This year, for me, is all about trying to glow up in many different areas of my life. Being on social media, I see that I’m not the only one who’s trying to achieve the same thing. If the pandemic only gave us one takeaway, it was that life is short and anything can happen in an instant.

It’s time to stop sitting around wishing you could have that glow up that you’ve been seeing everyone on social media have, and it’s time to make the move to glow up internally and externally like a boss!

1. Show yourself love by starting your day with positive affirmations.

Positive affirmations really can do wonders for your internal and external glow-up! Some of you reading this may be thinking, what could affirmations do for me? If you think it and it repeat it daily, then you’ll start to believe it and see it. Think about it…how can someone feel good or like a boss when they’re waking up daily feeling and saying negative things all of the time. If you say to yourself that today is going to be a bad day, then more than likely you’ll end up making sure it’s bad because you already believe it. I feel like constant negativity almost adds on years to your skin. When you’re positive and feeling good about life, it really radiates and shines through.

2. Dress for success

Quarantine has a lot of people getting used to sweatpants and t-shirts, but from experience, I believe that you feel good when you look good. Start dressing up more and see how that instantly boosts your mood and confidence! Sometimes the only glow up you need is right in your wardrobe. I know that when I go too long without putting on actual clothes, I start to feel a lot more down about myself. The right outfit will have you strutting down the sidewalk with confidence, which can automatically bounce off to other people and even shock people you know that may haven’t seen you in regular clothes in a while.

3. Take care of yourself consistently with self-care.

Self-care is an essential part of the glow up process. I have never met a woman who didn’t feel good after a facial, freshly done nails, and a new hairdo. It truly makes you feel like a different person. You almost instantly feel put together and as if you’ve had a mood booster. Everyone’s self-care routine is different but you always want to keep up with it no matter what it looks like to you. You’re showing yourself that you love yourself enough to show your skin love and care. When you know you’re worthy of these things, no one can make you feel different or lose your glow the self-care will provide your skin.

4. Cut off all the bad apples in your bunch.

Believe it or not, the people around you can keep you from your glow up. There are some bad apples in the bunch who can bring you down and hold you back. This is most important for an internal glow up, but it can affect the exterior as well. If there’s someone who is always negative, surrounded by drama, and bringing you down then that can stump your growth internally. It can also become draining, which could showcase on the outside. Getting rid of those bad apples is like lifting a weight off of your shoulders. It’s so freeing and is an instant mood lifter.

5.Find your purpose.

It’s hard to go through life every single day when you don’t feel like you have a purpose. Everyone has a purpose in this life, but not everyone has found that purpose yet. When you find that reason to wake up every day, it changes you. People might see something in you that they’ve never seen before. You might even see something in yourself that you’ve never seen before as well!

6. Show your body love with exercise, healthy foods, and plenty of water.

I think we all know that for the ultimate glow up, it takes a healthy lifestyle change. Switching to healthier food options, working out daily, and drinking plenty of water not only shows a change physically on the outside, but you’re so much healthier which makes you ultimately feel better in the end.

7. Get enough sleep.

This also goes along with showing your body love by taking care of it. Just as with exercising, eating healthy, and drinking plenty of water…getting enough sleep will help with your glow up. When you get enough sleep, not only are you more rejuvenated, but you’re like an entirely new person. You feel better, you’re not drained, and your mood improves because of not being so tired and sleepy.

8. Become in tune with your mind and emotions.

Lastly, I think the most amazing way to glow up is to become in tune with your mind and emotions. When you’re in tune with your emotions, then you accept them and embrace them. You’re able to acknowledge how you’re feeling and express that in a healthy way instead of holding things in or letting them out in a negative or even a way that could be toxic to yourself and others. To be in tune with yourself means you’re aware of who you are. Once you know who you are and how to express your emotions, then you’ve achieved a power and a maximum glow up level that no one can take away.

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It’s time to stop wishing and start doing. Glowing up isn’t about looking better for the validation of others…It’s about validating yourself and challenging yourself to be better.

Are you trying to “glow up” this year? What ways are you glowing up internally and externally?