Have you ever felt the urge to change your habits? Maybe you’ve thought of introducing a nighttime skincare routine or waking up an hour earlier in the morning. Maybe instead of going out, you choose to stay at home and binge-watch your favorite TV show. 

These are some very familiar self-care ideas, but what is self-care? Is it downing that tub of ice cream after a long day? Maybe on some days! 

Self-Care: What It Is and What It Isn’t 

Self-care is how you take care of yourself by assessing and addressing your needs. However, some women tend to struggle with this through a tendency to put others first before themselves. You might find it difficult given your role as a nurturer or caretaker. If you don’t pay attention to and take good care of yourself though, this can take its toll on your mind, body, and even your work. Taking your well-being for granted can turn into much bigger problems. 

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s taking the time to listen to yourself and to your needs—but setting an unrealistic fitness goal and punishing yourself for not meeting it isn’t self-care. Ditching your friends for the nth time to binge watch your favorite show doesn’t count as self-care either.

Self-care is sometimes compared to the air safety instruction to, “Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” Though it may seem counter intuitive, when we care for ourselves, we actually can then better care for others.

The Benefits of Self-Care 

Self-care has nume​​rous benefits. Aside from helping you with stress management, it can: 

• Build your self-esteem 

• Make you a better nurturer 

• Increase self-awareness, making you think about what you’re passionate about 

• Make you kinder to yourself 

Practicing Self-Care at Home 

There are several ways to make self-care a regular part of your life. Even with a hectic schedule, there are some methods that you can do at home or during your free time: 

Sensory 

Try to engage your senses through sensory self-care. This can help you calm your mind. When practicing this, be mindful of all your other senses, such as touch, smell, and such. 

• Walk barefoot to feel the grass. 

• Listen to music with your eyes closed. 

Emotional 

One of the best things that you can do for your emotional health is fully engaging with your emotions. 

• Keep track of your emotions using a journal. 

• Allow yourself to cry when you feel like you just have to. 

Physical 

It is important to take care of your physical health. Physical activity plays a key role in maintaining your overall health. It also comes in handy if you want to clear your mind and take a break from your thoughts. 

• Go for a short walk as a break from work. 

• Take check-ups to ensure your body is healthy. Natural supplements such as cra​​nberry pills for vaginal​​ health and other multivitamins will help keep you in good shape. 

Taking the Leap

There are many ways to introduce self-care into your life. You can start by taking small steps, like taking the time to just pause and breathe. These can pave the way for introducing bigger, better, more balanced changes in your life. 

The keto diet - many brave souls have tried it, but only a few have succeeded.

Not because it calls for a rigid exercise plan or a ridiculous food list, but it’s the drastic change from the typical diet that makes it challenging. More fat and protein, less carbs and sugar. 

Try to think of what you’ve been eating these past couple of days. If you’re following the modern​​ diet, then you’re probably consuming around 60-80% carbs and processed food, and not very much protein or healthy fats. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, this way of eating not only results in weight gain but it also puts you at risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

What exactly is ketosis, anyway? 

For those of you who still don’t know what ketosis is, here are the facts:

• Your body goes into a state ​​of ketosis when it doesn’t have a ready supply of glucose to burn for energy. 

• To get into ketosis, your diet needs to be 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbohydrates.

• The ketogenic diet has been known to treat epilepsy in the 1920s and curb the obesity problem in the 1960s.  

• Studies show that people who follow the keto diet to the tee can lose up to 3 times more weight than those following other diet plans. 

• Some well-known celebrities who swear by the keto diet include Halle Berry, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lebron James. 

Now for the fun stuff...

10 tips to prepare yourself for a keto journey

Create a food list and stick to it

Time to run to the grocery and stack up on the list of foods you’re going to devour for your keto journey. There are hundreds of useful guides online that can help if you’re starting out from beginner to advanced. So Grab a pen and paper, and build up that list. 

Be a master of your kitchen

Cooking your own food while on the keto diet may mean more effort, but it will definitely contribute to your success. Knowing the exact ingredients that go into your meals will not only make you a mindful eater, it will also help you become a better cook. 

