'Glow Up'/ "Princessing" 2024 Thread 1

[Chaiselongueallday]

I've had some success with these in the past. Have realised that over the years I've picked little habits from these that I've been able to sustain so I thought ahead of the new year I would start a thread for 2024...anyone else want to join me?
I'm 46 this year and want to focus on being healthy, happy with my style and attuned to my body and skin. I don't want to waste time worrying about not being good enough. I am including a bit of health and fitness on my list as I feel better in my clothes when I'm toned and generally healthy in body and mind. I'll be doing yoga, walking and mad living room dancing. I'll not be bothering with foundation (unless a very special occasion) this year fed up of wearing a mask..so looking after my skin will be important. I won't be spending on fast fashion ...I've done quite well on this in the past, inspired by this board and capsule wardrobe threads.

I'll think about a more detailed list and post it later.

I've copied some useful info from a previous 'Princessing thread' below for anyone that fancies it and needs inspiration.

*The term "Princessing" was invented back in 2011 by a poster called Blackswan. It was the year of the royal wedding and she proposed that every year you should get ready for a wedding you were attending as if it were your own.

I took that idea and ran with it!

The general idea behind that original thread and all the "Princessing" "Grooming" "Operation Revnovation" threads since has been to make small sustainable changes that help make you feel better. To make this measurable, most people finds it helps to make a list - not too long, no more than 20 items really of the changes you want to make. The original thread had one general list but as no two people have the same priorities I think it's better for everyone to have their own individual list. To anyone in need of inspiration the original list was:

1. 8 glasses of water a day

1. Exfoliating
2. Using some kind of teeth whitener
3. Using some kind of regenerative face cream
4. Intensive nail care (feet and hands)
5. Some kind of eyelash growth serum
6. The Shred / other intensive exercise
7. At least 2 extra fruit & veg
8. Healthy breakfast daily.

10. Hair oil (moroccan hair oil for eg, or kerastase etc) 11. No alcohol during the week 12. Daily vitamins 13. Body brushing 14. At least 2 servings of salmon or other fatty fish per week. 15. One early night once a week. Suggest 9PM. 16. Regular hair removal 17. Give up one naughty favourite item e.g. chocolate/crisps 18. No more fizzy drinks 19. DAILY body moisturising. 20. Warm water with lemon first thing in the a.m.

You don't have to post your list but I would recommend you write it down somewhere for yourself.

Original Princessing thread*

•Mine is to keep to my low carb diet. Have had a break over Christmas but starting again in January.
•No alcohol for the whole of January as a minimum.
•Take vitamins every day
•Exercise every day

Def following for inspiration.

I'm not going to set myself up to fail by adding a ton of new habits because I am quite proud of how well I've done lately. A few things to keep up:

Tret every 3 days
Manicure and nail stickers once a week
Haircut every 8 weeks
Eyelash serum daily
At least 6 servings veg a day and 30 different types of fruit/veg a month
Very limited upf (mainly chocolates!)
Bed by midnight
Get back to pre Christmas weight - not that I've weighed myself, may be pleasantly surprised

I probably need a clothing aim. Currently happy in wfh/walk-the-dog stuff tho.

Also considering buying a led mask. Can I claim it's for the teen dc acne? If I add 'use led mask daily' to the list then I'll have to get one 😁

I’m just placemarking as want to join but need to come back with my list.

Placemarking as well to come back with my list

The last few months I've become really good at: keeping on top of getting my eyebrows, and tash threaded, doing my own gel nails, lashes, putting a medium tan on weekly and doing my hair at least once a week instead of just shoving it up. I feel much more put together! It's not over the top lashes/tan but enough to feel put together without makeup.

Hoping to keep this up in the new year. Usually I'm a bit crap and a bit lazy at these sort of things.

@Desperatelyseekingme I have a lot of weight to lose too. I've decided to only eat things , do exercise and wear things that make me happy. I'm sick to the back teeth of the effect my body image and weight have on my mental health. I refuse to diet ...I will make healthy choices , might do intermittent fasting again but will NOT be cutting out all carbs. I think I have found my happy exercises... so this year we shall see. I'd rather try this way once than face another year of being in a miserable cycle of self loathing.

You can do it too...we can do it together I promise you!

Also cutting toxic people out of your life is to be applauded... dealing with thise people shows on our faces in the form of dreaded wrinkles 😉

I have been gyming it a lot, maybe the exercise is giving me enough of a boost to look after myself!

@Chaiselongueallday totally in the same boat about dieting, I need to make sustainable life changes. Intermittent fasting worked really well for me for a period last year then I went on holiday and fell off the wagon 😕 so thinking I may try this again, I really liked the increased energy it gave me.
Really good to feel not so alone 🥰

Not that there is anything wring per se with low carb ...I just find it very stressful and makes me miserable...moderation and all that.

I've been looking at collagen supplements BUT then I remembered I had some success growing my nails on a cube of jelly a day many years ago. This research project will recommence for Jan 24 !

@PlantsFallLikeDominoes I definitely buy nicer products for use in the shower /bath when I exercise more. Nothing nicer as a post workout reward.

