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Basic Tips for Self-Care To Improve A Woman’s Well-Being

NURTURING HARMONY AT HOME, SELF-CARE TIPS27 Comments

Possessing basic tips for self-care is essential to improve a woman’s well-being.

Perhaps you have heard the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Well, you just can’t, right? Engaging in at least a few of these basic tips for self-care on a daily basis can be extremely beneficial in easing stress, anxiety, and burnout.

Why do Women Put Basic Self-Care on the Backburner?

We are nurturers by nature

The Younger Years…

In our younger years, many of us had little ones to tend to and/or a partner whose needs we tried to meet. Some also had careers to nurture, which brought along the sometimes difficult task of keeping the boss content with our job performance.

These can be challenging times in which many women find it difficult to truly take time to nurture themselves.

During this time of our lives, we may be thinking about how much easier life will be once the children grow up, or what will we do with all our free time when we retire.

So many things to speculate about.

Along comes midlife…

Once midlife rolls around, life does shift a bit, but it really does not get any easier. Still many, if not most women find themselves caring for others, having their own needs take a backseat to the needs of others.

In this midlife stage, if we are fortunate, our parents are still living, but their needs are changing, and perhaps needing more care from us.

Children may still live at home or be off at college but still need us. There may be the wonderful blessing of grandchildren who sometimes need our care.

Pets can be added to the list. They are likely aging right alongside us and requiring more care.

Then, there are those friendships we would like to rekindle, perhaps people we lost touch with during the child-rearing phase of our life.

All the caring and nurturing we do as women can become overwhelming at times.

We may become anxious, stressed, cranky, irritable – the list goes on.

I am very passionate about helping and caring for others, but I have learned through the years that I need to take time for myself in order to avoid all those yucky feelings mentioned above.

Thankfully, I have started implementing many of the tips of self-care listed below into my daily routine.

Ten Basic Tips For Self-Care You Can Implement Today

My posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, you will not pay a penny more, but I will receive a small commission. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

There are so many ways to practice self-care. This is not a selfish act by any means. It is a necessity to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup.

These tips have been quite helpful for me in lessening my feelings of stress and anxiety. I hope they will be beneficial for you too.

Learn To Say No

This is a big one! I know this can be difficult for many of those who are givers by nature. However, you need to set boundaries and take time for yourself. Saying NO does not make you a bad person.

Take Time to Relax

Set aside sometime every day where you can relax and reset your mind. It does not have to be very long, perhaps 15-20 minutes. Take this time to do some deep breathing, meditate, or just close your eyes and rest. You will feel refreshed and ready to take on the next task needing your attention.

Choose Joy

Start your day with positive thoughts. Don’t let negativity cloud your mind. Starting my day with positive thoughts has been so helpful in keeping stress at bay. I love the idea of these positive affirmation cards to start the day on a positive note.

Go For A Walk

Walking for as little as 15 minutes is a wonderful way to rid your mind of stress, boost your mood, and increase your energy. Listen to your favorite music or podcast while you’re out on your walk.

Indulge Yourself

Take an extra-long hot shower or bath. Let the water melt away the stresses of your day. Add a bath bomb or a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your shower and enjoy the aroma. Lavender is my go-to essential oil for relaxation.

Find A Hobby

Find something you love to do, and take the time to do it. It could be sewing, reading, gardening, cooking, yoga, etc. If you love what you are doing you will feel so good afterward.

For me, volunteering at a local horse rescue is extremely therapeutic. Even though the work is very physical, I feel energized after being with the horses. There is something therapeutic about spending time with these majestic creatures.

Stay Organized

This helps me so much! When things are cluttered and scattered everywhere your mind heads in the same direction. You get frustrated because you can’t find things.

Things I like to keep organized are my purse, kitchen pantry, dresser drawers, and vanity where I get ready each day.

Choose areas that are most important to you, organize them and try your best to keep them that way.

I have found these storage bins quite nice to organize medicines and miscellaneous baking items.

These lazy susan turntables were a wonderful addition to my pantry making it so much easier to find what I am looking for.

