In a world of ever-changing beauty standards and the technology to change almost everything about us, it can feel overwhelming to many to keep up. You don’t have to feel this way, nature makes us unique, and our differences and spirit make the world a better, more beautiful place.
There are more ways than one to feel beautiful, so before you succumb to another thought that you don’t or can’t measure up to, be inspired by nine simple, holistic ways to calm your spirit and look and feel your most beautiful, powerful, and best self.
- Practice Zen
- Prioritize Yourself
- Eat Clean and Green
- Drink more water
- Sleep earlier
- Use natural beauty products
- Smile
- Eat real Chocolate.
- Exercise.
How To Feel Zen And Sress-free.
It isn’t easy to always feel calm, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t figure out a way to get more zen in your life without forcing a lengthy meditation practice on yourself that you find difficult to sustain.
Set aside five minutes a day, every morning, immediately before you get out of bed, to start your meditation practice. Make this a habit, and you will find that the time will increase naturally.
Start by rolling out a yoga mat to do some simple stretching exercises. Turn on the salt lamp for some soothing warm light, or light some Beeswax candles, which have a calming effect. Essential oil diffusers are also great, as certain essential oils also promote a feeling of calmness and peace.
Simple stretching exercises warm up the body and make it easier to sit quietly for a few minutes before your day begins. Doing this every means you start the day on a positive note, which over time will make you feel better in every way.
How To Prioritize Yourself.
We’ve all heard this a thousand times, but it is still challenging to do. Mastering the five-minute morning meditation will give you space to think about what you want and need. Bitterness and resentment creep in when you feel disempowered by everyone else’s needs. You help others better when you’ve prioritized yourself first.
Write down all the things you want to do and achieve and a rough plan. Maybe it’s half an hour for a walk, ten minutes to call a friend or family member, or an hour to cook a healthy meal. Get a journal or planner, chunk out that time, and read your list every morning to keep yourself accountable.
How To Eat A Clean, Green Diet.
Eating a fresh, healthy natural diet is the cornerstone of feeling and looking your best self. It is also not as difficult as many would make out. Everything we need to eat and drink is already in the world. Stick to the rules of nature, and you can’t go wrong.
It is far better to add to the diet than take it out. Crowd your plate with double or triple the amount of fruits and vegetables you usually eat and make it a rule to drink a glass of water after every other drink. You will get full quickly and easily and, therefore, less inclined to turn to the processed goodies.
Make sure to invest in a good blender and an excellent juicer; this makes it far easier to cram in way more fruits and vegetables than you would usually eat. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables will make your skin glow, your mood, and sleep better and give you the energy to live as your best self.
How You Can Drink More Water.
Getting into the habit of making water your go-to drink is a simple thing you can do with excellent results for making you feel and look so much better. You may notice increased energy, a fresher, more youthful complexion, brighter eyes, and water also keeps you feeling full and satiated and less likely to snack.
Get a good quality water bottle that you take everywhere. Fill it with iced water, and sip on it throughout the day. Some water bottles can keep ice frozen for up to twenty-four hours, even in hot cars.
Knowing how many ounces the water bottle holds makes it easier to track how much you consume. Aim for 64 oz of water a day, but 32oz with other drinks like tea and juices is an excellent place to start.
If you find it hard to drink a lot of water, a good rule is to always drink 6-8oz of water after every other drink you have, which includes alcohol! That way, you know you can’t have another tea, coffee, beer, etc., without first drinking that cup of water.
How You Can Get More Beauty Sleep.
It isn’t called beauty sleep for nothing. Everyone looks and feels better after a great night’s sleep. There has never been more reason to while away the midnight hours gaming, watching movies, and chatting away to strangers and friends, and it is so hard to set that bedtime and stick to it.
If you want that healthy, bright-eyed glow, not to mention a better mood and the will and energy to focus, learn and grow, you’ve got to get that shut-eye. Plus, the studies are out, sleep is even more important than we ever imagined.
Make your bedroom a sanctuary; specific colors like creams and pale pinks are soothing and relaxing. Don’t skimp on the bedding or mattress; make these priorities, not just afterthoughts. The proper bed setup can make all the difference.
