Table of Content:
- Introduction
- The Glow Up Trend: A TikTok Phenomenon
- 10 Long-Term Glow Up Tips
- 8 Short-Term Glow Up Tips
- Conclusion
Glowing up is the modern-day Cinderella story, and it's all about transforming yourself from the inside out. With the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, the glow up trend has become more popular than ever. But what exactly does it mean to "glow up," and how can you achieve it? In this article, we'll dive into the story behind the glow up phenomenon and share 10 long-term and 8 short-term tips to help you achieve your ultimate glow up. Remember that it’s crucial to be patient and don’t give up on half of your journey. Glowing up takes time, but the results will surprise you.
Are you ready to learn what it is and how you can incorporate these tips into your own life?
The Glow Up Trend: A TikTok Phenomenon
The concept of "glowing up" has been around for a while, but it truly exploded in popularity with the advent of TikTok. Users started sharing their incredible before-and-after transformations, showcasing how they improved their physical appearance, mental well-being, and overall confidence. These videos inspired millions of people worldwide to embark on their own glow up journeys, turning the trend into a viral sensation. You probably came across those videos, and you’ve probably been under a huge impression of how a person can change in a year or so. Some of the videos are fake-like, but most of them are not. People work on themselves hard to achieve the type of look and mental health they wanna have and always get a better result. It’s important to keep in mind that glow up touches on mental health and your organization moments as well. You’ve got to be organized and healthy to make your look gorgeous!
Here're a video for you to get inspired and understand better what the glow up is:
10 Long-Term Glow Up Tips
Long-term glow up tips are all about making sustainable changes to your lifestyle, habits, and mindset. These are the most important, that’s why lifestyle and good habits are in the first place, whereas short-term tips are mainly focused on enhancing your look because it’s easier. Although we don’t want to focus only on appearance because people don’t like non-interesting or bad people, even if they’re good-looking.
- Embrace Self-Care. Prioritize self-care by setting aside time each day for activities that make you feel good, whether it's reading a book, taking a bath, or going for a walk. Remember, self-care is not selfish; it's essential for maintaining your mental and emotional well-being. For instance, I like playing guitar and even though I’m not a professional guitarist, I feel good about making music and playing songs I like. But the guitar is not the only example. The key is to find something that you truly enjoy, even if some people consider it non-serious etc.
- Adopt A Healthy Diet. This one is by far the key to success! A well-balanced diet is going to make your skin cleaner and help you to feel good. Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your meals, and limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive caffeine. Remember — a healthy diet is a diet you can stick to. If you can’t follow a diet, then the diet doesn’t suit your body's needs. I also recommend not cutting off sugar and anything that is labeled as “bad food” completely. Decrease the amount of healthy food you consume, but don’t go crazy with it. Keep in mind that restriction diets don’t work and don’t try to decrease your calories extremely. I had been doing it for a while and got an Eating Disorder (ED), please don’t repeat my mistakes.
- Be Active. Regular exercise not only helps you maintain a healthy weight but also boosts your mood and energy levels. Find an activity you enjoy, whether it's dancing, swimming, or hiking, and aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. I’ve been doing it for a few years now and this gave me a huge mood boost and I became happier in general.
- Prioritaze Sleep. Getting enough sleep is crucial for your overall health and well-being. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night and establish a consistent sleep schedule to help regulate your body's internal clock. I’m gonna admit — I used to not do it earlier, my sleep was 5-6 hours long and this didn’t make me happier and caused plenty of problems with productivity. Hope you will not ignore sleep as I did.
- Practice Mindfulness. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling, can help reduce stress and improve your overall mental health. Set aside time each day to practice mindfulness and stay present at the moment. Keep in mind that if it’s not something that makes you feel better — you shouldn’t do it. Most of the people from my surrounding don’t do it and feel good. But it’s definitely worth a shot!
- Build a Skincare Routine. Healthy, glowing skin is a hallmark of a successful glow up. Make sure that your skincare routine works for your skin type and includes cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and sun protection. Don’t look for fast results. From my personal experience, I started to notice a difference only in 3-4 months after following my skincare routine every day. But it’s one of the best things to look better, you will never regret it.
- Invest in Personal Development. Growth and learning are essential components of a glow up. Seek opportunities for personal and professional development, such as taking online courses, attending workshops, or reading self-help books. It’s a huge topic for discussion and I leave it for future posts, but here’s my example: I learned 2 languages in 2 years: English and Polish. That was one of the best decisions in all my life. Now I can communicate with people in these languages and even work using them, such as writing blog posts, etc. It’s definitely good advice to glow up.