Get into meal prepping 

And while you’re at it, you might as well get into meal prepping. Some weeks you may opt for a full vegetarian diet, and then for next week you can go for a protein-packed diet. Whatever type it may be, setting aside one day to prep your meals for the week will take away a lot of the guesswork.

Make fat your best friend

Forget everything the media has ever told you about fat. Fat isn’t going to kill you, especially if you’re choosing healthy sources of fats like avocado, coconut oil, and extra virgin coconut oil. 

Replace your usual cup of joe with its fattier cousin - bulletproof coffee

Love coffee? Then you’ll love bulletproof coffee even more! Adding coconut oil or butter, or both, to your coffee is a great way to keep hunger pangs at bay. Make sure to use a stick blender to blend all the ingredients together. 

Be prepared for the keto flu

The downside of following the keto flu is the side effects that come with following a new eating plan. Some people may feel lethargic or extremely cranky during the first week of the diet, while others go through a mental fog. 

Increase your electrolyte intake

To combat this, some keto followers make it a point to up their electrolyte intake. Make sure that you’re getting enough sodium and potassium for your body to function normally. It’s as simple as salting your food or eating non-starchy but nutrition-packed vegetables. 

Get a ketone meter

A ketone meter measures the level of ketones you have in your blood, letting you know whether or not you’ve reached a state of ketosis. For serious keto dieters, this is a must-have as it lets them know if their efforts are paying off. 

Make your own ice cream

One of the best things about the keto diet is that you can actually have ice cream and not feel guilty about it. And while it’s not the kind of ice cream that you usually get from the store, you can still enjoy it without the guilt. With ingredients such as full cream and coconut milk, you’ll get all the fatty goodness with minimal carbs.

While an ice cream maker may not be the first thing you think of getting when going keto, it’s definitely something that will help keep you sane when you’re craving for a sweet treat. 

See your doctor

One thing you need to remember is that, just like with any other diet, you should see a doctor first before making drastic changes to the way you eat. Yes, the keto diet might have worked wonders on that friend or celebrity, but that doesn’t mean it will also give you the same results. 

There are hundreds of factors that can fit into this list. But for now, it’s best to start off with these initial steps to get your body prepared for the journey ahead. And like any diet, dedication and persistence is key. So, keep building those healthy habits and good luck with your keto adventure!

People need to look good to create an impression in social situations, make them feel good about themselves, and boost their self-confidence and self-esteem. An attractive physical appearance can also become a person's advantage as it can enhance their personality.

To improve your overall look, you need to follow a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. In addition to this, it’s also essential for you to have the sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals your body needs. Fortunately, supplements that contain vitamins can now be purchased in the market. Consuming this product regularly is a great way of meeting your body's nutritional requirements and look good effortlessly.

To drive the point home, here's how vitamins can improve your overall look:

1. Vitamin B For Hair Loss And Brittleness

How your hair looks can significantly influence your physical appearance. A bad haircut or hairstyle can make you look older and less attractive. In worse cases, choosing the wrong hairstyle can create a negative impression about your personality.

If you’ve been suffering from brittle hair and hair loss for years, consume products that contain high levels of Vitamin B. Look for a product that you don't mind taking every day since vitamins require long-term consumption to see visible results.

There are now many websites, such as tropicaloasis.com, that offer vitamins in liquid form and can be suitable for people who dislike taking pills or capsules.

Vitamin B is complex and contains about eight different vitamins, one of which is biotin. This is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in your hair’s health. Biotin improves the infrastructure and production of keratin in your body. Keratin is a basic protein that builds up your hair, nails, and skin.

2. Vitamin E For Dry Skin

Your skin is your largest organ. It works by protecting your body from bacteria and keep your cells healthy from the sun's harmful rays. Your skin is also important because how it looks can affect your confidence. Since the public will see your face first, it's important that you follow a routine to keep your skin healthy and supple.

