Terri Ramsey Beavers How you look has a direct impact on how you feel about yourself, for better or for worse. While appearance doesn’t matter as much as we might think it does, it can still impact our lives in a huge way. Not only that, while the saying goes “beauty is only skin deep”, often our appearance says something about our health.
People naturally find healthy bodies, hair, and skin more attractive. So in addition to the seemingly shallow benefits of improving how you look, you can also improve your health and how you feel.
It’s true, we can’t control everything about how we look on the outside. But you might be surprised at what you can control and how it can add some confidence to your life. So, here are some big and small changes that anyone can make to their lives.
Mental Health
First things first, social media and society as a whole have had a devastating impact on people’s self-esteem in recent years. While how you look is important to an extent, some people put far too much emphasis on appearances.
Not only this, but social media is a hotbed for digitally altered photos, so people use technology to make themselves look better. While this might seem like a bit of harmless fun to start with, if you’re surrounded by seemingly impossibly good-looking and flawless people who don’t seem to put a lot of effort into their appearance, it can be a hit to your self-esteem. Whether we want to or not, humans can’t help but compare ourselves to others.
So, examine whether your feelings about how you look are healthy or productive. In some cases, it’s a good idea to see a mental health professional, especially if you have an unhealthy obsession with your appearance or the appearance of other people.
One way this can manifest itself is in an eating disorder. Eating disorders are complex conditions that can stem from a number of places, but they can sometimes be influenced by low self-esteem and a desire to control your body and how it looks. An eating disorder can be life-threatening and can cause serious physical damage to your body.
This is an extreme example of why it’s important to look after your mental health, but other conditions like anxiety and depression may also be related to your appearance. Your health takes priority every time.
Your Diet
Your physical health also has an impact on how you look, so some lifestyle changes can benefit your appearance and health all at once. One huge lifestyle change is your diet. The good thing about changing your diet is that you don’t have to do it all at once. Many people find it easier to gradually shift their diet to a healthier one, so they can benefit from it.
The most common reason people change their diets is often to lose weight. For many people, this does improve their health and appearance, as well as provide a confidence boost. While crash diets are popular, they aren’t sustainable, so it’s better to look for slow and steady changes that allow you to maintain your new diet.
For example, rather than cutting out snacks entirely, some people find it easier to switch out unhealthy snacks for healthier alternatives. This means that you still eat in a way that’s easy and normal for you, but you eat beneficial foods.
However, there are plenty of other reasons to change your diet. Some people want to gain weight, while others might want to improve their hair, skin, and general health.
Even if your weight is in the healthy range, what you eat matters. Your food contains all the nutrients and energy your body needs to function properly, so it makes sense to eat the right things.
Keep Fit
Another way that you can improve your health and your appearance all at once is to work out on a regular basis. Humans are designed to move, but modern life is a very sedentary one. Most people work from offices, so they spend a lot of time sitting in front of a screen. We also drive places and when we get home, we relax by sitting down some more.
Even if you have a more active or flexible career, you still won’t necessarily be able to keep fit in the way you’d like to. It’s important to dedicate some time to exercise.
Working out helps you maintain a healthy weight, does wonders for your cardiovascular system, and can make your joints and muscles stronger. It also helps you to be more energetic in your everyday life and is proven to help your mental health and confidence as well.
But what about how you look? Well, the great thing about working out is that it allows you to change how your body looks by focusing on certain goals. If you just want to be fit and maybe a bit more toned, playing a sport is a great way to work out and have fun.
If you have more specific goals, like losing weight, toning certain muscle groups, or getting stronger and bulking up, you can adjust your workout routine to help you reach these goals. The sense of accomplishment you get from completing a workout and reaching a goal is fantastic.
To keep yourself motivated, set small, attainable goals that you can work towards and use to track your progress. It’s also helpful to work out with someone else, whether you’re going to the gym, hiking, running, playing a sport, or whatever else works for you.
Cut Out Bad Habits
When you’re young, you might be able to get away with a lot of things. But some bad habits add up over time, affecting your health and your appearance.
For example, smoking is proven to age people more quickly. It affects their skin, teeth, and general health. This damage adds up over time and shows on the body. The same applies to alcohol and drug abuse.
The sooner you cut unhealthy habits down or out entirely, the better. This allows your body to restore itself. You’ll look better and you’ll feel much healthier as well. You will also reduce the risk of serious health problems later down the line.
Skin and Haircare
So far, we’ve explored ways to improve your general health, which will in turn help you to look better. But what about specific ways to improve your skin and hair health?
Great skin and hair are both signs of youth and beauty. The food you eat and your general health as a whole will be reflected on your skin and hair, but there are more specific things you can do to improve them.
Basic skincare is a must-have routine for everyone. Use cleanser and moisturizer on your face at least twice a day, and make an effort to moisturize your body as well. It doesn’t take long and it doesn’t have to cost much, but it can make a huge difference.
You should also invest in shampoo and conditioner that is designed for your hair type. All of this basic care comes before specialized products for your skin and hair that take it to the next level.
If you’re losing your hair, there are options. Some people opt to shave it off completely, which can work really well. Others use products to encourage healthy hair growth, which can stave off hair loss. Another option is to get a hair transplant. This seems like a more extreme option, so do your research and look into “how much does a hair transplant cost”, but the results speak for themselves.
Dental Care
A good smile can add so much to your beauty, and healthy teeth are vital for preventing abscesses, infections, cavities, and other problems.
See the dentist regularly to get your teeth checked out. If you have missing teeth or misaligned teeth, it’s often worth consulting your dentist for different options. Invisible braces can correct misalignment and implants are practically invisible, so you can regain your confidence quickly and relatively easily.
Your Personal Style
Finally, we can’t talk about how you look without considering how you dress. The key to dressing stylishly doesn’t lie in following trends and doing what everyone else does. Yes, it can help to pay attention to what’s popular, but the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own skin and your clothes.
Invest in clothes that fit well. Clothes that are too small or big will be uncomfortable and you might be self-conscious about them, especially if they’re overly tight. Try on different options and find styles that compliment your body rather than just trying to hide it.
Explore different styles of clothing so you can find a personal style that speaks to you. It might not be right on the trend, but you’ll look better and you’ll be so much more confident.