What if there was a way to get gorgeous, glowing skin without having to use expensive products? Well, there happen to be some habits you can practice to accomplish just that!
As it turns out, beauty sleep is an actual thing, although the more accurate term is “circadian alignment.” The combination of a steady sleep schedule, quality rest, and overall well-being is the key to having healthy skin. Here are some small changes you can make to help you achieve circadian alignment and boost your health!
1. Drink up.
Hydration is the key to basically everything your body does, from having energy and staying focused to the appearance of your skin. So make sure you’re getting those eight glasses of water (or more) a day!
2. Eat while the sun is up.
Once it’s dark outside, your body starts preparing to sleep. Late-night meals can have a negative effect on this process and, in turn, your skin. As much as you can, avoid eating past 7 p.m.
3. Get high-quality sleep.
Not all sleep is created equal, and for your skin to look its best, you need regular, high-quality rest. As much as you can, follow your body’s natural cues to determine when to go to sleep and when to wake up, and stop burning the midnight oil.
4. Limit your sugar intake.
It’s no secret that when you eat a lot of sugar all at once, you will have a sugar crash later. This can actually throw off your body’s natural sleep needs. Not to mention, sugar isn’t doing your skin any favors in general.
5. Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
This can be tough, especially if you’re a parent with little kids, but do your best to stick to a regular schedule. Doing so will help your body know when you’re settling down for that quality sleep – as opposed to relaxing in front of the TV, which can actually make it harder to go and stay asleep.
6. Fight stress with rest.
Stress is generally bad for your mental and physical health because it releases cortisol. If you have too much of this fight-or-flight hormone in your body, it affects basically everything, including your skin.
But do you know what helps the body realign after too much cortisol release? Yup, you guessed it: quality sleep!
7. Start your day with sunshine.
The natural light gently rouses your body, gives you energy, and helps maintain your circadian alignment. Basically, let the sunrise get you up and let the sunset prepare you for sleep.
It’s easy to ignore our sleep health when we’re busy or stressed, but circadian alignment helps our personal world go round. We’re going to put these steps into practice this week, and we challenge you to join us!
Be sure to share these simple habits with your friends so they can have glowing skin, too.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.