Turns out there is a direct relationship between being at peace internally and external beauty. So how do you find peace on the inside?
Find time to Unwind
Walk it Off – We all know walking is one of the best things we can do for our health. Some of the obvious and documented benefits include: heart health, weight loss/management and lower/regulated blood pressure to name a few but some of the less obvious benefits include strengthening bones & muscles, bolstering the auto immune system and assisting you’re mental alertness. Walking truly makes you feel better and clears your mind. Simply Health outlines a list of 20 benefits – read more.
Avoid the Media Drain – today, our connection to technology leaves us no downtime. “Business hours” have extended to 24/7 and social media has become a threat to our mental health and productivity. By checking messages constantly we are choosing to be distracted which can lead us to being potentially unfocused and more stressed. Imagine that each time we shift our focus, it’s as if we’re taking a trip to the convenience store to pick up one item. Creativity expert Todd Henry calls it a “task-shifting penalty.” We pay a mental tax that diminishes our ability to produce high-level work. Harvard Business Review studied the cost of continuously checking e-mail and it is impactful. So what can you do about it? 1. You can plan time to shut your phone and e-mail down. Studies show that just 30 minutes of downtime a day can be very helpful to your sense of well being as well as your overall work quality. 2. Try to group like tasks so that your focused on similar tasks at the same time vs choosing to address each situation as it comes up. This approach should help your productivity and the quality of your responses. 3. At the very least; be aware of what you’re doing. The choice to scramble constantly more than likely effects you as well as those around you.
Find and Create Quiet Moments – Try to design 5 quiet minutes a day in the way that’s most beneficial to you. Ideas include soaking in a tub, sitting in the sun, meditating, reading for pleasure, working on a project or craft, playing an instrument, other… All of these things you do for yourself, not for others. They help you to refocus on who you are and what’s important to you. This self-care will bring you peace and help you to stay balanced. Unwinding in these ways helps you to control your health and when your healthy physically and mentally your skin gets it’s glow back and you are actually more beautiful.
Invest in Relationships
Find Love – Being in love can make you feel like your on top of the world, but it’s something that affects a lot more than our mood — loving relationships actually improve our health and our looks. Did you ever wonder why when your in a happy relationship other men seem to come out of the woodwork to meet you? Whether it’s that smile you’re sharing more often, your positive attitude or you’re glowing skin studies show that you’re actually more attractive when in love. Self magazine outlines the importance of sex, love and good health.
Relationships Rule – Having quality personal relationships in our lives actually help us to live longer and to be happier. University of Minnesota outlines the details. When you have someone to share your life with and this helps to minimize stress. A survey by the National Bureau of Economic Research found of 5,000 people surveyed – that doubling your group of friends has the same effect on your wellbeing as a 50% increase in income!
The connection to family, friends and your community formed through personal relationships are critical to personal health and well being. Being happy and content makes you attractive to others. If your happier your likely smiling much more and we all want to be around a person with a big, warm smile. Studies show that what keeps people together is your personality vs just your looks.
Splurge every once in a while
Give Yourself a Break – We have all heard the expression “everything in moderation” and we likely follow those guidelines. What we want to focus on is the opposite side of a measured life – the importance of enjoying the splurges. When it comes to dieting the importance of allowing yourself to splurge is well understood. it’s fun, helps you to feel less deprived and helps to relieve cravings and yes it makes you happier.
The most common example of splurging relates to dieting but it really can extend to anything you are strict about in your life. It’s important to give yourself a break every once in a while wether it’s going to the gym or doing laundry every Saturday morning or vacuuming every Tuesday evening… you get the idea. If your like most of us you get into patterns with your life and eventually get to a place where things are done unconsciously. It’s amazing how making a small change can make your life almost seem to shift. You’ll find that time typically spent on other activities has opened your mind to doing something new. Switching up the routine can really be freeing, keep your life from being monotonous and make you happier overall.
We’d love to hear how you take care of yourself and how you’ve benefited from doing so.
