No one has truly found the fountain of youth yet, well, unless Captain Jack Sparrow is with you since he can probably tell you where its location is for you to revive your youth or stay eternally young. But then again, Captain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character and the fountain of youth in the same retrospect might just be a myth.
Ah… To be eternally young is every woman’s dream. Having that limitless energy, that joie de vivre and of course, that mesmerizing, youthful beauty. But the reality of life is that we grow older, and that comes with facing the fact that you’ll look eventually look older too. Most women fear that – seeing wrinkles and fine lines on the face. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We all want to look and feel beautiful. But you need to realize that the first step to looking and feeling beautiful is taking care of yourself.
It’s a new year. And with that comes our list of resolutions – promises we make for ourselves and work very hard to fulfill all year long. We’re pretty sure you have resolutions of your own. But before you work on your resolutions, there might be something you’ve forgotten to include in your list, which just might be what you need most.
Item number one on your list should be: SELF-CARE.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is about telling yourself that “I matter and I deserve the best kind of love: love for myself.” Self-care is focusing on yourself to become the best version of you physically, mentally and even spiritually. It’s about giving yourself that much needed TLC. Because after all, how can you take care of others if you can’t take care of yourself?
In this fast-paced world ruled by technology and unending lists of things to get done, it’s easy to get caught up that we forget to take care of ourselves. Perhaps you’re too busy with work, or too busy putting others’ needs above your own. All these can cause you to neglect yourself, making you forget that more than anything and anyone, you deserve to care of “you.”
So now that you realize you need to take time to work on yourself and pamper yourself, the next question would be, “How will you do it?”
Taking care of yourself is easier said than done. That’s why it’s so easy for us to neglect ourselves because it really takes work to care for yourself. But nevertheless it’s important you take on that work.
Let’s Get Physical
While self-care involves your whole being, the physical aspect is a good way to start. After all, when you take care of yourself on the outside, we can guarantee you it will make you feel good on the inside.
Drink Up and Hydrate. Our body is 80% of water and this is a fact. In every single thing we do, we lose water, and this even includes talking. When you lose too much water in the body, you’ll get dehydrated. Dehydration can cause your skin to become dry and flaky. It’s actually your body’s call for help that it’s thirty. So make sure that for this year, you drink at least two liters of water per day.
Exfoliate Your Dead Skin Away. We hear it everywhere, even celebrities share how they love to exfoliate. You may roll your eyes and think this might just be a fad, but stop yourself. Fact is, exfoliating goes a long way for your skin. Know the saying “out with the old, in with the new?” This holds true for your skin. It’s extremely important to remove all the dead skin cells so the new ones can emerge, giving you that beautiful glow. So make it your routine to exfoliate at least three times a week. Don’t worry about having to break the bank just to do this. You can definitely exfoliate even when you’re broke. Simply reach into your pantry, take a lemon and baking soda. Mix it together and voila, you have your quick and cheap, but just as effective, concoction.
Clean Your Face. Make up and dust can make a thick pile of dirt to the face. Often times, though we clean it, it’s not very thorough and there still might be residue of dust and makeup products left. Wash your face thoroughly with a soap that suits your skin. Do this twice per day – once in the morning and once at night. Trust me, it will go a long way!
Moisturizer is Your Friend. Using moisturizer is the open secret that celebrities swear by that let them stay look younger and flawless. As we age, we lose the water from our skin (which is why we needed to always hydrate (see #1). However, our skin can’t drink water. The best solution is to apply a good moisturizer. Moisturizers have humectants that help in drawing water inside the skin, keeping it moist. And this is important if you want your skin to stay radiant and glowing.
Invest in Antioxidant Serums. Serums have so many benefits for the skin so it’s really necessary to keep a serum handy, specially a day time antioxidant serum. This nutrient dense treatment protects your skin from harmful UV rays and also heals inflamed, damaged skin.
Use a Sunscreen. Though everybody knows sunscreen is important, most women don’t know the exact SPF number and why that’s needed. The UV rays are so damaging to the skin that is why dermatologists always recommend using an SPF 30 sunscreen at the least. This SPF number can block 97% of UV rays. Look for a sunscreen formula that works as a moisturizer at the same time, so you don’t need to use too many products on your skin.
Self-Care for Other Aspects in Your Life
Now that you know how to give your body some love, it’s time to apply self-care to other aspects of your life.
Declutter Your Surrounding. Like the KonMari method but on a wider scope, you need to declutter your surroundings. A space that is clean and free from clutter promotes peace and tranquility, and is also inspiring and motivating. Take account of all the stuff that you have and decide what brings you happiness and what doesn’t. Organize them in such a way that they are in order while still serving their purpose. Once you do this, you’ll find it much easier to hear yourself think, so to speak, and be able to relax much easier.
Live a Minimalist Life
Part of being human is our joy for collecting certain things that don’t really add value to our life. There are certain things we want but don’t really need. And minimalism exists to prioritize the needs and eliminate the wants. It’s no easy feat letting go of things but once you give up things you don’t necessarily need, you will find out that you’ll feel lighter; until eventually feeling better. There’s nothing wrong with letting go of things or people that only weigh you down, especially if it’s for your self-preservation.
Free Your Mind
Being humans as we are, we fall victims to constantly worrying about life. We worry about our personal situation, we worry about our job, and we worry about our relationships. Worrying too much can cause anxiety that could cloud our minds with negative thoughts. And when this happens, we lose touch not just of thinking logically, but of acting rationally and compassionately. Freeing our mind from worries will make room for positivity. So make sure to make it a habit to clear your thoughts. You can practice mediation to make sure that your mind is always in a calm and quiet state.
Keep a Sunny Disposition. Life is hard, and no truer words have ever been spoken. Sometimes we fall hard, sometimes we fall short. We win some, and we lose some. But what matters most is being able to keep a positive outlook despite everything that happens in your life. It’s not always easy but do your best to see the good in every situation. And if it gets too hard, just keep in mind that the rainbow always comes after the rain. It may be dark now, but make no mistake, it will be bright tomorrow.
Practice Mantras
As they say, words are powerful and there’s no better proof than mantras. Telling yourself “I matter,” “I love myself,” “I’m beautiful,” can really do wonders. Talking to yourself and motivating yourself can definitely change your life. Every single day face the mirror and say one thing you like about yourself. You can also make it your habit to say one good thing about someone. Do that and see how it changes your perspective, and how it changes those around you.
With important causes and campaigns today like “My body, my rules” and “Love your body,” it just goes to show that putting yourself first is something that needs to be taken seriously. Don’t neglect yourself. You should never be too busy or too preoccupied to give yourself some much needed TLC. So make 2020 the year that you put yourself first. The year you will choose what’s good for you. The year you make your happiness a priority. By caring for and loving yourself, you are a step closer to doing that for others.