Between school, work, or anything else that occupies our time, finding the will to put effort into our appearances and our confidence get kicked to the bottom of our priorities. Sometimes, however, I forget how simple it is to do the little things that change my mood about myself! Here are some things I do when I want to boost my self esteem and indulge in some relaxation time.
1. Painting your nails
It's the simplest thing in the world, but adding a little color to your hands can make a world of difference. For me, looking down and seeing that small difference in my appearnce gives me a microscopic confidence boost.
2. Wearing a nice outfit
This can be a hard one. If you're like me, you go through a phase every couple of weeks where you despise everything in your closet and want to give all of it away. So let's break it down; it's not necessarily about dressing up. It's more about dressing yourself in a way that makes you feel happy. Whether it's dressing comfy cute, or getting decked out in your fav going-out 'fit,' make sure to find something flattering. When you look in the mirror, you want to love the look in front of you.
3. Putting on a *little* makeup
I am the self-proclaimed, lowest maintenance girl I know, so this one is the biggest challenge for me. Despite 4 years of high school where my mom begged me to put on "a little concealer" each day, I always found this task too daunting. Now, I welcome the seeming erasure of my under-eye circles. If you are like me, getting out of bed just 3 minutes earlier to do such a simple thing doesn't seem worth it, but now that I am working a job where makeup is part of the dress-code, this mandatory thing has made a world of difference. Paired with just a little bit of mascara, you have the formula for an instant raise in self esteem.
4. Taking a bubble bath
I could literally spend hours in the tub. It's my happy place. For those who tend to stick to showers, taking a bubble bath can really make you feel relaxed and ready for a good night's rest to kick start a wonderful day.
5. Doing a facial
Not only is this super easy, but it also may involve a trip to Target, and who doesn't love that. You can find incredibly inexpensive masks, or you can even make your own; an easy way to get your skin glowing, and you loving your reflection.
6. Doing a workout
If those three words just made you full-body cringe, you are not alone. While maybe you have found that your schedule and budget don't allot for a gym membership, doing workouts at home are both simple and cheap. Just search whatever kind of workout you are looking for on Youtube, and there are tons of videos to guide you through a sweat sesh.
7. Posting a selfie on Instagram
When I am really feeling bad about myself, I can always count on my loyal Instagram followers (and all my friends) to reassure me that I am poppin' as always. I will enter a disclaimer that you should never let likes determine your worth, but if you're like me and you rarely post selfies, seeing the compliments roll in on my lock screen make me feel really great.
8. Getting a haircut
I just recently cut off a few inches of hair, and that REALLY changed how I was feeling about myself. Cutting of those dead ends made me feel like I had a fresh start, and the compliments from my coworkers and friends changed my outlook, too.
