Glow Up Checklist for the Ultimate (Realistic!) Reset - Ambitiously Alexa (2024)

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Last Updated on July 20, 2023

Glow up checklist….but make it realistic! This checklist has everything you need to “glow up” physically, mentally, and spiritually so that you can be the BEST version of you!

Only thing is…if you’re working on yourself, the only way you’ll see results is if you do the things on this checklist consistently. Trying out all these new habits is fantastic, but you won’t see progress if you forget about them in a week!

Self growth and self care is a long-term process. So keep that in mind as you approach the steps on this glow up checklist! I’d suggest sticking to the habits on this checklist for at least 30 days, everyday or every other day. You can make it work for your schedule.

After the 30 days, take a look at what helped you feel your best and what didn’t, and voila! You have a good idea of the habits you want to keep in your life moving forward.

So if you’re ready for the best glow up of your life, keep reading!

This post is all about the glow up checklist.

Wait, what is a glow up, anyway?

The concept of a glow up has been pretty popular on Tik Tok for a while, but don’t worry if you’re out of the loop!

According to Urban Dictionary, a glow up is defined as “a mental, physical, and an emotional transformation for the better. Glow Ups can be both natural or planned. As well as being gradual and permanent, or fast and temporary.”

A glow up is an incredible transformation on both the inside and out. While there is a component of physical appearance, I definitely believe that a glow up is most sustainable when focusing on your inner self, too.

Practicing regular self care, learning more about your needs, and growing as a person is all fair game for the perfect glow up. It can happen at any time, at any age, with no limitations.

If you like the idea of a glow up checklist, you’ll love my (free!) printable monthly reset checklist to get your life in check each month! Grab it below!

What is a glow up checklist?

A glow up checklist is a step-by-step list of habits and activities to perform in order to improve yourself and achieve the glow up! It will better your lifestyle in a way that transforms you from the inside out to both look and feel amazing.

And it doesn’t have to be insane! By no means do you need to implement everything on this glow up checklist. Even just choosing a few things from each area (physical, mental, spiritual) can make a big impact on your self growth.

Making time, even if it’s just setting aside an hour or two during the week to work on yourself, is enough to make a difference!

Benefits of using a glow up checklist

Aside from giving you direction if you’re not sure where to start on self-improvement and self-care, a glow up checklist will also help you:

• Feel physically better, healthier, and stronger
• Look and feel more confident
• Improve your overall wellness
• Learn self care activities that work for you
• Shift your mindset to one that is more conducive to your growth
• Develop new, healthy habits.
• Increase your happiness
• Improve your energy
• Achieve your goals
• Improve your mood
• Get a healthier lifestyle
• Increase your self love

How to have a glow up checklist that works

If you want a glow up that lasts, I hate to break it to you, but it can’t be done overnight. The glow up checklist is only as good as you make it, so it requires consistent effort on your part. It’s all about being realistic.

Like I mentioned from the start, it’s helpful to implement these glow up habits for 30 days either on a daily or every-other-day basis to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. We are all different, so some habits may do wonders for you while others you can go without.

Approaching the glow up checklist as a 30-day trial run with the intention to navigate and identify good habits you want to keep is the best way to create a successful glow up routine for yourself!

Here’s the ultimate (realistic!) glow up checklist.

Glow up checklist: PHYSICALLY

1. Drink more water

I know you’ve probably heard this one more times than you can stand, but most of us could benefit from drinking more water than we currently do! Staying hydrated is obviously essential for our physical health, so make sure you are getting your fill of water.

2. Create a workout routine

A workout routine can sound a little demanding at first, but it doesn’t have to be too extensive. I suggest finding something you enjoy, whether that be a morning walk and a stretch, or even strength-building videos you can do at home on YouTube.

For me, I find that working out every other day is the right balance to keep me consistent with it. If you feel like it’s too much to fit in an everyday workout into your schedule, shoot for every other day like I do!