Get Cozy

Cozy up in a soft, warm sweater, and make yourself a warm drink such as coffee or tea. Perhaps read a book while you enjoy each sip. Taking this time to take care of yourself is so rewarding.

Take A Nap

This is one of my all-time favorite things to do. I prefer a long nap on a rainy day, but even a power nap (20 minutes or so) can help you feel revived.

Also, be sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night, which will allow you to be awake and refreshed in the morning.

Journal

Writing down your thoughts can be very healing. Seeing your words on paper can help you work through negativity.

Visualizing positive thoughts can help get your mindset headed in the right direction.

This journal kit would be a wonderful addition to your self-care routine. If you are not familiar with journaling, this particular journal provides prompts to help you get started. I’m going to have to place an order for this one soon!

Check out The Dollar Tree for some great, inexpensive Self-Care Essentials!

It is my hope that you find at least a few of the above tips for self-care helpful and that you can implement a few of them into your daily life.

Self-care is giving the world the best of you, not what’s left of you.

Be well…

. Self-Care Tips For Women: Are You Really Taking Care Of Yourself?

Be sure to check back for more self-care tips!

Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin With One Important Skincare Step

BEAUTY SELF-CARE, SELF-CARE TIPS9 Comments

Let’s be honest, when we reach middle age our skin can start to look dull, dry, and uneven. Unless you have found the fountain of youth, you may be wondering why this is, and what can you do to achieve healthier-looking skin.

My posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, you will not pay a penny more, but I will receive a small commission. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

Skin Cell Turnover

Did you know that our skin is constantly renewing itself through a process called skin cell turnover? This occurs every 28-48 days but varies from person to person depending on many factors such as age, sun exposure, and genetics.

So, next time you notice some flaky skin or a little bit of peeling, don’t worry – it’s just your skin doing its thing!

What You Need To Do To Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin

In order to achieve healthier-looking skin, you need to speed up the process of shedding dead skin cells.

How you ask? EXFOLIATE!! ⠀ Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin bringing fresh new skin cells to the top layer. This process helps improve skin texture and tone, ultimately revealing healthier-looking skin. ⠀⠀

How Often Should You Exfoliate to Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin?

On average you should exfoliate 2-3 times per week. This does, however, depend on what type of exfoliant you are using, as well as your skin type (dry, combination, oily). (Refer to my blog post Straightforward Tips on How To Reduce The Signs of Aging where I discuss more about the various skin types.)

Do keep in mind though that exfoliating too frequently may cause your skin to become sensitive. With that in mind, be sure to follow product directions related to usage.

Different Types Of Exfoliants

There are two options when it comes to exfoliants.

The first is chemical exfoliants, which are serums and peels.

The second form is physical. This being facial scrubs and brushes. ⠀

What I Am Currently Using To Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin

My skincare regimen includes exfoliating 1-2 times per week using an exfoliating face mask , which removes dull, dry skin, and minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines. My skin feels so soft after each use, which tells me it is truly doing what it is supposed to. The exfoliating process takes place after properly cleansing my face.

Then, on the days I don’t use the exfoliating mask, I use a peptide ser um infused with powerful antioxidants to help fight the signs of aging, and give my skin a nice glow.

What I love about the products I use is that they are from a clean beauty line that adheres to a long list of banished ingredient s.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is to take care of your skin no matter what your age. Always start with the basics of skincare,and be consistent with your skincare routine. Adding an exfoliant will most definitely help speed up skin cell turnover to reveal healthier-looking skin.

Go ahead girl, get that glow on!!

Straightforward Tips To Help Reduce The Signs of Aging Skin

BEAUTY SELF-CARE, SELF-CARE TIPS16 Comments

Do you ever catch yourself looking in the mirror wondering why your skin is showing signs of aging, but perhaps your body is feeling so much younger? This has happened to me more often than not.

However, I made a promise to myself not to get caught up in negative feelings about the aging process, so I am taking better care of my skin to help slow down any signs of aging, and as they say, age gracefully.

In doing a little research on what I should be doing to take better care of my skin, I came to the conclusion that I needed to get back to basics with my skincare routine.

It was surprising to me to learn that our skin begins to show signs of aging in our 20s.

