There can be a bit of a catch-22 when it comes to looking and feeling better. Making the effort to look good requires you to have energy and motivation; in other words, you need to feel good first. Of course, sometimes it’s the boost of looking better that makes you feel able to face the world.
These two factors form an ongoing loop. When one isn’t working, the other probably isn’t, either. Luckily, that means that if you can achieve one, the other won’t be far behind.
The question is, where do you start?
Stress is one thing guaranteed to make it more difficult to look or feel better. It makes it harder to relax, including by interrupting your sleep. You have less time and energy to dedicate to your appearance or to other things than can reduce its negative effects, like exercise. There might be stressful factors in your life that you can’t outright remove, but you can manage them.
That means determining how much sleep you need to function properly during the day and making sure you set aside time for it. Everyone’s a bit different in their preferred sleep schedules, but allowing yourself rest is essential. It may help to have a wind-down period before you go to bed when you stay off your phone and the internet, and perhaps have a nice bath or a cup of hot cocoa.
This doesn’t just mean that stress will have less of a hold, it means less yawning or bloodshot eyes and a possible reduction in lines and wrinkles. You’ll also have more time and motivation when getting ready in the morning. That means an improvement in your appearance as well as your mood.
So, you’ve woken up in the morning after a proper and restful night’s sleep. What next? Well, you need to eat breakfast. A nutritious meal will give you the strength and energy you need to get through the day. In fact, eating regularly, with sensible portion sizes and a balance of nutrients, is yet another way to keep both your body and mind at their best.
A third factor that always shows up in advice about well-being is exercise. I’m sure you know that you need some activity for your body to function as it should. Exercise is also proven to lift your mood and can provide an energy boost.
Don’t worry; the fact that you need to exercise doesn’t mean you need to start running marathons or go to the gym every day. This is another area where you need to come up with an individualized plan that works for you. Are you someone who likes high-energy, high-impact workouts, or do you enjoy the steadier – although often intense in a different way – pace of yoga? Try different exercises, or find a qualified personal trainer who can design a plan especially for you.
On a workday, what you wear is going to depend on your job, but you can still find a balance between comfort and style. Being able to adapt to different situations is another way to look and feel your best at all times. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but even a little bit of care can make all the difference.
