Glow Up Tips for the New Year

Level up this year with our expert tips!

By: Samantha Lande

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Be Your Best Self

New Year, new you as the saying goes, but you don’t need to change everything. Instead consider a "glow up," adding in a few new healthy habits that don’t require a ton of extra effort and inevitably burnout.

Here are ten tips, from experts across the country, to help fill your days with better health and more gratitude.

Start Your Day with Hydration

"Every morning, I drink 12 ounces of lukewarm water with fresh lemon juice, sometimes adding electrolytes if available. This simple habit helps rehydrate my body after an overnight fast and supports detoxification and lymphatic drainage for a refreshed start to the day," says Carla Hernandez, RD, in Los Angeles, CA, who specializes in women’s health.

Have Nostalgia for the PRESENT Moment

"It is easy to look back wistfully into your past and say to yourself, 'those were the good old days.' It is natural to have nostalgia for some unrecoverable condition or era. But what if you took a walk with your partner or went to your favorite restaurant? What if you savored this very moment and said to yourself, 'THESE are the good old days,'" says Jeff Krasno, author of Good Stress.

 Try a Cold Water Face Plunge

"Each morning, I dip my face in ice water for a few seconds, repeating three times. It wakes me up naturally, soothes morning anxiety, and has improved my skin, reduced puffiness and inflammatory acne while boosting circulation. It’s even helped me cut back on coffee," says Hernandez.

Start Running…Slowly

We all know running has great health benefits, but starting slow is the key to reducing injuries and creating a habit that sticks.

"Start off walking for 15 minutes to get your body warmed up and then start jogging slow. Like really slow. I know, I know; it’s neither sexy nor glamourous, but it is attainable, and that is the name of the game," says Beth Baker, owner of Running Evolution, a running training community.

"I don’t care if that 99-year-old grandpa is passing you, it’s all about going forward. If you need to stop and walk? Great! Just find a landmark or something in your sight to start running again. You brain really likes visual start and finish lines. Tell yourself, 'I will start running at the end of this block.'"

Befriend Your Breath

"How you are breathing tells how you are feeling," says Michael Wood, an expert breathwork practitioner and is the debut author of Just One Conscious Breath.

"Observe if you are breathing fast and high into your chest switching on your flight fight response, or low and slow into your belly where you are more settled and grounded."

Stop and Take a Breath

"Take just one conscious breath now, in through your nose and out through your mouth. With this breath you've become the observer of all that's going on. This is the key to moving from reacting to things in your environment to responding from them," says Wood.

Embrace Strength Training

Don’t be afraid to pick up the weights a few times a week.

"Sweating buckets and being out of breath don’t guarantee an effective workout. What truly matters is building strength. Start lifting weights and prioritize progress," says New York city personal trainer, Kenny Santucci.

Keep Those Teeth Apart

"Our teeth shouldn't make contact for any longer than 15 minutes a day, mainly when we are eating, drinking or speaking," says Dr. Alice Hoang, Owner and General Dentist of Brooklyn Mint Dental.

"When you start to think about it and realize you might clench your jaw or purse your lips too tightly together, you're putting more stress on your teeth than needed. This helps prevent jaw pain, tooth chips, headaches and restless sleep, promoting a more relaxed face with a comfortable bite. Also, when we drop our shoulders down to try to relieve stress and anxiety, the mouth will also naturally relax. This helps calm facial muscles and ultimately helps the face appear more relaxed."

If You’re Feeling Down, Head Outside

"A research study collected four million pieces of data linking people’s moods to their GPS coordinates. The results: people were happiest when outdoors or in natural environments. Being outdoors increases happiness as much as being with friends versus being alone or doing an activity you like versus one you don’t," says Janice Kaplan, New York Times best-selling author of The Gratitude Diaries.

Reframe Worry as Excitement

"When you’re giving a toast at a wedding or making a presentation at work, your body often responds with sweaty palms and a pounding chest. All that makes you even more nervous. Trying to tell yourself that you’re fine doesn’t work — because your brain gets the signal from your body that all isn’t well. The good news is that those same physical responses can also be a sign of positive emotions like excitement and eager anticipation. Help your brain reframe what it’s feeling. Instead of I’m anxious about this speech tell yourself I’m so excited that I get to give this speech! Your brain will believe the reframing — and you’ll do better," Kaplan says.

She shares many tips like this in her new book "What Your Body Knows About Happiness."

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