15 Simple Tricks You Must Try to Feel More Beautiful!
15 Simple Tricks You Must Try to Feel More Beautiful!
Try a few, or try them all, but WE PROMISE- you will feel more beautiful and inspired if you give some of our tricks a shot! No exercise required ladies!
Try a few, or try them all, but WE PROMISE- you will feel more beautiful and inspired if you give some of our tricks a shot! No exercise required ladies!
Get 8-10 hours of restful sleep a night.
I know it's hard, especially if you have kids and work all day. But you've got to prioritize this! It's called beauty sleep for good reasons. Sleep deprivation causes many ailments: mood issues, anxiety, loss of memory, fatigue, illness, and it can cause significant weight gain because it changes the hormones in our bodies. More sleep will improve your skin, give you more energy to be active, and make you happier; and when we are happy and have energy we feel more beautiful!
Stop reading fashion/beauty magazines.
These are a BIG beauty killer! Just from looking at the covers, beauty, fashion, and weight loss magazines instantly make us feel inferior and ugly (at least most of us). Chances are we MAY NEVER have that body type, that perfect skin, and it's a falsehood anyhow, with the photoshopping, and insane amount of exercising and cosmetic up keep models and actresses undertake to achieve their stellar looks. Toss the magazines! Seriously!!!!
Go to a gym? Consider canceling it and work out outside.
Research has shown that women exposed to mirrors more in their day to day life are less satisfied with their appearance, and report feelings of depression, anxiety, and body image issues. Gyms are big boxes with mirrors. The gyms want you to constantly look at your physique so you can constantly improve upon it. It's amazing how many wonderful things you can do outside! When the weather permits, go walking, jogging, hiking, swimming, bike riding, or the like. If you do want to keep your membership, choose spots in the gym where you don't have to stare at yourself in a mirror, or try taking classes where the focus is on feeling good, striving for balance, and having fun!
Evaluate your friends and family... Are they good for you?
This is a big one ladies. Sometimes we keep that friend (or friends) around because we used to have SO much fun together. Or we stay in touch with relatives because they are our family, and that's just how it's done! Halt, right there. Ask yourself if these people make you feel good about yourself? If you have to think about it, chances are good that you need to walk away. If it's a relationship worth saving, tell them flat out, you will not stand to be judged anymore. Standing up for yourself will instantly make you feel more beautiful, and no doubt empowered.
Eat processed foods? Try to eat more fresh produce and things that aren't from a box!
Preservatives put into foods that are frozen, canned, or boxed make us retain fluids (due to higher sodium content), and have far less nutritional value. Making fresh meals can seem time consuming, but it doesn't have to be. Sautee some fresh veggies, cook a piece of salmon with fresh herbs (or tofu) in a skillet, and microwave a potato! It'll take you about the same amount of time as cooking boxed macaroni and cheese, but will feel a lot better in your gut, and will be loaded full of awesome nutrients.
Spend more time in nature.
Psychologists have done a multitude of studies on the affects of nature on the brain. Spending an hour in a beautiful natural setting calms the brain and increases dopamine and serotonin levels as much as an anti-depressant does. Find some beautiful spots in nature and just "be". You can also explore and find beautiful leaves, rocks, flowers, and start a collection, or set up your own garden. We promise, this one won't fail.
Learn about, and connect with women of the past who were fierce and wildly confident!
This is a fun one! I love to watch old movies with actresses that were comfortable in their shapely bodies, and listen to jazz singers like Nina Simone or Bessie Smith, who fought their way to do what they loved despite a lot of naysayers. When I read up on powerful women in history, I instantly feel like anything is possible! With this empowered attitude we all feel insanely more beautiful. Take a trip to the library and check out some books, dvds, and albums featuring strong women.
Spend time with other women who value their intrinsic worth.
Ask yourself if the people you hang around with are good influences. Do they love themselves unconditionally, or do they place most of their worth on looks? Start spending more time with your friends who don't care so much about how they appear to others. Be goofy and silly and have fun! Being around strong and confident women is essential!
Make one day out of the week your own. Period.
This may be quite a challenge ladies, especially if you have a family and a full time job. If you can't take the entire day to yourself, set aside at least a couple hours to be alone. Perhaps you want to just close your bedroom door and not be interrupted, or maybe you are craving a yoga class. Maybe you want to go get lunch with some good girlfriends. No matter what you do, when you take time to yourself, you are taking care of YOUR needs. You will feel rejuvenated and recharged by taking care of yourself, and making your needs the priority. You will feel younger, more free, in charge, and definitely beautiful.
Listen to your gut. Always.
When we don't trust our gut, and do something we KNOW for some reason isn't right, we will always end up feeling frustrated with ourselves. When we go against our intuition we are not trusting our inner wisdom. Once you start to really listen to that wisdom and trust in your gut, you will find a sense of power and in that there is confidence and beauty.
Make your living space beautiful and tidy.
Some of you may opt to not do this one... but it really makes a difference! Is your living space inspiring you? Maybe it's time to re-do the decor a little, and change up the color(s). An inexpensive rehab can be to paint an accent wall in a color you fancy. Ask a friend to come over and help you get rid of all the junk you don't need. When we are in a space that is clean, free of clutter, and beautifully decorated we feel more alive and refreshed. And you will feel most proud and accomplished when you complete this task!
Set small goals for yourself for the week, and cross them off as you go.
It's been proven that people who set tasks and achieve them regularly are more successful with long term goals (and happier). Maybe you DO want to get more fit and start exercising. Just make sure you set tasks for your week that are achievable. They can be simple things like: go for a walk before dinner 2x this week, and/or go see a movie I like. Put your weekly tasks on the fridge and cross them off when you complete them. Start small and you will feel very proud of your accomplishments.
Plaster this saying somewhere you will see it everyday.
Sometimes I see photos of myself and I realize, "Oh, wow, I've aged a little more!" I have to remind myself that it is just part of life. Two years ago I thought I was worth nothing, and hated myself. I believed I was ugly, and started a laundry list of things I needed to do, or get done to make myself beautiful. On my list was: get laser, get botox, see the aesthetician, buy new clothes, work out A LOT, and on and on. Fortunately I cracked and was forced to look at myself as an entire being. After much therapy and doing all of the above on this list, I am more confident than ever. I exercise now, but it's because I love what I do. If I can do it, so can you.