and you can do this at any time!
10. Moisturize your body every night – and apply perfume
This is more for you than others.
Moisturizing your body is such a simple wellness technique but it’s so effective.
Your skin will glow and it will look so radiant, you will love it.
When your skin is moisturized, your skin holds on to perfume for longer.
The perfume smells better on hydrated skin – it’s a fact. That’s why most people apply Vaseline before applying perfume so that they can smell good for longer.
I currently love the BumBum Cream because people have stopped me to ask me what I’m wearing and they genuinely don’t believe me when I say it’s just a moisturizer.
11. Figure out a makeup routine that enhances your best features
Lastly, figure out a makeup routine that enhances your best features.
For me, it’s my hair and eyes.
I always enhance my eyes and fluff up my hair before leaving the house.
Likewise, you have a unique face, treasure it.
Figure out what looks good on your face (some experimentation is required) and make it work!
Maybe you love blue eyeliner or you can rock a cherry lip.
Either way, spend the summer doing that. You can also go to Sephora and ask for a makeover!
And that’s it.
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to pin it!
Here are a few more posts that you might enjoy!
- The 1% rule: how to Improve yourself every day in 10 minutes
- How to glow up after a breakup – everything I did
- 7 traits that make people fall in love with you – how to become popular!
- 35 honest ways to COMPLETELY get your life together
- 20 quotes to help you wake up early
- How to Stop Overanalyzing Everything
- Finding peace: How to stop thinking about someone who has hurt you
- 7 Tiny Habits to get you out of your Lazy Girl Era
- How to not let things bother you