Checking in.

I can only use sanex or simple shower gel, but I have thought about treating myself to chanel no.9 body lotion to match my perfume instead of my nivea lotion. I don't know whether it's worth it or not!

I am going to treat myself to new underwear this year as well. Fed up of my raggedy old bras and comfy pants.

Placemarking - I sooo need to be better @ selfcare

I’m in. I will:

1. Devote time to learning how to get a full nights sleep - or close to it.
2. Exercise - get up when I wake up, throw on trainers and joggers, and get moving for half an hour. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s moving.
3. Drink at least a litre and a half of water - revive soda stream to help
4. No booze in the week
5. Finess wardrobe to enhance dark academia style - I’ve been dressing like this in a half assed way since I was a student and was delighted to find it had a proper name and ‘aesthetic’.
6. Treat myself the way I treat my children - healthy food, not too much screen time, regular bedtime. Good quality clothing.

Thank you for the thread! In 2024 I would like to...

• Track and update my goals and habits regularly using a bullet journal (physically writing and checking things off makes me feel accomplished)
• I absolutely need to lose my baby weight for bridesmaid duties in October (about 5 stone)
• I have zero self care and luckily my family have purchased a lot of the self care items I wanted to try as Christmas presents so I'll start a morning and evening routine using these
• I used to be an avid jogger and hiker but neither has been done since having kids ( about 4/5 years) so I would like to start off with walking 3 times a week and body strength exercises 3 times a week as I'm having aches and pains in my back and neck
• Drink 2 litres of water a day as I'm always in a constant state of dehydration
• Give intermittent fasting a go (16:8) to see if this will help/fit in with my lifestyle
• Save, save, save for a forever family home

Good luck to everyone! 💚

Place marking and will come back with my list to do. I’ve not done much self care for so long but I’ve started turning the corner so hopefully this will encourage me to keep it up.

I’m going to join you. Will think a lot my goals and report back soon ☺️

Had been just thinking 2024 is the year I need a serious glow up, thanks all for the inspiration - following with interest 😊

Yes I’m in - very excited to be able to join one of these. I have a massive milestone birthday in October and want to be my best for it.

will come back with my list of things!

Im definitely up for some princessing! Ill have a think about my list then post it tomorrow

This sounds really good. I’ve had an absolute arse of a year and currently processing a lot of trauma, managing very high levels of anxiety and so physically run down that I’ve picked up virus after virus for the last eight weeks.

Eventually got antibiotics and am currently taking those, and been feeling so rough and realising how little I’ve been managing to care for myself. I don’t know what I will aim for specifically just yet, but will be following for inspiration!

Thanks so much! I wanna be a princess :)

in 2024 I will

• reverse type 2 diabetes and stop being a fatty
• lose 4 stone minimum
• walk 5000 minimum steps daily
• get into hiking with local group
• enjoy gym session min 3 times a week weight lifting
• eat good healthy home cooked food
• track food and macros - focus on high protein
• drink min 2l water daily
• sleep 6 hours daily and work up to 7
• continue electrolysis to get rid of chin hairs
• dress to make me look and feel great - get rid of stuff I don’t like, don’t want or doesn’t fit
• make up lesson with a beautician to get a simple daily face sorted

Love this. I feel completely lost and rotten atm and need to get myself out of my rut!

. Drink 2l water a day
. Eat 3 meals a day (I keep getting swept up in my day and then going on a mad snack binge at 3pm when the hunger hits 🙈)
. Wear sunscream everyday
. Daily vitamins
. Find time to read again

I love these threads! Joining. Most of my to do's are habits to maintain. I've made a start tonight with a top up of teeth whitening trays in preparation for the New Year.

✨ Nutrition ✨

Water- 1L minimum
Vitamins- multi, osteocare, cod liver oil
Fruit and vegetables x 30 weekly
Whole unprocessed foods as much as possible
80g protein in diet at least daily

✨ Body ✨

Lift weights x 5 weekly for bone density protection and maintain muscles
Balance exercises daily
Flexibility exercises x 2 weekly
Cardio 150 minutes weekly (30 minutes x 5 weekly)
10k steps
Rest days x 2 weekly

✨ Skin and Hair care ✨

Suncream daily
Moisturise daily
Exfoliate x 1 weekly
Lumea fortnightly
Retinol x 2 weekly (starting it)
HA daily
Trim hair every 6 weeks
Nice hair daily
Maintain eyebrows

✨ Other beauty ✨

Make up daily
Perfume daily
Nail polish - apply and maintain during the week
Teeth whitening every season

✨ Mind ✨
Read fiction weekly
Read non - fiction weekly
Podcast- listen to something weekly
Walking in nature x 1 weekly
Journalling weekly
Catch up with friends weekly
Quality family time at least once weekly
Make time for a hobby x 1 weekly

I'm in. Going to be super specific so I can stick to it.
Lift weights every day
Peloton every week day (even a 10 min class)
Use retinol on body every night
No alcohol for January at least
Iron my clothes and stop shoving them in a draw - hang them up you lazy slutton!
Unless it's underwear or socks - only buy second hand