Do you want to glow up your life both inside and out? You’re not alone!
“Glowing up” has become a popular term for self-improvement and personal development in all aspects of your life, from physical health to mental well-being to organization and more.
That’s why I decided to create this huge list of ideas for you to “glow up” your life. They’re small and actionable steps you can take to improve areas like physical health, mental health, personal development, and more.
Without further ado, here are 49 simple ideas to glow up your life!
Physical Health
Taking care of your body and undeniably one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Especially during these uncertain times, physical health is a major focus point for all of us.
1. Drink a lot of water
You are 70% water. In order to survive, you should try to maintain that. Plus, drinking water can help with metabolism and detoxication!
If you have trouble remembering to drink water throughout the day, a water bottle with time markers like this one is a great way to remind yourself to drink enough water!
2. Eat less sugary snacks
Cake, cookies, donuts, juice, pastries… those are all okay once in a while. Sugars are already present in high-carb foods like rice and pasta, so avoid the extra sugar if you can!
3. Fix your sleep schedule
Your body goes through detox and restoration processes during the night (usually around 10 pm-2 am), and they only work the best they can if you’re asleep.
4. Go outside
Vitamin D, anyone? Going outside has been scientifically proven to improve your mood and productivity, so take advantage of the natural health benefits of simply going outside!
5. Aerobic exercising
Activities like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and dancing are all examples of aerobic exercises. They help reduce the risks of many diseases and can help you get/stay in shape!
6. Yoga and Pilates
If you hate sweating, moving around, running, etc., then this is for you. While yoga helps you improve flexibility, Pilates helps build strength and endurance. A combination of the two is a great way to have a low-impact workout!
7. Fix your posture
I know I’m not the only one who starts sitting crookedly at my desk after a couple of hours. It’s important to not do that! Bad posture not only makes you look unconfident, but it can also cause scoliosis and other physical problems.
8. Get a stiff(er) mattress
A mattress that’s too soft is also bad for your back and your spine. A stiff mattress can often solve some problems like posture, back pain, and other bone-related issues.
Hair & Skin Care
Though I’m not encouraging you to change how you look to fit into society’s molds (that’s bs and I don’t like it), there are many ways you can take care of yourself to look the best you can.
1. Don’t sleep with makeup on
This is a huge no-no! Ladies, even if you just came back from a night out and it’s 3 am and you just want to sleep, remove your makeup!!
2. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week
Skincare is important. Exfoliating is an important part of skincare routines because it gets rid of dead skin cells and built-up dirt. Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can decide how often you exfoliate.
This is a great exfoliating scrub to try.
3. Always wear sunscreen
Sunscreen is so important in preventing skin cancer and maintaining its elasticity. The damage that sunlight does to your skin is often invisible to the eye, but it builds up!
4. Trim split ends often
Especially if your hair has been dyed and/or heat-treated before, its ends can be pretty damaged. Split ends are very common, but they should be gotten rid of asap.
5. Don’t shower too often
The natural oils on your scalp protect your skin and nourish your hair, so it’s important not to shower every single day and strip all the oil. Every 2-3 days is a good bet!
6. Put on lip balms/masks every night
No one likes chapped lips. If you’re one to put on chapstick every 5 minutes because your lips are dry, I suggest you give lip masks a try (too much chapstick is actually bad for you). Simply put on a thick layer every night and scrub all the dead skin off the next morning!
7. Don’t touch your face
I’m actually guilty of this (though I’m trying to stop doing it). Your hands have tons and tons of invisible germs on it, and by touching your face, it’s transferring to your skin, which means breakouts. So yeah, don’t do it.
8. Do facial exercises
These are just like the workouts you do for your body, but for your facial muscles! A lot of people try exercising their jawline to make it more defined. You can search for example to follow along with on YouTube!
Mental Health
Staying mentally healthy and happy all the time can be difficult. But there are small steps you can take towards building a stable and positive mindset!
1. Repeat affirmations
Affirmations are like a small, motivational mantra you tell yourself. Repeating them often and when you’re feeling down can help boost your mood and gain confidence!
2. Journal
Journaling is a great way to relieve stress for many people. You can write down affirmations in your journal, plan out personal goals, write down emotional events, and more! Check out this gratitude journal and this fan-favorite: Let That Sh*t Go.
3. Do something you enjoy
When you’re feeling down, do something that you know will boost your mood! Instead of forcing yourself to endure the bad things, focus on the good things!
4. Read inspirational books
There are many books out there that focus on helping people who always feel down and unmotivated. One of my favorites that I think everyone should read is 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think.
5. Listen to inspirational podcasts
This is for all y’all who don’t like to read (I get it!). Don’t worry, there are many podcasts out there that have the same purpose as the books I mentioned. Here are a couple:
- Manifestation Babe
- The Art of Charm
- The School of Greatness
6. Self-care days
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the things you have to do every day, week, and month. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a break once in a while and enjoy a day just for yourself. You can paint, dance, nap, take a bath, bake cookies, whatever you’d like for the day!
7. Find real friends
If you’re surrounded by people who are constantly bringing you down to boost themselves, they’re not your friends. You must find the people who will always be there for you in all your ups and downs and want to see you be happy.
Personal Development
Personal development is a broad and mysterious term. The way I define it is becoming the person you’d like to see yourself become– inside and out.