Regardless of their efforts, several people still suffer from dry skin. This skin condition is usually caused by frequent exposure to dry weather conditions or underlying health conditions, such as dermatitis.

If you lost your self-confidence because of dry skin, add Vitam​​in E to your diet. This vitamin is packed with antioxidants and protects your skin from further damage. Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties that can effectively soothe dry skin.

Consuming Vitamin E regularly can also lessen the itchiness and redness caused by dry skin and keep your skin moisturized.

3. Vitamin D For Stained Teeth

Smiling can make you look more approachable and attractive. When you smile often, you make yourself and the people around you happy. Smiling can also boost your physical and mental health.

However, when you have stained teeth, it'll be hard for you to smile. Stained teeth can usually become the reason why you'll avoid talking and socializing with other people. As a result, these people will think that you're a snob or grumpy, and you'll end up staying in your comfort zone.

Several dental procedures can treat stained teeth. But if you're looking for a more natural and cheaper way to solve this problem, start scouting for products that contain Vitamin D. This vitamin is responsible for improving the mineral density of your teeth. It also plays a role in the absorption and deposits of calcium in your bones, making your teeth stronger and healthier.

Taking Vitamin D can also decrease your chances of suffering from inflamed gums and periodontal diseases.

With a healthy mouth, tooth discoloration will become a thing of the past!

4. Vitamin A For Acne

While some are blessed with genetically clear and smooth skin, others are continually looking for solutions to their excessive and recurring acne problems. In fact, over 8​​0% of people, aged from 11 to 30, suffer from this skin disease.

If you're one of them, you might be tired of looking for solutions that simply won't work. You might have spent a lot of money to buy over-the-counter drugs and appointments with your dermatologist.

For you to finally live a life free from acne, start investing in products that contain Vitamin A. Because of its antioxidant content, Vitamin A can improve your skin by fighting free radicals from the environment. Antioxidants found in Vitamin A can also reduce skin inflammation and prevent acne from developing.

Vitamin A can also treat existing acne problems because it contains retinol. These are chemical compounds that can treat and prevent inflammation from acne lesions. Retinoids can also increase cell growth to expedite the process of healing from the scars and lesions and decrease oil production in your body.

Over time, retinoids can improve acne as it can smooth the skin and your skin tone. It also protects your skin against damage from the environment.

5. Vitamin C For Brittle And Weak Nails

Your nails are more important than you think. Aside from being an indicator of your overall health, your nails protect your fingers and toes from being injured. Healthy nails can also improve your productivity and help you create a positive impression in the eyes of the public.

Noticing slow nail growth and split nails isn't healthy nor normal. Even if you're always making time to visit your manicurists, regularly experiencing these problems can be a red flag for vitamin deficiencies.

To combat the most common nail problems, such as brittle and weak nails, add some Vitamin C to your daily routine. Vitamin C can do wonders for your nails because it can boost the integrity of your nails and strengthen your skin, connective tissues, and blood vessel walls. Vitamin C can also aid with the collagen production of your body and decrease your chances of suffering from hangnails.

Taking Vitamin C regularly is essential in improving the strength of your nails and reduce brittleness.

Ask Professional Advice

Although vitamins can provide a wealth of benefits, these should be taken cautiously, especially if you have vitamin deficiencies or suffer from skin conditions. Consuming a large amount of vitamins can cause and worsen certain health conditions. Thus, make sure to see a dermatologist before consuming any vitamins as an attempt to improve your look.

Many yoga poses involve elevating your legs which helps your blood circulate back to your heart, further relieving pressure on your veins. For more information on the best exercises to help varicose veins, take a look at the attached resource. It goes over effective ways to get moving for vein health, from jogging to yoga to Pilates. 

Because of the advent of technology, having smooth and supple skin even as you age is now possible. Several anti-aging solutions are popping out in the market today, making it easy for people to look young even during their senior years.

If you’re looking for effective ways to combat signs of aging, learn more about Botox injections. This beauty procedure might be the only solution you’ll need to finally achieve a youthful glow.