Spring self-care: Glow from the inside out
If you’re downright winter-weary, you’re not alone! It’s been a tough winter on hands, minds, and moods.
Feeling dull, lifeless, beaten down, and looking the part, too?
Well, if you’re downright winter-weary, you’re not alone! It’s been a tough winter on our hands, hides, minds, and moods.
Spring is here, and it’s just a matter of time before warmer weather kicks in. So in the meantime, do away with the doom and gloom of winter—perk up your lizard-like skin, reenergize your body, and boost positivity and productivity with a spring tune-up.
Get glowing inside and out with these tips:
SKIN SAVERS
Cold weather sucks the moisture out of our skin, leaving it dry, tight, and lifeless – no, thanks!
Check out these simple tips to perk up your dull skin:
First, clean up your skin and skin supplies; throw out old makeup and skincare. Swap out darker blush and lip shades for happy pink hues instead.
Cut your beauty routine down to a few products and swap heavier creams for lighter ones. Slather on a light moisturizer daily with a built-in SPF of 30 or higher.
Regular bar soap dries out the skin, so instead use a moisturizing cleanser with ingredients such as vitamin A, E, and C and use lukewarm water.
Save your skin by exfoliating once a week, all year round, so your skin can breathe. This allows moisturizers to penetrate your skin more effectively.
Look for night creams with retinoic acid (vitamin A) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to boost the skin's collagen and elasticity.
Reduce puffy eyes from seasonal spring allergies with an eye roller with a metal ball; lots of brands make these anti-fatigue eye rollers
Take a bath with Epsom salts; add a favourite body oil. Massage your body to draw out toxins and slough off dead skin.
MOOD MODIFIERS
Clear out the cobwebs in your mind. Step out of that stagnant mindset. Embrace the milder weather and longer days; research shows that warm, sunny weather improves not only one’s mood but also their memory and creativity and decreases anxiety and skepticism.
Banish winter comfort foods. According to a Public Health Nutrition study, people who consume fast foods like burgers and pizzas are 51% more likely to develop depression than their counterparts who don’t.
Clear your mind by clearing the clutter. Decluttering and reorganizing have a positive impact on energy, outlook, and stress levels.
Break away from work for an outdoor pause at least once a day. This light respite will do wonders.
Sweep out unhealthy relationships. Spend more time with people who make you feel good and less time plugged into social media.
Bring the outdoors in. Vibrantly coloured and scented flowers re-energize and, in some cases, such as lavender, can even reduce stress levels. For scent-free work environments, add a brightly coloured screen saver, an artificial flower display, or wall hangings.
Boost endorphins by doing something new, like taking up a new sport, signing up for a workshop to boost your work skillset, or taking painting lessons.
Plan a summer trip. The mere act of planning and anticipation is a sure-bet mood booster.
BODY BOOST
Shake off sluggishness by spring-tuning your body. Motivation may be lagging after a long winter, but getting in some exercise will help work off the pounds.
Think low-impact, low-intensity, and short sessions. Find your groove and move.
Walk: It’s the easiest, least expensive way to get going. Twenty minutes, four times a week. Pick up the pace.
Swim: Inexpensive and incredibly low impact, but very high return on your fitness investment.
Bike: Stick to easy gears and flat routes to start, and work your way up. If that’s too challenging, begin with a stationary bike indoors.
Do yoga: Gentle, beginner yoga is best if you’ve never done it before, and if you’re a newbie, you may want to steer clear of the hot yoga room.
Lift weights: Do it safely. Enlist the expertise of a personal trainer for even a few sessions to learn proper technique. Start with light weights and low reps, and progress from there.
NUTRITION TO GO
Tune up that less-than-healthy diet that comforted you through the winter. Eat for energy by fine-tuning your diet.
Get hydrated. Dehydration can deplete energy. Drinking more water flushes out toxins, boosts energy and alertness, controls appetite, and increases metabolism.
Eliminate and/or decrease dehydrating fluids such as alcohol and caffeine.
Eat more whole-grain foods as well as fruits and vegetables.
Don’t skip meals or snacks. Eating regularly and consistently maintains regular blood sugars and helps with energy levels.
Include probiotics: This helps with digestive health, especially if you’ve taken antibiotics over the winter. Add yogurt or a yogurt drink daily.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2019.