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Every now and then, a new word or phrase gradually starts being used. And after the first time you’ve seen or heard it, it just seems to show up everywhere. And this year, one of those phrases is Glow Up.
So what is a Glow Up? Put simply, it’s taking time and effort to become the best version of yourself that you can be. So a Glow Up will mean different things to different people, but could include:
As with any kind of life change, it all sounds great in theory but what about in reality? And how much is it all going to cost?!
The good news is that it’s perfectly possible to do a Glow Up on a budget : there is no need to spend lots of money at all. In fact in many ways it could actually help you to save money!
So in this article we take a look at each of the above elements, and explain how to do a Glow Up on a budget.
This is the first thing that comes to mind for many of us when thinking about a Glow Up. And making changes to the way you look can indeed bring a real boost, particularly at this time of year. So here are three areas to consider making changes:
If you open your wardrobe and drawers and see a complete mess, the first thing to do is to have a really good declutter. Take the opportunity to get rid of anything you don’t need rather than let it take up space. A good piece of guidance to help with this is that if you have not worn something for the last couple of years, do you really need to keep it? As well as freeing up storage space, you could have a go at selling clothes you are getting rid of to boost your funds for a few new items.
Once you have decluttered, take time to look carefully at what is left. Try things on and see if there are different combinations of items that you haven’t previously tried but would work well together. Focus on styles that flatter your shape, and colours that you enjoy wearing and look good on you. Always remember that you are wearing your clothes, they are not wearing you!
At the end of your declutter and try on session, you may realise that you need a few more capsule items in your wardrobe to fill the gaps and complement your new style. You don’t need to spend a fortune on these : it’s always worth looking for second hand items on online sites or charity shops. And if you manage to sell some of your old clothes you could break even!
If you’ve had the same hairstyle for years, perhaps it’s time for a change? Sit in front of a mirror and experiment with how your hair could look in different styles or lengths, and the difference it could make to your overall appearance.
Even if you don’t want to change the basic style, you may want to consider a different colour or perhaps adding an array of hair accessories to ring the changes.
Do you have a skin care routine? And if so, is it the same one you’ve had for years? A good skincare routine is really important to keep your skin looking at its best. And you need to review it regularly because it will need to change as your skin changes.
So investigate the best products for your skin to cleanse, tone and moisturise it on a daily basis. It’s also good to exfoliate your face regularly and use a mask once a week for additional nourishment. And don’t forget to moisturise your body too. Slap on your favourite body lotion at least once a day to keep it hydrated.
Also remember that a well-planned makeup routine can be a real boost to the way you look and can make you feel more confident. It could be worth either having a professional make up session or seeking free advice from an expert on a department store cosmetics counter. Either of these could be invaluable in helping you understand the best makeup routine for your skin type and colouring, to achieve the overall look you want.
Many of us associate exercise with trying to lose weight. But regular exercise has so many more benefits than just this. It can help to strengthen bones and muscles and boost your immune system – which reduces your risk of major health issues.
Exercise also boosts your mood by releasing endorphins – mood-enhancing hormones – into the brain. So it is a powerful way of improving your overall wellbeing as well as being good for your physical health.
Regular exercise does not mean having to go to a gym or join a sports club. You should simply aim to do 150 minutes of any kind of moderate exercise a week, for example walking, gentle jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, or tennis. Many of these types of exercise are completely free, and if you can do one or more of them for around 20 minutes a day you will be well on the way to getting fitter.
It can take a while to establish new habits, but here are three to focus on. And just by taking things one step at a time, you can gradually develop a better lifestyle :
Eating well does not need to be expensive. And making food from scratch, rather than buying ready meals and takeaways, can usually help you to save money. A healthy diet will also strengthen your immune system, and help to protect you from winter germs.
Aim to include each of the main five food groups every day:
Also keep an eye on portion sizes so that you are not eating too much. It’s easy to eat more than you realise, but regular overeating can cause not only weight gain, but could also affect your hormones, skeletal muscle and fat tissue. As a rough guideline, men should aim for no more than 2500 calories per day, and women 2000.
You can also check if you are currently in a good weight range by using the NHS BMI calculator. If you do need to lose weight, a combination of a healthy diet and smaller portions should soon begin to make a difference. And it may also be helpful to use a fitness tracker and/or app to log everything that you eat and drink and work out how many calories you are taking in per day.
Another very important habit to establish is to keep your body hydrated. Most of us do not drink regularly enough during the day. If it gets to the point where you feel thirsty, this means that your body is already beginning to dehydrate. So you should aim to drink around 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day (approximately 2 litres). Plain water is the best thing to drink, but sparkling water, squash, tea and coffee are also good.
A good night’s sleep has many benefits. It can improve many aspects of your physical health, including your hormones, immune system, appetite, breathing, blood pressure and cardiovascular health. It also boosts your mental wellbeing. Conversely, an ongoing lack of sleep could result in physical illness as well as a low mood, and will impair your ability to function effectively in many areas of your life.
Most adults need between 7-9 hours sleep per night so it’s important that you allow yourself enough time to get a good sleep, and establish a bedtime routine that enables you to relax and wind down before actually going to sleep.
Many people have regrets that so far they haven’t done some of the things in life that they really want to do. If this is you, why not make now the time to start pursuing your dreams or ambitions? Even if you start with only a small first step, you will be nearer than you were before.
Start by sitting down and making a list of dreams or ambitions that you would like to start working towards. Some may be huge and will take quite a while to achieve. Others may be more of a quick win. But for every one that you are serious about, break the goal down into a series of smaller steps that you need to take to either achieve it or at least start heading in the right direction towards it.
Then all you need to do is to get on with it! Easier said than done perhaps, but there is a lot of wisdom in the saying “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”. You will feel more motivated, positive and satisfied if you are actively working towards something you are passionate about, rather than just feeling full of regrets but doing nothing about it.
If you only do one thing in your Glow Up, make it this one. Be kinder to yourself.
The most important aspect of a Glow Up is believing in yourself. For you to be the best that you can be, you need to learn to love and accept yourself, and believe that you matter.
A key part of this is giving yourself time to do the things that you love, and allowing yourself to enjoy them. It can sometimes seem trivial and selfish to be happy and to have fun. But you need to allow yourself to do this without feeling guilty about it. If you are in a place where you are happy and feeling good about yourself, you will have much more positive energy to contribute and to help others.
So make sure that you treat yourself with care, and regularly treat yourself to something you love. Even if you can only grab a few minutes during a very busy day, this can be enough to recharge your batteries and make you feel good. Whether it’s watching a movie, going for a walk, soaking in the bath, having a massage or reading a good book, set aside time to make it happen.
Also seek out the company of family and friends who have a positive attitude and will buoy you up. It can be all too easy to slip into the company of negative or demanding people who will bring you down, but you owe it to yourself to gradually cut these influences out of your life and surround yourself in positivity.
We hope that this article has given you some inspiration to do a Glow Up this autumn, and save money in the process..
Check back here with us soon for more lifestyle tips from Loans 2 Go.
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