What I've Learned So Far

For Your Skin and My Birthday!

October is my birthday month and I am officially (clears throat) 46 years old! I always ask friends and family what words of wisdom they can share on their birthday so for this post I thought I would share mine.

1. Make it Work For You. If you are in a situation that is not ideal, instead of brewing over the negative aspects, see if you can make the situation work for you in a way that makes it worth it. If not, it is probably time to leave. I have used this practice for past jobs, but you can even use it if you are at a party! Life is short, it’s ok to change your mind or direction if you need to.

2. Romanticize Your Life.

   bread and water can so easily be toast and tea

   For most of us, a large portion of our days are spent doing mundane things. We live in a time where most of our basic needs are met so we’re not focused on survival necessarily. We get the kids to school, go to work, make dinner for our family, and crawl into bed. What if it were these simple, everyday tasks, interactions and habits that were actually the source of the magic? The secret, I believe, is curating each day with intention and awareness that awakens appreciation and gratefulness. We don’t have to do these things, we GET to do these things. Sometimes a simple shift in perspective makes all the difference.

3. Less is More. This is just so true for so many things! Less steps for your skincare routine, less layers of makeup, less times you take little things personally, less processed food, less to do’s that don’t feel good. Too much stuff is heavy (literally and figuratively).

4. Wake Up Early. Choose a time that allows you to have an hour or so that is all yours. It doesn’t matter so much exactly what you do with that time, but what does matter is that it brings you back to yourself. It could be meditation, prayer, walking, yoga, journaling, reading or sipping on coffee. This will change your life if you do it daily.

   

5. Be Consistent. It’s not the length of time you do anything in a day, it’s the consistency that makes the biggest difference. It’s your daily habits that create your life!

6. Let Go. When you let go of the need for external validation, amazing things happen! Your energy shifts, you become magnetic and more people are attracted to you. You will come to understand that the only validation you need comes from within and you will experience increaseed confidence and inner peace.

7. Take care of your Skin Microbiome. Just like the gut, our skin is host to millions of bacteria that have important jobs. For the skin on our face to age as healthy and gracefully as possible, we have to protect the balance of bacteria on its barrier. Protect it daily with a mineral spf and do not over exfoliate or layer more than one or two actives on during your routine.

8. It’s the Food! The food you choose to put into your body matters. In order for your body to feel good and look good, you must give it the right building blocks. If your diet consists of fast food and processed food, it will break down and cause disease (picture a house with a weak foundation or a car built with rusty parts). Create a foundation of whole food, cook more and experiment with a variety of veggies and fruits and see what happens!

9. Prescription for Racing Thoughts. If you get stuck in a swirl of anxiety, worry, negative thoughts and overwhelm, try this:

   First, shake it out. Shake your arms, jump up and down, and visualize you are releasing stuck energy. Then stand still and breathe slowly and deeply from your belly. Then, drink a glass of water to get hydrated. Next, go outside if possible. Stand in the grass and feel the sun. If it’s in the evening look at the stars. If possible, go for a walk. Nature grounds you in your body, brings your energy from your head to your heart and reconnects you to the present.

10. Trends, meh. If it gets too trendy, I let go of it.

11. A White Button Down. Every woman looks amazing in a white button down shirt. Crisp and structured, soft and flowy, either works. It’s classy and elevated and you’ll look put together even if you don’t feel it!

    

12. Be Discerning. Be so discerning about who you surround yourself with. Choose positive, inspiring, kind caring people. This includes social media.

13. Have Certainty in your Decisions. Make a decision that works for you and make it the right one. This doesn’t mean it has to be perfect, but if you are true to yourself then it will be the right one in that moment. Be open minded, but always come back to your truth.

14. Teeth, Colon, Eyes. Don’t forget these guys! They are big contributors to our beauty and radiance as we age. Make sure you are getting your regular dental and eye exams and that you are detoxing (going to the bathroom) everyday! If you need support in that area, Kimberly Snyder’s Detoxy has always been my go to. It’s non-habit forming and gentle on your system.

15. Redefine Beauty. Aging is a normal part of our life if we are lucky. To me, the only choice is to embrace it. It’s pure priviledge to live this life in our beautiful body, have experiences, love, learn lessons and do better next time. As we age, we grow in a way that cultivates inner freedom and contentment. This is true beauty.

16. Take Care of your Sleep. There are so many benefits to prioritzing your sleep life, but the effect on the brain really motivates me to stay consistent. Check out this article linked below about how deep sleep ‘cleans’ our brain, increasing healthy blood flow while flushing toxins and waste.

    “You really need to sleep to keep a healthy brain because it links electrical activity to a practical housekeeping function.”

    

    If you need help winding down, there are quite a few non-habit forming supplements on the market that could be really beneficial. I love Arrae’s Sleep capsules and take just one before bed. It feels supportive to my system and helps with my restorative sleep. Also, I don’t wake up groggy at all.

    If you want to give them, or anything at Arrae a try, you can use this link: https://get.aspr.app/SHmGR and code SARAHB15 for a discount!