In this time and age, everything seems to have a price tag, and for women, this seems to be even more true. So for my girls looking to glow up on a budget, I got you. As a recovering shopaholic with a giant collection of things I don’t use/need, these things helped me more than all the money I spent over the years. Before we start, I want to clarify that my definition of a glow-up doesn’t involve just physical appearance. I think a proper glow-up is one where you improve physically, mentally, and spiritually, therefore these tips include all areas. These tips are $0, and when followed consistently, will transform you. So without further ado, let’s jump into my 6 tips for the ultimate glow-up!
1. Organize Your Space
I know you’ve heard it a million times, but it truly makes a difference. I’m a firm believer that decluttered room/apartment=decluttered mind. When my room is messy, I have difficulty concentrating and even have trouble sleeping, but I’ve found that a clean room helps me sleep better and makes me more productive. Give it a try. I know that sometimes it’s hard to keep a room mess free, especially If you have a lot of things, so I find it helpful to take 5-10 minutes at the end of the day to tidy up anything that might be out of place. Also consider decluttering, get rid of things you don’t use anymore by donating, selling, or throwing them away. At the very least, consider making your bed every morning and make that a non-negotiable in your morning routine, it takes no more than 3-minutes and it makes such a difference when you come home to a clean, made bed, trust me.
2. Experiment with Your Hair
I think the TV show Fleabag put this in better words than I ever could: “HAIR, IS EVERYTHING, ANTHONY!” (yes, this is kind of your sign to watch Fleabag). Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram are all great places to find hairstyle ideas for all different types of hair. Having a few different hairstyles in your arsenal is a great idea, especially for those days when your hair is greasy and you don’t feel like washing it. Feel free to experiment with things you already have at home, heatless curls are gorgeous and can be achieved with a variety of objects you may already own, such as bathrobe belts, socks, etc. If you have ribbon laying around, try making bows you can add to your braids or to a ton of other hairstyles (talk about coquette!)
3. Drink More Water Please
Yes, this is another basic tip, but I know a lot of you need a reminder! I feel like people are constantly told to drink more water but not are not as often told how much water they should be drinking, or are told the generic 8 glasses of water a day. The reality is, how much water you need in a day will depend on a variety of factors, such as your weight, gender, physical activity level, etc. However, as a good rule of thumb, aim to drink at least half of your body weight (in pounds) in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, aim to drink at least 75 oz of water a day. Now keep in mind this doesn’t include physical activity, so if you exercise, you should be drinking more water than this. There are many free calculators online you can use to figure out how much water you should drink.
Now that you have a better idea of how much water you should be drinking, let’s get into some tips on how to accomplish this goal and why it’s important. My first tip is to keep water with you at all times, have some water by your bed so you can drink a cup as soon as you wake up, a reusable water bottle is helpful for when you’re not home. Another helpful way to drink more water is to set reminders on your phone in the form of alarms. Another way is to download a water tracking app, there are many free ones available, some even allow you to have a virtual plant or pet that grows with every glass of water you log in. In terms of taste, you can spice up your water using herbs, fruits, vegetables, etc. Try adding things like mint, cucumber, strawberries, blueberries, etc, in your water to give it some flavor, you can also use tea bags to infuse your water. Another tip is to eat fruits and vegetables with a high water content such as strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, etc, to keep you hydrated. Try to stop drinking water at least 2 hours before bed so you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.
Up to 60% of our body is water. Our brain is 80% water and our skin is 64% water, need I say more? (I will). Although water is not the magic solution to all your problems as it sometimes portrayed to be, its benefits are plenty. From increased energy and brain function, to aiding in weight loss, boosting skin health, and improving exercise performance. So let’s get hydrated!
4. Be Grateful
Be thankful. Set aside a few minutes every morning or every night to list everything you’re grateful for, you can write it on a journal, on your phone notes, say it out loud, or just list it in your mind. I know sometimes it’s hard not to focus on the negative things in our life, but try and remember the good things. For example, I’m grateful for whoever is reading this for taking the time to listen to what I have to say, I am grateful to be alive, to be able to move, and breathe, and see the world. Research has proven that there are many health benefits to being grateful, such as reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and even improving sleep. Some people even claim that gratitude may even help bring more abundance into your life. I’d say it’s worth a try.
5. Sleep More
Zzz. I know staying up late at night watching TikTok is always tempting, and I’ve had many nights where I’ve stayed awake late on a day that I had class watching video after video. As a former master procrastinator I also had my fair share of all-nighters where I spent more than half the time scrolling and the other part studying. but trust me, it’s not worth it.
Just like our water and food needs vary, so does our sleep requirements. However, The general rule is that teens need 8-10 hours of sleep every night and adults need 7 or more hours of sleep. A reminder that when it comes to sleep, quality is just as important, if not more, than quantity, so make sure you follow tip number 1, and also turn off any lights, and any background noise if possible to minimize distractions. Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule by going to sleep and waking up at a specific time on most days, for example, going to sleep at 11 pm and waking up at 7 am (feel free to adjust). Another tip is to avoid screens like your phone, tv, laptop, tablet… at least one hour before bed, why? the blue light emitted by these devices can interfere with the body’s natural production of melatonin. Instead, do something else such as reading a book, listening to calming noises, or just lying in bed with your eyes closed.
Sleeping better has been shown to have plenty of possible health benefits, such as better concentration and productivity, better mood, increased school performance (hence why I don’t pull all-nighters anymore), weight loss, reduced dark circles and skin puffiness, fewer breakouts, and many more. Hey! it’s called beauty sleep for a reason, so what are you waiting for sleeping beauty? get those sleep hours in.
6. Get a Hobby
Ok, that came across a bit rude, but hear me out, there’s so many things you can do, for… you guessed it, 0 dollars and 0 cents. Let me introduce a few examples, 1. drawing, if you have a pencil or a pen and some paper, get some inspiration from Pinterest, watch a tutorial from YouTube, or let your imagination flow. 2. Reading, and I know what you’re thinking, books cost money… however, let me put you on to a little secret, the library. But what if you don’t wanna make the trip to your nearest library? download Libby and link your library card and start downloading $free books. Also, if you’re like me and you’re constantly buying books only for them to collect dust on your shelf, you have plenty of material to start with. 3. Learning a language, if you’ve ever wanted to go somewhere or you went somewhere and wished you spoke the language, run to YouTube or google and grab some free resources for learning that language, or even download some apps, set a goal for yourself, for example 10 minutes of studying a day (depends on what level you want to reach and in how long). Immerse yourself in the language, watch movies and tv shows, listen to music and podcasts, read articles In that language and soon you’ll start picking up words and phrases (that’s how I learned English). 4. learn new things: so many resources and courses online that are free, you can learn basically anything you put your mind to, cooking, baking, history, art, you name it. But what does this have to do with glowing-up? it connects you to other people with similar interests.
Alright, this is all for me today. I hope you enjoyed these tips and that you found them helpful. This is my first blog post so please let me know what you think and what you’d like to see next and I’ll do my best to deliver. Remember that we never stop “glowing-up” since we’re on a constant journey for self improvement, but to me, that’s what makes it fun, the possibility for more.
XOXO,
KC
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