Choosing self-care habits that focus on your overall health can actually make you more attractive. This list of self-care activities includes ideas that you can use to reduce stress and improve your appearance at the same time.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is defined as an activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Self-care includes any activities that promote well-being and reduce stress.
Self-care should feel luxurious and something you look forward to doing. The benefits are not as significant if you are making yourself do something and hating each second of the process. The key is choosing activities that you enjoy doing and then adding them to your routine on a regular basis.
In recent years, the concept of self-care has gone mainstream and there are now a plethora of different ways to care for yourself. The trick is finding what resonates the most with you, making the time, and actually doing the activity. Here is my list of 5 simple self-care habits to make you more attractive
Regular Physical Exercise
Exercise is the number one self-care activity for a reason. Regular exercise improves the health of the skin, hair, and nails by improving circulation of essential nutrients to these areas. Sweating promotes the removal of toxins through perspiration. Working out tones the skin, improves blood circulation and oxygenation to the skin and creates a healthy glow from within.
Regular physical exercise will help to keep your body healthy and maintain an optimal weight. There are many additional health benefits associated with staying active. Studies show regular exercise can slow or help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and loss of muscle mass. Exercise also helps to boost immune function.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. The key is finding a form of movement that you love doing. It can be as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood or trying a new exercise video online. Make it special by wearing your favorite workout gear or recruiting a friend to join you.
Eat Plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
When it comes to eating fresh fruits and vegetables, more is always better! Fruits and vegetables contain essential nutrients that nourish the skin cells and keep you full of energy. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables helps to maintain a healthy weight with minimal effort.
It is recommend that adults eat at least 1½ to 2 cups per day of fruit and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables as part of a healthy diet. Increasing your daily intake of fresh produce is super simple. A good rule of thumb is to make half your plate vegetables at every meal. Choose fruits and vegetables for snacks if you need something in between meals to keep your energy up. Start your day with a green smoothie and load it up with greens and fresh fruit. Aim for a variety of colors each day.
Get Enough Sleep
Likely you’ve heard the phrase “Beauty Sleep” before. Why is that? Your body (and skin) restores and repairs itself while you are sleeping. To reap the bountiful beauty benefits, experts recommend regularly getting 7-9 hours of sleep each day.
While we sleep, our bodies produce hormones that help stimulate the production of collagen, a protein that helps your skin stay supple and elastic. It’s basically like a free version of those expensive anti-aging creams. Pro Tip: Sleep on your back to avoid premature wrinkling of the skin on your face and chest.
Lack of sleep can cause fluid to build up under your eyes causing you to look tired. If you’ve ever stayed up too late you probably experienced dark circles or puffiness under your eyes. Getting plenty of sleep will help to keep you looking bright eyed.
Personalize your bedtime routine to get into a relaxed state before you turn out the lights. Set a bedtime and aim to reduce and/or avoid electronic use for at least an hour before bedtime. Try a soothing cup of hot herbal tea to help you relax. Reading a book, meditating, or spending time with a loved one can be relaxing activities to prepare for sleep. Use a silk eye mask to block out light and protect your delicate eye area.
Exfoliate and Moisturize
The skin is the body’s largest organ and is also the most visible. This is why you must make skincare part of your daily beauty ritual. Exfoliating and moisturizing your skin are your secret weapons to keeping your skin looking healthy and younger for much longer. The process of exfoliating and moisturizing help you to tune in to your body and you get a bit of a self-massage at the same time.
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother, and healthier looking skin underneath. It is recommended to exfoliate your skin at least once a week. There are many ways to exfoliate, including; dry skin brushing, applying a scrub, chemical peels, and shaving. More isn’t always better, since over exfoliation can cause dry flakey skin (which totally defeats the purpose). Start with once a week and build up from there as your skin tolerates it.
Moisturizing after each shower is very important because hot water strips all the moisture and oils out of your skin, leaving it parched and dry. While hot water may be relaxing, it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Take the time to tone and moisturize your face, then rub lotion on the rest of your body. Try different scents for an added aromatherapy boost.
Be sure to use high-quality non-toxic skincare and makeup products. These products penetrate the skin cell barrier and are absorbed into your bloodstream, which means it is extra important to invest in quality products.
Regular Manicures and Pedicures
We all love to be pampered, and treating ourselves to a manicure and pedicure is a wonderful self-care method. Regular manicures and pedicures help to remove the build up of dead skin cells, improve circulation to your extremities, and keep your nails looking healthy. Most nail salons have massage chairs for an extra measure of comfort and relaxation while you’re getting pampered.
Professionals suggest to get manicures once a week to every two weeks and pedicures once a month. Make sure you take care of your cuticles in between and don’t forget to apply your favorite cuticle oil or cream throughout the day, especially in cold, dry months or when exposed to excess water.
Conclusion
Making time for self-care promotes overall well-being and reduces stress. By implementing these self-care habits into your regular routine you will begin to notice a more glowing and radiant complexion. Over time, these self-care techniques will keep you looking young and healthy for decades to come.
Are you confused about where to start in the self-care journey? Reach out for a free initial consultation to see if health coaching is for you!
Reader Question: What self-care routines do you use?