3. Incorporate more healthy foods into your diet

Think of incorporating new healthy foods into your diet as “I’m increasing my variety.” You don’t need to swap less nutritious foods for exclusively kale salads.

Don’t limit yourself by cutting out foods you love. Instead, just add more variety to choose from and introduce yourself to a broader range of great foods out there! This is a great way to lead a healthy lifestyle AND have balance.

4. Pamper yourself from time to time

Glowing up doesn’t have to be expensive, but it sure feels good to pamper yourself here and there with trips to the salon, getting your nails done, or anything else that makes you feel confident as a little treat.

I love going to the salon to get my hair done, but I know it’s a little expensive so I bargain with myself by only going once every 6 months. That way, I get my pampering in but I don’t break the bank!

5. Clean your space regularly

If you’re anything like me and you tend to slack on cleaning due to your busy schedule, it is SO worth it to become more disciplined in this area of your life.

It can get overwhelming if you’re constantly surrounded by clutter, so do yourself a favor and set up a schedule that you can stick to for cleaning your space regularly. Do what works for you! You don’t have to clean your bedroom every week if that’s too much to stay on top of, but have a solid routine with it.

6. Find movement you actually enjoy

Going back to my point about creating a workout routine, it’s essential that what you choose to do for movement is something you enjoy.

You won’t want to stick to any type of exercise if it’s not something you enjoy to some degree. For me, I’ve always loved dance. To this day, that’s the only form of cardio I truly like! I also started pairing it with strength training exercises because I love the challenge and the confidence it gives me.

But it certainly took a while to find my groove of what exactly I enjoy doing for exercise. Take this opportunity to explore!

7. Create a skincare routine

Within the last year, I finally put together a skincare routine and I love it. It makes me feel put-together, refreshed, and has helped my skin clear up some too.

Here’s what I use, and feel free to try these items for yourself too!

• Retinol serum
• Adapalene gel
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Sunscreen
• Moisturizer

8. Find your style

My style has come together a lot over the last year or two, and it’s so refreshing to understand what you like in fashion. Not to mention how empowering it feels to let go of your high school wardrobe! It truly feels like you’re stepping into a new era.

You can find so much inspiration on Pinterest and by looking at fashion blogs. If you feel overwhelmed, focus on experimenting with one article of clothing at a time. Maybe look only at tops and buy a few new tops.

9. Find your go-to makeup look

Every few years I like to tweak my makeup items. For example, I’ve been into the “clean glowy look” that’s been all over Tik Tok lately, so I bought a glowy foundation, cream blush, and eyebrow gel for feathery brows. This is different from the super high coverage makeup I used to be into!

You don’t necessarily have to match the current trends, but just find what you like. With enough practice, you’ll naturally develop a go-to makeup look.

10. Have a signature perfume scent

This is something I have yet to do, but it would be so satisfying to have a signature perfume scent that feels so “you!” It’s just another step toward having the put-together glow’d up routine.

Glow up checklist: MENTALLY

11. Start every morning with a 5 minute meditation

Meditation can sound a little daunting if you haven’t dabbled in it much before. But it’s so much simpler than you think. It can be as simple as focusing on your breathing, speaking positive affirmations to yourself, or even praying or practicing mindfulness.

Just five minutes of dedicated time to connect with yourself, clear your mind, and be intentional about the way you want to start your day is all you need to set a good tone for your mornings.

Not sure where to get started? I always recommend Headspace for beginners because they have a huge variety of straightforward meditations for everything from focus, to relaxation, to sleep, and more! You can get 14 days of Headspace for free right here.

12. Journal your thoughts each night

Journaling might sound like a super involved, time-consuming process but it doesn’t have to be! I find it easiest to just let out all my thoughts as they flow in the form of a brain dump.

You know those nights where you can’t fall asleep because there’s too much on your mind? That is the perfect opportunity to organize all your thoughts by getting them out of your head and onto paper. And it doesn’t need to take longer than 10 or so minutes!

RELATED: 35 Future Self Journal Prompts for Becoming Your Best Self

13. Find a therapist to speak to weekly

Seeing a therapist regularly is one of the greatest things you can do to improve your mental health.

