words Al Woods
The new year is finally here, and we all want to be able to enter it shouting “New Year, New Me!” With the last couple of years being something none of us could have expected, we may be feeling and looking more tired and stressed than we usually would.
If you find yourself entering middle age, it’s more important than ever that you have a curated path to looking your best. Ideally, we would’ve started our perfect morning and nighttime routines in our twenties, but most of us spent that time discovering ourselves and enjoying late nights out. Let’s look at how we can look and feel our best in our forties – starting this year!
Honor Your Body
Our bodies are our temples and when they feel off, so do our moods. One of the quickest ways to look and feel your best is by being more mindful of what we put into our bodies and how we treat them. Are you mainly eating processed food instead of a more plant-based diet? Start making healthier food choices then. Are you more sedentary than you’ve ever been after two years of working from home and lockdowns? Make an effort to get physical exercise every day. Do you stay up late binge-watching the latest “must-see” show on Netflix? Prioritize getting in your eight hours of beauty rest a night. You’d be amazed at the difference those small changes can make in not just your physical but mental health as well.
Prioritize Therapy
Maybe you’ve seen a therapist before during times of great stress or grief in your life – if it worked then, it would work even when things seem okay. Everyone can benefit from working with a licensed therapist no matter what’s going on in their life. Having a safe space to speak with an objective individual about the things you’re feeling and how to cope with them is a healthy habit we all should pick up in the new year. Thankfully, these days it’s easier than ever to get connected with a therapist online, and you can meet however you feel most comfortable – phone, zoom, even text. The important thing is making it a part of your well-being routine.
Nourish Your Skin
Our skin is our body’s largest organ – and one that shows how we’re feeling and the state of our overall internal health too. Prioritizing the health of your skin is an easy way to look fantastic and let your natural beauty shine. If you don’t already have a licensed dermatologist you’re working with, find one that you click with and get your skin assessed. They can help you address any issues and recommend custom skin care based on your skin type. They can also prescribe topical or oral medications that can quickly banish any problems you may let fall by the wayside. Beautiful skin indicates good health, and waking up with a natural glow is an instant confidence booster.
Treat Yourself
Maybe you’ve been wanting some cosmetic treatments and haven’t yet pulled this trigger. Let this be the year that you treat yourself to that Botox or filler you’ve been lusting after. We all know the power of good eye cream – but they take diligence in applying nightly and the patience of waiting months to see results. Botox and other injectables can instantly erase your fine lines and wrinkles, and fillers can take care of deeper ones. It may seem like a splurge initially, but you’re still aging gracefully in your forties if you’re getting a little injection here and there to help you stay youthful.
Live Your Life
Often, we let ourselves be held back by what we think others will think about us – whether it’s not wearing trends we want to try, committing to hobbies others may find silly, you name it. When you’re in your forties, you should be in a place where you know yourself well enough to understand what you love to do and want out of life. If you’re not there yet, that’s okay too – but take steps to figure out what those things are and go after them.
Life is short, and it’s the only life we get, so go after it during this pivotal decade in your life so that you find the peace and self-love we’re all looking for in this world. Here’s to you and looking and feeling your best!
