AD – This post is an advertisement feature with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own.
If you’re anything like me, then life in lockdown may have left you feeling a little flat. I’ve developed some negative habits, found myself stuck in a rut, reaching for beige foods that won’t provide me with any real energy and as a result, I’ve been feeling sluggish and… just-not-myself.
So rather than berating and punishing myself for developing these new not-so-helpful habits, I’ve decided to start boosting my confidence and re-balancing my life step-by-step, without too much expectation or pressure. Here’s a few tips I’d love to share:
Pamper Me
Although in ‘normal circumstances’ I’m not a frequent visitor to hair & beauty salons, the fact we haven’t been able to visit at all, teamed with the fact we’ve been stuck at home with no ‘excuse’ to dress up means that I’ve become very complacent when it comes to taking care of myself. I regularly head downstairs & spend the entire day without brushing my hair and my tracksuit has become the most worn item in my wardrobe. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with those actions, over time these little niggling habits have meant that I’ve taken less care of myself in general and I’ve almost forgotten how to take pride in my appearance altogether. It’s got to the point that I no longer feel ‘confident’, even when I dress up slightly for a picnic in the park. And rather than this being about ‘vanity’, it’s about confidence. And it’s something I’ve been hugely lacking.
Pampering & taking care of yourself is a huge step to reigniting and boosting inner confidence and self-worth – and so it’s something I’ve been trying to do more of over the coming weeks. I’ve booked myself in at the hairdressers (though understandably, she has a waiting list as she’s extremely busy), said hello to the tweezers and I’ve picked up some new sunless tanners to bring back a little ‘glow’ to my skin, especially since it’s highly unlikely we’ll feel comfortable enough to go abroad this year.
I’ve heard hugely positive things about St Tropez as a fake tan brand, so once I’d logged onto the Boots website, I headed straight for their page. I picked up their mousse, their spritz and a mitt! A couple of days later, I got to work scrubbing away any dead or dry skin (and lets face it, we ALL have dry skin at the moment with all the hand washing) to prep for the layer of mousse.
I’ll be totally honest when I say that I haven’t used fake tan in years, so I guess my application ‘skills’ are a little rusty, but I was pretty pleased with the first relatively streak-less attempt.
Their fake tan for face spritz has a lovely tropical smell too, so I’ve really been enjoying using it in the morning as part of a refreshing routine! I might not be on holiday, but I certainly smell like it – and have the glow to match…
Healthy Treats
For many of us, lockdown has been a time to binge-watch those boxsets and indulge in our favourite treats – and while it’s been lovely to do so, my body feels so sluggish and I lack the energy to do the things I want to do. Fuelling it with the right food is key – and I’m disappointed that I’ve got into a routine whereby I’m reaching for chocolate, crisps, fried foods & takeaways without a second thought.
Inevitably it has meant that my tummy has expanded and some of my clothes no longer fit, but the biggest confidence dump has been the fact I feel so low. I know from previous trial and error experience that food is intensely linked to my mood and how productive I am, so I’ve found that my choices have had knock-on effects to all aspects of my life.
So rather than trying to completely overhaul my diet and cut-out everything altogether, which is destined for failure, I’m trying to make smarter choices and re-address the balance. I’m prepping more – cutting up fruits and veggies so they are on hand for snacks. I’m shopping for planned meals rather than reaching for things I like the look of. Preparation is key here, as is consistency.
I’m also looking less at willpower to help me make better choices, but also at the ‘why’ power. I want to feel confident, energised and balanced. Rather than sluggish, low and flat.
Get Active
Now that we have a dog, we’ve got no excuse NOT to be active (at least once per day, anyway) and in fact our daily walks have been a source of enjoyment for both David and I. It’s made me realise how moving more and getting outdoors can be such a helping hand to balancing mental health – and in turn, can be a confidence boosting tool, too!
We both cancelled our gym membership earlier in the year because we weren’t using it enough and I was always finding excuses not to go. I know personally I have to find activities I enjoy and that don’t feel like a chore, otherwise I won’t be consistent. And for me, it’s dancing! So we’ve transformed our garage into a little makeshift studio and have a spin bike, a teeny bluetooth music player, a boxing bag and a cross trainer in there. Since it’s only me (or David) in there at any one time, I can boogie to my hearts content (while on the cross trainer sometimes) without fear of anyone watching and judging my terrible moves.
Sending you lots of love & confidence boosts!
x
