The Glow-Up Project
I turned 37 years old. Happy birthday to me!
I wanted to start this post by saying, “I’m not doing well.” But the truth is, I think I’m doing better than I ever have.
A lot has happened recently. I’ve discovered things I wish I hadn’t, and I’m trying my best to sort through them—to categorize them, let go of what no longer serves me, and hold on to what helps me live a happier life.
Mentally, I feel more at peace with myself than I ever have before. And perhaps that’s why it has become increasingly difficult to live in a body I’ve neglected for most of my life.
For a long time, I didn’t think I deserved to take care of myself. If I had to rate myself, I would probably give myself a four out of ten. I’ve never considered myself a natural beauty, and I think I gave up on myself before I ever gave myself a real chance.
That’s a long story for another time.
But at 37, I’ve had enough of feeling sorry for myself and failing to care for myself. I want the mind that is finally learning to feel at ease with life to also feel at home in the body I’ve been given.
My Glow-Up Challenge
I have six months—not to reach a specific goal, but to build habits and change my way of life.
I’ve identified four areas I want to work on:
- Body – Health, fitness, nutrition, and skincare
- Hair – Maintenance, style, and grooming
- Face – Skincare, makeup, and self-acceptance
- Wardrobe – Dressing in a way that makes me feel confident
I’m starting from the inside out because if I feel more comfortable in my body, I can make better decisions about my hair, my clothes, and how I present myself to the world.
Health, Fitness, and Nutrition
I’ve never enjoyed working out. I genuinely don’t understand the people who love it, crave it, and do it voluntarily.
But I do understand that an active lifestyle is important for long-term health.
The only exercise I currently get—more out of obligation than enthusiasm—is walking my dog. On a typical walk, we spend around two hours outside and cover roughly eight kilometers. Out of all possible forms of exercise, walking is the one I dislike the least.
That’s why I consulted my friend ChatGPT, who suggested a home workout plan. Apparently, I’m already getting enough cardio, and I should focus more on strength training to build muscle and support my body.
Since I’m going from doing almost nothing to doing something consistently, I’m starting small: two workouts per week.
We’ll see if I ever learn to enjoy it.
Hair
My hair has never been a priority.
It’s thin, straight, gets greasy far too quickly, and can’t hold a style for more than ten minutes—which is why I stopped trying.
Not only do I rarely style it, but I also do little beyond washing it. As a result, it becomes dry and develops split ends as it grows.
I’m the kind of person who would love a new hairstyle with every new chapter of life. Unfortunately, even hairdressers rarely seem to know what to do with my hair. They trim it straight, charge me a small fortune, and send me on my way.
So I gave up on it.