GLOW UP GUIDE FOR 2025⠀
READ: On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And considering that 2025 is precisely these many days away, why not start with our glow up plan already?
Physical Glow Up-
BODY
— 5-10K steps a day.
— 7-8 hours of sleep.
— workout everyday for 1 hr atleast- yoga/stretching/pilates/cardio. a workout may take one hour, but your mood will be boosted for the next 12 hours.
— posture training.
— sunlight exposure after waking up for at least 10 minutes.
NUTRITION
— 2-3 liters of water every day.
— limit your caffeine intake.
— avoid sugars as much as you can.
— high protein diet, pre and probiotics.
— more fruits and veggies (+ green smoothies if you like).
— no junk/processed food/trans fat.
— no eating after 8 pm.
SKINCARE
— be clear on your skin type (oily, dry, combination, sensitive).
— once you're clear, use these accordingly- cleanser, toner, targeted serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen (≥50 spf).
— keep your bedding clean as well.
— no picking of skin on your lips, cuticle etc.
— gua sha to help improve blood circulation and lessen toxins.
— cold therapy may take three to five minutes of being uncomfortable, but your energy levels will be boosted for the rest of the day.
— remove makeup before you go to bed.
BODY CARE
— shower every day.
— exfoliate 2x a week.
— use body lotion (shea butter/aloe vera gel/coconut oil).
HAIR CARE
— wash hair 2-3x a week
— oil your scalp 2x a week, at least 3 hours before shampoo.
— hair mask 1x per week.
— never brush wet hair.
— use silk pillow case.
HYGIENE
— brush your teeth 2x a day, clean tongue and the roof of the mouth daily.
— floss daily.
— cut your nails 1x a week, never remove the cuticles.
— glycolic acid under arm for odor and discoloration.
— never use soap on your coochie.
Mental Glow Up-
MINDSET
— set clear goals- define and breakdown your aspirations.
— start your mornings with positive affirmations.
— surround yourself with uplifting content and people.
— be shamelessly selfish to your career and mental health, remove anyone or anything that doesn't align with your priorities and wellbeing.
— boost your brain health by these 4 neuroscience tools:
difficult first: start your day with the most difficult task (cortisol and dopamine are high in the body meaning that your body/mind is primed to work).
rest your eyes: introduce a micro-pause after learning by resting/closing your eyes - will help retain information better.
tomorrow's worries: write tomorrow's to-do list before bed as it is proven to be effective in helping you fall asleep.
find time to play: engage in low-stake play. can be anything you find fun but where the outcome doesn't matter (induces neuroplasticity + reduces stress).
MIND
— meditation might take as low as ten minutes, but your focus will be improved for the rest of the day.
— no social media after waking up and at least an hour before bed.
— keep aside 1 hr of time to read daily! reading a new book may take five hours, but you will keep the knowledge forever.
— journaling, gratitude.
— digital detox once a week or for 12 hours.
— limit unnecessary screentime, unfollow or cut off people you don't want to see.
JOURNALING
— choose a regular time each day to journal, making it a part of your routine.
— find a quiet, comfortable place free from distractions. light a candle if you want.
— allow your thoughts to flow without censoring or editing.
— write about your feelings and emotions to understand them better. write about things you are thankful for to boost your mood. write about your short-term and long-term goals. identify what triggers certain emotions or reactions
— set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write continuously during that time.
— reflect on both positive experiences and challenges.
— make lists, journal your thoughts on these questions.
— journal at night to clear your mind before bedtime, because emotions and thoughts lose their power once we acknowledge them.
— a gratitude practice may take five minutes, but your mindset will be shifted for the rest of the day.
AFFIRMATIONS
— customise affirmations to your needs.
Personal Life-
WEEKLY TASKS
— initiate small changes: begin with small, manageable tasks such as making your bed or cleaning your room every sunday.
— celebrate your success: reward yourself when you achieve your goals or have a consistently productive week. consider treats like buying flowers for yourself or watching your favorite show.
DAILY WORK
— set achievable goals: establish realistic goals for the day, week, or month ahead.
— track your progress.
— organise your work space, declutter your shelves etc.
— embrace the power of lists: keep a list of tasks to be done and their deadlines. this way, you start each day with a clear plan. to make it visually appealing and motivating, consider using productivity apps like evernote, habit tracker, or notion.
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
— wake up early.
— plan ahead everything, do scheduling. you can use:
google calendar / notion / tasks .
— if the task takes less than 2 minutes to finish, do it immediately.