Most certainly I would have taken much better care of my skin had I known my skin was going to start showing signs of aging so early in life!

Here’s where I went wrong

Lack Of Moisture

I’ve always had combination skin with oily areas being in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). I also suffered from acne in my young adult years, with large cystic acne on my chin. Having switched to a high-performing, toxin-free line of skincar e, I no longer suffer from the awful cystic acne I was experiencing.

With this in mind, I used to think moisturizing my skin would make it even more oily and/or make it break out even more. This could not be further from the truth! Your skin needs moisture no matter how oily it is. If your skin lacks moisture it will in turn produce even more oil.

Worshiping The Sun

In my youth, I would sunbathe until I was fried like a french fry, using baby oil as suntan lotion and of course no sunscreen. As a result, I have really done some damage and my skin definitely shows signs of aging. I will admit I feel quite fortunate that I have not developed skin cancer on my face, yet. Unfortunately, I have had two skin cancer spots removed from other areas of my body.

Fast forward 30 years, and I’m scrambling to reduce the signs of aging.

Since I did not treat my skin very well over the years, I now have sun damage, discoloration, and thin, sagging skin. These are all typical signs of aging skin according to this Cleveland Clinic article. These signs of aging probably would be less had I taken better care of my skin throughout the years.

Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not trying to look 20 again, I just want to feel confident that my skin is well taken care of, protected, and looking the best it possibly can.

So, what can you do to help reduce the signs of aging skin?

Determine Your Skin Type

Knowing your skin type will help you narrow down which products to use.

Dermatologists classify skin into four main types as noted in an article from Web MD.

. Oily skin: Skin that looks shiny due to an overproduction of oil.

. Dry skin: Skin with dry and flakey areas that may feel tight.

. Sensitive skin: Skin with red and irritated areas that are typically painful to the touch.

. Combination skin: Skin that has a combination of oily and flakey areas.

Three basic skincare steps to follow to help fight the signs of aging skin

Cleansing

Cleansing your face both morning and night with a cleanser appropriate to your skin type is key to helping reduce the signs of aging. This will help rid your skin of any dirt and debris. Always have a fresh face prior to applying your skincare products. Never go to bed with makeup on!

Proper cleansing also allows your skin to get the maximum benefits from the skincare products you apply after cleansing.

Double cleansing (cleansing your face twice – to effectively remove makeup or other impurities from the day) will leave your skin looking beautiful, hydrated, and clean. I AM The Balm ™ is my favorite product to achieve these results and is part of my skincare routine to help fend off those pesky signs of aging skin.

Moisturizing

Your skin needs moisture to replenish the water your skin loses throughout the day.

Moisturizer s with nutrient-rich ingredients such as organic jojoba, sunflower, avocado, and sesame oils are the perfect option to help moisturize your skin.

Even if you have oily or combination skin you still need to moisturize. Lack of moisture can cause the production of even more oil.

When looking for moisturizers to help reduce the signs of aging skin, look for those containing bakuchiol rather than retinol. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived ingredient that mimics the effects of retinol without the safety concerns of retinol. Other ingredients to look for would be azelaic acid and Vitamin C.

You can find all of these youth-activating ingredients in Daylight® Advanced & Nightlight® Advanced moisturizers which I personally use and love. So many women have experienced dramatic changes in their skin with consistent use.

Protect Your Skin With Sunscreen: One Of The Most Important Tips To Help Reduce The Signs of Aging Skin

It is so important to wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine!

In addition to reducing your skin cancer risk, you’ll also be preventing the effects of photoaging—which can include dark spots and wrinkles.

There are additional optional steps, which can be added to your routine to aid in reducing the signs of aging skin.

Consistency Is Key To Helping Reduce The Signs Of Aging Skin

Establish a daily skincare routine for both morning and evening.

In general, it takes 8-12 weeks to see dramatic results with any new skincare routine, so don’t give up.

You are never too young or too old to start treating your skin with the respect it deserves. You’d be pleasantly surprised how glowing, healthy, youthful-looking skin can do to boost your confidence.

So, get started with a basic routine to help stop the signs of aging skin!! Your skin will thank you!

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