Summer Glow Up
Summer is the season of rejuvenation. Sand between your toes, nice weather, and warm sunlight are all great reasons to take care of yourself to make this summer one you remember! In honor of the season, we’ve put together a summer glow up list to rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically — so that you can look and feel your best while promoting health, wellness, and happiness.
Start a workout plan
A consistent workout plan will help you feel energized and accomplished. Now is the time to start a workout program that works for you! You can either join a gym, hire a personal trainer or find a workout plan online. Here are some of our favorite fitness resources:
Tone It Up: A website dedicated to workouts, diet tips, and recipes by Karena and Katrina. They have programs for just about everything, from bikini booty sculpting to pregnancy prep.
Beachbody on Demand: An online streaming site that provides hundreds of full-length at-home workouts. The membership comes with an accompanying nutrition plan, which makes it easy to stay on track during the transition from winter to summer.
Get outdoors
Get outdoors. It’s tempting to spend all day with the screen, but taking a break to go outside can be just what you need to recharge. Stretch your legs and get some fresh air with a short walk or bike ride after a long week of work
Be outside for the sun. While it’s important to protect yourself from too much sun exposure—especially if you’re fair-skinned, like I am—it’s hard to argue with the benefits of that golden glow on your skin, especially when you’re limited to such small amounts of natural light during winter months. Not only does it make you look healthier, but spending time in the sun also has great benefits for both mood and physical health (it helps us synthesize vitamin D). Try going for a hike or run with friends or family, or just spending some time outside reading your favorite book! A few hours a week can do wonders!
Ditch Processed Food
Good health is the closest thing we have to a guaranteed lifespan, and a problem that’s been at the center of much discussion over the past few decades is obesity. While what constitutes healthy eating isn’t as easy to define as it would be if one could say “healthy is safe,” there are plenty of ways to choose healthy foods.
One of the easiest things you can do for your body and mind is ditch processed food products like chips, crackers, sugar-laden cereals, and sugary drinks. When you replace these foods with whole ingredients like vegetables and fruits, you’ll find yourself feeling fuller longer without filling up on empty calories or unhealthy fats.
Your blood sugar levels will also respond in a healthier way because when you eat whole food, your body doesn’t need to use as much energy to break down those nutrients into usable energy for your cells to use.
It also helps make sure that your blood glucose levels won’t spike after meals which can lead to cravings later on (which leads us right back into our avoiding processed food.)
If you’re going through some summer detox but don’t know where to start cooking ideas, we’ve got some simple dishes that’ll help fill you up while helping you feel fuller faster. If the idea of eating salads seems too tedious or fussy for busy people like yourself during this time of year when everyone is in their shorts and tank tops, here are some easy recipes to try:
Turkey Taco Salad: taco seasonings on top of lots of vegetables makes for a great summer meal! You could go heavier on the taco flavors by mixing ground turkey with chipotle peppers and fresh spices like cumin seeds or oregano. Salsa adds so much more flavor than ketchup ever can too! Add black beans if wanted; they add protein but they’re not necessary since this dish already has plenty!
Whiten your teeth
If you’re like me, I spend a lot of time in the summer at the beach or by the pool. And what’s more important than your smile? If you have clean, white teeth you will feel more confident when taking selfies this summer.
You should brush your teeth regularly to keep them clean and healthy. Once in a while—say, every six months—you should go see a dentist for a checkup and cleaning.
But there are plenty of ways to whiten teeth from home! There are whitening pens, whitening trays, whitening strips and even baking soda-based products that claim to get those pearly whites brighter than ever before. Some people say apple cider vinegar works really well as a natural alternative to commercial products.
Learn to love yourself more
This summer, I’m challenging you to love yourself more.
The truth is, loving ourselves is one of the most difficult things to do. It’s always easier to find flaws in ourselves than good qualities. However, when we are kind and accepting of ourselves, we feel better about who we are and where we are in life.
You deserve love for simply being you—so this summer I challenge you to practice self-love every day with this list of self-love affirmations I created for you.
Wear less makeup
Let your skin breathe in the summer!
Makeup can clog the pores, which leads to breakouts and dull skin. You want to enhance your natural glow and make it easier for your skincare products to soak in.
If you’re heading out for a special occasion, use minimal makeup on a daily basis and swap for heavier coverage when needed or desired.