- Cultivate Positive Relationships. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and support your growth. Let go of toxic relationships and invest in building strong connections with friends, family, and colleagues who share your values and goals.
- Set and Achieve Goals. I used to not know how to do it before and this stopped my progress in everything I wanted to achieve. How to do it? Establish clear, attainable goals for yourself and break them down into smaller, manageable steps. This will make sure you see your progress and don’t think much of the end goal, also it’s important to build your self-organization system. You can make to-do lists, they usually help. I personally use Notion for to-do lists, tracking my spendings, and other information I’d love to know. Celebrate your achievements along the way and use your successes as motivation to keep pushing forward on your glow up journey.
- Embrace your Unique Style. Express yourself through fashion, makeup, and hair that reflect your personality and make you feel confident. I didn’t like to do it earlier, because I was feeling uncomfortable any time I wore some stylish and good-looking clothing. Essentially I was afraid of people paying attention to me because I had low self-esteem (I’ll write an article on how to increase it in the future). Anyway, don't be afraid to experiment with new styles and trends, but always stay true to what makes you feel most comfortable and authentic.
8 Short-Term Glow Up Tips
While long-term changes are essential for a sustainable glow up, there are also quick fixes and short-term tips that can make a noticeable difference in a shorter period. Here are eight short-term glow up tips to boost your confidence and enhance your appearance:
- Hydrate Your Skin. Drinking plenty of water and using a moisturizer daily can help your skin look fresh and radiant. Staying well-hydrated also helps flush out toxins, leading to clearer skin. I personally use a water tracker on my phone. It’s very convenient and lets me know how much water I drink.
- Drighten Your Smile. A bright smile can make a huge difference in your overall appearance. Try at-home whitening strips or toothpaste, or schedule a professional teeth whitening session for a more dramatic result. But brushing your teeth is the best way to make your smile better as well as prevent any problems with your teeth in the future.
- Groom Your Brows. Well-groomed eyebrows can frame your face and make your eyes stand out. Consider visiting a professional to shape your brows, or use tweezers, brow gel, or a pencil to fill in sparse areas and define your arches. I use tweezers to pluck some unwanted hair.
- Refresh Your Hair. A new haircut or color can make you feel like a whole new person. Visit a trusted stylist for a fresh cut or experiment with temporary hair color to switch up your look without the commitment.
- Update Your Wardrobe. Adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe can make you feel more confident and stylish. Look for items that flatter your body shape, complement your skin tone, and reflect your personality.
- Apply Make Up Strategically. Use makeup to enhance your natural features and make your skin glow. Focus on creating an even complexion with foundation, adding a touch of blush for a healthy flush, and using a highlighter to emphasize your cheekbones, brow bones, and the inner corners of your eyes. This is not mandatory, and plenty of men will not probably like it. But believe doing natural, unnoticeable make up is going to make you look better INSTANTLY. This is why men start to do make up more and more for the last few years. Society is gradually stopping shaming others for wearing make up, even if it's men. So don't be afraid of it, your look is gonna be better, and if you feel good about wearing make up - wear it!
- Practice Good Posture. Standing tall with your shoulders back and head held high can make you look and feel more confident. Pay attention to your posture throughout the day and make adjustments as needed. I've been struggling with it a lot over the last 10 years and even now I can't say I got rid of bad posture completely. Anyway, I'm trying and I'm sure I will achieve a better posture as well. This is not something impossible.
- Wear accessories. Adding accessories like jewelry, scarves, or hats can elevate your look and add a touch of personal flair. Experiment with different styles and combinations to find the perfect finishing touches for your outfits. Accessories are usually cheap and I’m very surprised that plenty of people don’t use this simple method to look better.
Let's Move to the Conclusion
Achieving your ultimate glow up is a journey that requires time, patience, and dedication. By focusing on both long-term and short-term strategies, you can transform your life and unleash your inner radiance. Remember, a true glow up is about more than just appearance; it's a holistic transformation that leads to a healthier, happier, and more confident you. Plenty of people forget about it and chase only looks, but you will not be much happier with just an awesome look. Of course, you will have more attention from people, but is it worth it if you don’t feel like you’re a different person from who you were before? This feeling of a big change that you’ve been chasing over a long time is extremely inspiring and gives you true motivation to go further. This seems intimidating at the beginning, but you’ll be surprised how it will change your life. The key is consistency, so make sure you’re going toward your goal! Hopefully, you will use those tips to glow up, both inside and outside.
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