If you can stretch it, silk contains properties that help your body breathe better, and enhance sleep, so indulge in those silk pajamas. Get a black-out blind, silk eye mask, and sunrise wake-up alarm clock. Most importantly, set a bedtime and wake-up alarm, and stick to it; consistency is critical; aligning your body with its natural circadian rhythm will make the difference to looking and feeling your best self.
Use Simple, Natural Beauty Products.
There are so many beauty products on the market today, and it is easy to either reach beauty products overwhelm or end up with piles of half-used products. Constantly trying the newest thing that doesn’t work can make you feel like you are on a never-ending consumer treadmill.
Simplify your self-care items down to the bare necessities, using organic, natural ingredients that have plant properties that deliver effective results, align you with the natural world, and start to find soothing healing and versatile products for the whole family.
Many clean beauty brands use natural ingredients without harmful chemicals or preservatives.
Some clean beauty brands to look at when you are just getting started are;
Plant oils are versatile and valuable to moisturize the face and body. They also take off makeup and are highly beneficial to the hair. Start with oils like;
Hydrosols like Rosewater make nourishing toners and hair refreshers.
Read posts on how to transition to clean beauty or how to make a minimal beauty routine to get you started.
Smiling Makes You Beautiful.
If one thing can transform how you look and feel, it is smiling more. Irritating as it is to be told to smile or look cheerful, especially by strangers on the street, the saying smile and the world smiles with you, still rings true.
There is no point in spending an arm and a leg on superficial cosmetics when you feel disabled with less than a sterling smile. However you feel about your smile, it is a small thing that can go a long way. If you do nothing else, focusing on the health of your teeth and gums, so you feel and look better is a good use of your time and resources.
There is so much plastic waste in dental care items that you can try using more sustainable options like Bamboo toothbrushes and biodegradable dental floss. You can now get bamboo in Electric toothbrushes, they may be more expensive, but they are often more effective and longer-lasting.
Natural toothpaste made from herbs, clays, and charcoal also works well, look for glass jars or sustainable packaging.
For ideas on caring for teeth in a natural healthy way, read this post here.
The Beauty Benefit Of Real Chocolate.
The cacao bean is one of the highest antioxidant foods in its raw state. Its beauty and health benefits are well known and come from its high flavanol content, enzymes, and minerals like magnesium and iron. Eating real chocolate derived from the Cacao bean can have you feeling calm and beautiful in no time.
Chocolate should be at least 70% cacao, and the higher, the better to reap the antioxidant benefit of chocolate.
Studies show that regular consumption of chocolate significantly protects the skin from UV light. Considering the skin’s photoaging is the primary cause for fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, that is quite a considerable benefit, not to mention the significant cancer protection that implies.
You can also use chocolate topically; try a face mask or skincare with chocolate as a primary ingredient. A study showed that cocoa polyphenols increased the glycosaminoglycans in the skin [responsible for collagen, elastin, and bounce].
Look for minimally processed dark chocolate, or better yet, add raw Cacao to the mix. Raw Cacao contains 126% more iron, 136% more potassium, and 149% more Magnesium than the roasted version of Cocoa.
Eating chocolate is so pleasurable that obviously, it can make you feel better. Chocolate contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, which helps regulate anxiety levels.
Chocolate also contains Theobromine, which has a positive, mood-enhancing effect, Magnesium present is known to soothe and calm the body, as is caffeine in small doses. So go on, indulge in a good quality chocolate bar, now and again!
How To Exercise More.
Exercise is one of those things that we know we should do more of, but getting and keeping a routine going is very difficult unless you have built it into who you are. However, there are ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life that are more fun, realistic, and will give you the same post-exercise glow!
Think of exercise as movement, not a structured activity- think gardening, dancing, walking, swimming, and playing. These are excellent ways to get the heart rate up, clear the head, and work up a sweat.
For calm, focused energy that makes you feel energized and beautiful, nothing beats exercises like yoga, pilates, and tai chi. Roll out the yoga mat, put on some fitting clothes, and start gently practicing simple movements.
Curate a music playlist for whatever activity you are doing, whether it is fantasy music, as you take a nature walk, rap to a strength training session, or relax with some Indian flute music to yoga. Get those air pods in and start a playlist that you associate with that activity; it’s a game-changer.