— countdown rule, if you are procrastinating, count 1-2-3-4-5 and jump.
— start slow, don't rush and try to do everything at one time.
— follow a proper routine, use app locks based on screentime.
— pomodoro technique, 25 min work, and 5 min break.
— schedule longer break times as well e.g 30 min nap.
hi angels! this winter i want to perfect my morning routine. i struggle alot with sleep and energy levels, especially during the first few weeks of winter so this guide is a perfect way for me to ensure i have enough energy to get on with a busy and full day and achieve all my goals! while i cant do all of this every day what i try to do is pick a few things to prioritise daily. i hope you enjoy this and find some good routine inspo! especially if you struggle a bit with slumps during the colder months. enjoy.
wake up at 6:30 - 70:00.
open curtains and window (if not raining), let air circulate.
do a quick five or ten minute yoga/stretch routine while you watch the sunrise.
make bed (studies suggest its better to let your bed freshen with the sheets unmade first thing to stop the growth of certain bacteria etc).
dress.
clean teeth and floss.
drink glass of lemon water and salt (for natural electrolytes).
start packing lunch or snacks needed for the day.
make a cup of tea (my favourites are chai, green tea or matcha).
make breakfast (my go tos at the moment are turkey bacon and scrambled eggs, sautéed apple and yogurt or a porridge/oatmeal bowl).
clean teeth and mouthwash.
do am skincare.
style hair and jewellery.
make sure bag is fully packed.
journal for a few minutes and plan day.
read or listen to a podcast.
ensure all school work is up together/everything prepared for work.
fill up water bottle for the day.
set up room for when home, leave a cute lamp on, make sure your desk is tidy, lay out evening clothes etc.
put on motivational/winter playlist!
wake up at 8 - 8:30.
open curtains and window.
ten minute yoga/stretch routine.
tidy room and make bed.
get dressed in workout clothes.
do a five minute oil pull then clean teeth.
drink glass of lemon water with salt.
make breakfast and a tea (i normally put mine in a travel mug).
fill up water bottle.
clean teeth and am skincare.
if weather nice go on a little morning walk (half an hour to forty minutes).
journal and light a candle, plan day.
workout (i aim to workout for an hour to an hour and a half now weekends).
have a shower.
body lotions/moisturiser.
file nails.
start any work/projects needed, aim to get all finished by end of morning.
during breaks read or listen to podcast.
start weekend clean of room, change bedsheets, clean surfaces etc.
spend time with family or friends!
i want my winter mornings to be slow and mindful, focused on caring for my body and mind and doing what i can to make this time of the year easier and gentle on every part of me! there are lots of complexities within these routines so consider this a fairly basic, un-detailed guide. i might try to make a guide for any changes i make during the winter/as it gets colder if that would interest you angels? thank you for reading and have a great start to winter!
love, m.
Some of my fave personal spreads 😊
how to not binge
first let’s understand why you’re binging…
you miss the food. you miss the flavor and you miss the freedom. that’s okay. restricting your diet is hard especially because you’ve had a taste for high cal foods and they taste great, i won’t lie. but i have been able to go about 2 months without binging, even though i miss the flavor.
my lw was at the beginning of the pandemic and i was eating like once every three days (because of my ocd). i got into recovery this year but i don’t think i was mentally ready for all the weight gain so i restarted my rexie journey about 2 months ago and i’ve lost a significant amount of weight (about 25 lbs)
now how to not binge!
actually enjoy your low cal meals. savor the flavor and really enjoy it. don’t eat them with the mindset of “this will make me skinny”, eat them with the mindset of “this is actually good food”. the more you start to look at these foods as delicious and tasty, the less you’ll want the high cal foods. look forward to the meals you cook. experiment with flavor and different textures. and remember it’s okay to miss that burger and that pizza, but there’s a whole world of different flavors you have yet to explore in low cal foods!
as i’m writing this, i’m having my breakfast: black coffee, a can of tuna with salt and pepper and some unsweetened applesauce. it might seem like bland food but i genuinely love the bitterness of the coffee and the sweetness from my saliva that follows after i’ve drank it, the savory and slightly spicy flavor of the tuna (i’ve always loved tuna since childhood so this one was pretty easy to like) and the applesauce, it’s like a treat and a fun little snack. i even consider it akin to candy, so i don’t feel the need to eat actually candy.
it’s a mindset to get into. just remember that you don’t have to suffer to be skinny, you can enjoy food while losing weight.
let’s see how many transphobics we can weed out
Like a scratch record…
Give yourself an extra big hug today!
Artwork by Maeril