Take Care Of Yourself: Don’t Let Yourself Go

Are your jeans faded beyond recognition? Does your makeup kit contain untouched two-year-old mascara and lipstick that’s discoloured? Are the greys in your hair getting more noticeable? If this sounds like you, read on to find out why it is important to care about your appearance (and it’s not just about vanity).

By Lianne Ong

“Letting yourself go” is a common phenomenon for older women but we often don’t detect it till it has grown an ugly head. It starts off with something small and innocuous, like not waxing as regularly as you used to and then before you know it, your legs are growing a forest. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you’re one of those women who think it’s ok to go shopping wearing your company’s corporate retreat T-shirt.

Why do some women allow themselves to deteriorate in the looks department? Life-changing events may alter the way you think about yourself, or re-align your priorities. For example, if you’ve recently been through a breakup or divorce, your self-esteem has taken a bashing. It’s a struggle just to get out of bed, let alone put together a coherent outfit. The lack of time, as well as physical and emotional tiredness are also common reasons for not bothering with how you look. As a mother, it is also easy to let your looks slip when you are busy taking care of everyone else.

Regardless of your situation, guilt may rank even higher as a reason for not taking care of their looks. Thoughts like “I don’t deserve to look good” prevent you from pampering yourself. Or if you’ve never felt pretty in your life, you may have convinced yourself that looks are superficial and there are more important things to worry about, so you don’t even bother.
If this is how you’ve been thinking, perhaps it’s time to change the mindset a little.

Presenting your best self — including how you choose to present your physical self — not only says a lot about yourself and your mental state, it is a chance to be a model to your kids or to those you lead. How you take care of your looks carries a message that says how you value yourself, and even others.

No one is asking you to be like Heidi Klum who strutted down Victoria Secrets’ runway six weeks postpartum looking like a teenager – leave that to the supermodels. But looking good is like wearing the oxygen mask on the plane – attend to yourself first before attending to others.

To take control of your looks today, here are a few starter tips:
1. Realise that looking good takes some discipline.
Routinely grooming yourself needs to become a habit.
2. When you’re down, dress up.
It can really alter your mood and emotion when you dress confidently.
3. Add a pampering step to your shower time.
If taking a shower is the only time that you have where you are truly alone, then take time to do what you previously thought was unnecessary, like a body scrub, or a hair mask.
4. Update your wardrobe.
With a trusted friend, weed out clothes that don’t look good on you. Wear only clothes that you love and make you feel confident.
5. Put together a makeup kit that is fast and easy to apply.
Makeup doesn’t have to be a long, complicated process so stop making excuses.
6. Treat yourself to a professional grooming service.
Have your eyebrows shaped and tidied, which will instantly brighten your eyes and make you instantly appear well-groomed. For good measure, get your nails done.

Keep at it — you’ll be feeling more confident and energetic in no time!