These days, it seems as if newer and seemingly better methods to take care of yourself come to light every hour – these gimmicks, which are supposed to change your life forever, however, are quickly exposed to be the fraud they are, which brings us back to square one. When considering taking self-care more seriously, the problem most people have is that the tried and tested methods feel too old-school – surely there have to be ways to achieve better skin within a single day, right? Wrong! Taking care of yourself isn’t a quick-fix, do it once and never worry about it again, type of thing; it’s a lifestyle dedicated to looking after your body and mind in the best way possible. Consistent self-care is what breeds results, and that’s the pill people feel is the hardest to swallow. But, if you are looking to take up a new hobby, namely YOU, then here are a few healthy self-care habits you should never forget about and will definitely make all the difference in the world if you commit to it.
H2O
Ah yes – of course, water made the list. Drinking water is of paramount importance for your health and appearance, and there are more than a few reasons why. Firstly, drinking water curbs your appetite, so if you’re looking to lose a bit of weight, drinking plenty of water instead of dodgy wonder-pills that claim to make you shake twenty pounds in one week is definitely the way to go. In one study, obese a group of obese participants drank water before each mile, while the other group didn’t – the results showed that the group who drank water lost forty-four percent more weight than the group who didn’t. Water is also a natural antioxidant that flushes your kidneys and removes toxins from your body, which in turn has a significant effect on your overall well-being. This is also the reason drinking lots of water makes your skin more blemish-free; without all the junk that causes breakouts on your face, you’re left with smooth and radiant skin; all thanks to good old water.
Exercise
You don’t have to slave away at the gym for two hours if you’re not the type, but exercising, in general, has numerous benefits both mentally and physically. You can work out from the comfort of your own home, doing exercises that are just as effective as those you would’ve done at the gym, and look and feel great. Extensive research into the benefits of regular exercise has shown that it reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic conditions like strokes by as much as fifty percent.
In terms of your mental health, exercising regularly can improve your sleeping habits, prevent depression, and lower stress levels, which can be very harmful to your health. Many people avoid exercise because they don’t enjoy it, but it’s actually just a matter of finding a workout routine that works for you. After that, you’ll be hard-pressed to go a single day without getting your heart racing and your blood pumping.
Pampering
Could this be? Is pampering yourself an essential element to taking good care of yourself? Indeed it is! Pampering yourself can come in a variety of forms, whether it be treating yourself to a spa session, buying yourself something you’ve wanted for a while, or even just having a nice long bath with some candles and a glass of wine. It is imperative to show yourself some love every now and then, especially if your life is of the sort that rarely allows a minute to breathe, let alone do something relaxing.
To put it in a more smart-sounding phrase, it’s called operant conditioning, which is the process of rewarding yourself to promote further motivation. If you land that perfect presentation at work, or you work your butt off for who knows how long to get that promotion, and you reward yourself afterward, it will automatically simulate a trigger effect. Next thing you know, you’ll be back to working twice as hard because you’ll want that reward again.
Hair Habits
Some women go more than a year before attending their year – it’s understandable because when life gets busy, going to the hair salon is the last thing on anybody’s mind. But, do you remember what it felt like when walking out of the salon, hair fresh and looking vibrant; you feel like you can conquer the world, right? If you’re not someone who likes coloring their hair, cutting it at least every eight to twelve weeks will allow it to stay strong and healthy.
Many people think that cutting their hair every so often will prevent it from growing longer, but it’s quite the contrary – imagine your hair is like a straw, allowing oxygen to get through to your roots. If the hair is split or broken at the end, the oxygen can’t reach your root, hindering it from growing as it should. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try looking at the best rose gold hair colors to try and brighten up your look instantly. So, have that quarterly hair appointment booked and make your hair your crown of confidence when leaving the house!
Annual Gynecologist Appointment
Ladies, this is a must. Not going to the gynecologist won’t make any problems go away if there are any. Many women dread their annual checkup because they feel too embarrassed or shy to go, but the fact of the matter is that if you’ve ever had a baby, then you’ve been in exactly the same position; the only difference is you didn’t care back then because you were having a baby! A gynecologist is a professional in her field and has worked with hundreds of women. Plus, they are also trained to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Those annual checkups and procedures that are done are lifesavers sometimes because they can pick up on something that could potentially be life-threatening very early on and give you the treatment you need to sort the problem out quickly and efficiently. The sad part is that research has shown only about 31% of women worldwide actually visit their gynecologist once a year for their checkup, which isn’t an impressive statistic.
Skin Care
Have you been struggling with your skin for the longest time, and you just don’t know what to do to fix it? Do you feel like everyone else’s skin is always so smooth and radiant, yet you can’t seem to get rid of the breakouts and pigmentation? Well, this problem is much more common than you may think, and women spend thousands of dollars each year on various products just to see if the next brand will make their skin go back to normal, which can be a frustrating process if you don’t see any changes. But, what many people don’t know is that skincare starts from within, and you need to look at yourself on the inside just as much as you are on the outside. Drinking plenty of water will do almost half of the work for you already, and eating foods that are rich in vitamins, such as salmon, will also give your skin the boost it needs.
But, when getting to the skincare routine, experts say there is a proven method that works every time. Bobbi Brown, one of the largest beauty brands worldwide, said that step one should be washing your face in the morning and at night with a gentle cleanser. Next, applying a hydrating toner to your face with your hands or a cotton pad will rejuvenate your skin and give it some extra moisture. Afterward, a serum with vitamin c can be applied in the morning, seeing as it will protect your skin from free radicals during the day. At night, a serum with hyaluronic acid will keep your skin from drying out while sleeping. Using spot treatment on problem areas will sort them out without affecting the rest of your face, and then a moisturizer that will seal in all the products you’ve applied can be applied as well. Lastly, it is essential to always remember to apply sunscreen, which is a crucial element to any skincare regime.
Personal Time
Last but least, personal time is one self-care habit that works every time and is crucial if you work in a high-stress environment. Try taking some personal time every single day if possible – this is when nobody will be able to bother you, and you’ll be free to do whatever you’d like. You can either read a book, meditate, take a long walk through a park, or maybe even bake up a storm – the choice is yours, and use your imagination! These quiet time sessions are vital for you to disconnect from the world for a while and reconnect with yourself; otherwise, you won’t remember to relax and just keep hustling until you burn out completely.
Your personal time should be sacred to you, and nothing is important enough to skip or postpone it – you are important enough to be selfish for one hour a day and do whatever you feel like!
By making all of the above habits, you stick to no matter what, you’ll be on your way to looking and feeling like your best in no time! The only thing left to do now is to get going and start living your life like you are a priority because you are!