1. Try new things
Don’t be stuck inside your bubble! If you don’t learn to get out of your comfort zone, you’ll never be able to take the step towards becoming the person you want to become.
2. Set short-term goals
Setting goals keeps you organized and holds you accountable for your actions. Setting short-term goals act as stepping stones towards your bigger goals and successes.
3. Set long-term goals
Long-term goals are the ones your short-term goals should lead to. These are goals that you know will take time, energy, focus, and dedication, but that you know you can achieve if you put in the effort.
4. Let things go
Sometimes, holding on to your past only holds you down. For example, an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend, a failed exam, an imperfect performance… it’s easy to let these things consume your mind and stop you from moving forward. But without letting them go, you’ll never be able to become better.
5. Learn to listen
Sometimes, it’s better to be seen and not heard. Whether it’s a friend complaining about their day or a peer boasting about their success, aim to listen to understand, and not listen to respond (unless they’re directly asking for advice, of course).
6. Practice confidence
Becoming confident will open up new possibilities in your life. However, this is easier said than done. But you can start by taking baby steps: repeat affirmations to yourself in the mirror; learn to stop negative thoughts; find positive influences around you…
7. Embrace fear
Being brave is not having no fear. Instead, it’s being willing to do the thing, despite being scared. Fear can be a motivational thing if you don’t let it control you!
8. Be proactive
Many make the mistake of letting their life control them instead of controlling life. Make sure you are being proactive and taking charge of your own decisions, actions, and emotions!
9. Learn to manage stress
Managing your stress is one of the many steps to becoming proactive. So many students (and adults) are overcome with stress and unable to move forward. Sometimes, it’s hard to get rid of stress, and that’s okay! You have to learn to keep going despite being stressed.
10. Learn to manage your emotions
Like many people out there, I used to believe that emotions are caused by the things that happen around us. But the truth is, you control what emotions you feel. So instead of letting the outside world control your inner self, practice managing your own emotions.
11. Avoid impulsive decisions
You surely know the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” In my opinion, impulsiveness is just as “deadly” as curiosity (though I’m still not sure how curiosity is really that bad). In my experience, 75% of my impulsive decisions don’t work out. So before you do anything impulsive, think thrice.
Productivity
Everyone wants more time to do everything. Some people seem to get just that, while others always find themselves racing against time. Here are a couple of secrets of the first type of people.
1. Use a planner
If you don’t yet use a planner, you’re missing out on the absolute best and easiest way to become productive. Use this Productivity Journal to set goals, plan projects, time-block days, and prioritize tasks.
2. Multi-tasking
I don’t mean working on your essay while playing video games. Multi-tasking reasonably can help boost productivity by a lot as long as you are effectively working on both at the same time.
3. Prioritize
When you have too many things to do, you have to determine which ones you should do first and which you should get rid of. The Eisenhower Matrix is a popular choice among many when it comes to prioritizing.
You can get a free printable download of the Eisenhower Matrix in my Freebie Library!
4. Break things down
When you have large projects, break them down into smaller, less intimidating tasks! This is like setting short-term goals, but more actionable.
5. Find your peak hours
I’m a morning and evening worker, which means there’s no use for me to try and be productive during the afternoon. The same thing goes for you! Find out when you’re most productive and grind during those hours!
6. Schedule buffer time
Scheduling buffer times is basically like giving yourself extra time to finish a task. This doesn’t mean giving yourself a break for 3 hours after working for 25 minutes, though. Opt for 15-20 minutes, instead.
7. Create routines
Not only should you create routines, but you must also stick to them and build the habit of following them. This way, your body can memorize the tasks and you’ll be ultra-productive without even realizing or trying!
8. Being organized
Being organized is the key to productivity. This means home organization, desk organization, digital organization, and more. Check out the next section for all the juicy deets!
Home Organization
Having an organized home and work area is crucial to being productive, happy, and on your way to becoming a better self.
1. Organize your desk
Your desk is probably where you spend the most time during the day– that is, if you’re trying to be productive. It’s therefore crucial to make sure your desk is properly set up and ready for you to be super focused and productive. Check out this post for the exact steps you need to take: How To Set Up Your Desk For Maximum Productivity.
2. Color coordination
Color coding doesn’t just exist in your notes! You can organize drawers, cabinets, shelves, and other storage tools with color-coding, too!
3. Throw things away
I’m guilty of keeping useless things for no reason. However, throwing things away is super important for decluttering your home. If you have some used notebooks, broken lamps, old boxes… decide if you should throw them away!
4. Hooks and hangers
Instead of piling everything onto your counter or desk, invest in some good quality hanging hooks and hanging shelves for your room. They save so much space and look much more aesthetically pleasing!
5. Natural lights
During the day, open all the blinds, ceiling windows, etc. Having a brightly-lit home is a great way to feel more lively and get into the mood for doing some great things.
6. House plants
I love plants! I’m not a plant genius, but I do know that having some greens in your home can be good for both your physical health and emotional health! Succulents are super cute and easy to take care of, so I definitely recommend starting with those!
7. Room sprays
No one likes living in a smelly home. Invest in some good room sprays and make sure your home is smelling nice! I suggest getting the types with essential oils and no alcohol, so it’s not bad for your health.
Conclusion
That was a big list! I hope you found some new ideas you’re willing to try out! And if you’re looking for more related posts, check these out!