Boost your confidence
Confidence is a muscle. Practice positive self-talk and set small, manageable goals for yourself; as you achieve them, you’ll feel more confident in your abilities.
Stop comparing yourself to others by focusing on what makes you unique. Everyone has their own journey.
Dress for success; feeling good about how you look will make it easier to be confident in social situations.
Fake it until you make it! Actively try to smile and stand up straight, even when you don’t feel like being around people—this can trick your brain into actually being happier and more present.
Take a self-defense class or learn martial arts to boost your confidence and build trust in yourself; knowing how to defend yourself can give anyone an extra boost of security!
Be kind to others, especially if they’re new or seem insecure themselves; the best way to build confidence is by empowering those around you with compassion and empathy.
We all want everything now, but remember: nothing good comes from rushing things! Even if things don’t work out exactly how we want them to this summer, there’s always next year—and we shouldn’t let our mistakes define us.
Keep a summer journal
One of the best ways to keep track of your goals and self-improvement is to start a journal. This will not only help you stay on track but also allow you to see how far you’ve come as the summer progresses. It may be difficult at first, but I promise you that it will be worth it!
Starting a journal can help you keep track of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout your summer break. It is also a great way for you to reflect upon what happened that day or week. You can use this time to set new goals or reflect upon those already made—it’s up to you!
Change your hairstyle
Changing up your hairstyle is a great way to make yourself feel like a new you. Try some of these easy, temporary styles:
- Braids. Fishtail braids look fancy but are actually very simple—try this tutorial to learn how! You can also add extensions or hair jewelry to spice things up.
- Buns. Messy buns are super on-trend right now, and they’re perfect for humid weather—even if your hair gets frizzy, it will just enhance the effect! Add flowers or glitter for a fun touch.
Declutter your living space
Before you can do anything else, you need to declutter. We’re talking about everything: your apartment, your desk, and even your computer desktop. Clutter is incredibly distracting and it can have a significant impact on your mental health.
So go through your files and folders and delete anything that isn’t relevant anymore—and don’t just move that unused paperweight from one shelf to another; get rid of it altogether!
You might want to consider donating some items or selling them for a few bucks on eBay or at a yard sale.
The same goes for papers and mail—toss the junk mail immediately, shred old bills once you no longer need them, and put important papers in an organized file system so they aren’t cluttering up your space.
Have a pedicure
Whether you’re in a relaxing spa, or at a nail salon on the way home from work, a pedicure is one of the easiest ways to add some summer style to your life. This is also an excuse to pop open that bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion and spend some time with friends; getting together to pamper ourselves can be one of the most relaxing activities we can do!
Putting aside all these benefits, there’s nothing better than treating yourself, and having your feet feel great in those flip-flops and sandals you’ve been waiting to wear all winter long.
So book that appointment today with yourself or your friends, get rid of those dead skin cells with an exfoliating scrub, brighten up your toes with vibrant colors, and truly enjoy this summer season!
Connect with friends and family
It’s summer! Time for fun, family, and friends. After a long winter, many people feel the need to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
In lieu of a big formal get-together to celebrate, it might be fun to take it all back to basics—a picnic, perhaps at the beach or park. Why not invite some close friends over for a chinwag? (Bonus points if you grill up something good.)
You can create a relaxing atmosphere indoors as well providing everyone with an opportunity to see each other beyond their busy lives.
You could also take the literal meaning of “summer glow”. If you have a bright outdoor space where you can sit outside and be on the lookout for passersby, that could be another good place to catch up with people.
Summer is the best time to rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically to look and feel your best.
Summer is the best time to rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically to look and feel your best. It’s the perfect time to reset and refocus, whether you’re trying to drop a few pounds or want to save a few bucks. I think of summer as being “the best time for a glow up,” and no matter what part of your life you want to improve, this is the season we all need it most.
The sun is out longer, and we’re more active (both physically and socially). For example, going on a summer road trip with friends can be the perfect getaway from everything going on in your life, which can help relieve stress.
With an extra hour of sunlight each day during the summer months (plus less clothing), there’s no better time for self-improvement than now!
Conclusion
Whether you need to lose a few pounds of stubborn fat, tone up your body or mind or are looking for an overall mental and emotional boost, these summer glow up ideas will get you on your way to feeling like a million bucks.
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