And you don’t need to be struggling with severe mental illness to benefit from therapy. Even having someone to talk to to manage the everyday stressors we all face is invaluable. I know it’s helped me progress in my own mental health journey so much faster!

The best part is that these days, you don’t even need to leave your house to get the care you need!

I always recommend Online Therapy because it’s a comprehensive, effective online therapy toolkit based on CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy–the leading standard in psychotherapy) at an affordable monthly cost. I highly recommend checking Online Therapy out–they are AMAZING!

{RELATED POST: Should You Go Back to Therapy? Here’s Why I Went Back}

14. Let go of what no longer serves you

This can be so challenging, but evaluating what no longer serves you and letting the stress of it go is life-changing.

For example, if you know that time and time again social media negatively impacts your self-image, make the intentional effort to reduce your time spent on it. Or even take the first step toward unfollowing accounts that don’t make you feel good.

15. Write down what your ideal life looks like

Sitting down and taking the time to think about what my ideal life would look like was one of the most clarifying journal exercises I’ve done. it helps you identify the right vision for your life, which then guides the goals you should set for yourself.

I thought about what I wanted my life to look like in all areas: career, home life, family and relationships, spirituality, mental health, etc. And then I just let the thoughts flow onto paper.

From there I got a pretty good idea of the goals I need to set in each area to achieve those ideal things I want out of life.

16. Identify the goals + habits it would take to achieve your ideal life

So after writing a rough draft of what my ideal life would look like, I mapped out the specific goals associated with it all.

And even more importantly, I identified the habits necessary to achieve those goals. Setting both habits and goals like this puts action behind your plan. You might know what you want, but how exactly will you get there? In order to work toward a goal, you must know what to do on a consistent basis to achieve it.

{RELATED POST: 22 Powerful and Achievable Goals for This Year}

17. Get help to create a personalized self care plan

You do NOT want to wait until you’re on the brink of burnout to start thinking about self care!

Be proactive and make sure you’re creating a self care plan that fits your lifestyle–no matter HOW jam-packed your schedule is.

But…if “me-time” seems impossible to get these days, you’ve gotta check out my printable Self Care Journal for Busy Women. It’s just the thing you need to create a self care routine that actually works for you! Grab it below!

18. Read a personal development book for 30 minutes daily

With so many life-changing personal development books out there, there are endless opportunities to improve yourself and your life in any area.

Even just reading for 30 minutes a day is a great opportunity for your self Improvement. If you’re looking for great personal development book recommendations, go check out my post on the best books for motivation.

19. Get your schedule in check

If your time management skills could use some help and your schedule is all over the place, getting this aspect of your life in check will help declutter your mental space.

Setting a realistic schedule for yourself that is well prioritized but doesn’t completely burn you out is an absolute must.

20. Find and try one new hobby

Hobbies are so important to help us lead a more fulfilling life. If your life feels like it’s all work and no fun, a hobby can help alleviate that.

Even if you just find one new hobby to add to your schedule each week, it can bring you joy and add value to your life. I have a whole list of 100 fun and interesting hobby ideas for inspiration!

GRAB YOUR FREE PRINTABLE MONTHLY RESET CHECKLIST HERE.

Glow up checklist: SPIRITUALLY

21. Pray or speak positive affirmations daily

If you’re religious, participating in regular prayer is a great way to get in touch with your spirituality and feel connected to what you believe in.

Alternatively, speaking positive affirmations is a great way to connect with yourself and lift yourself up. I tie these two together and tend to pray and speak positive affirmations at the same time.

I suggest praying or speaking positive affirmations at the same time of day so that it blends into your routine and becomes a habit!

{RELATED POST: 50+ Daily Positive Affirmations for Motivation and Confidence}

22.Read at least one book this year on a topic of spirituality that applies to you

So whether that’s Christianity, chakras and crystals, or anything in between…find out what form of spirituality resonates with you and read about it! You never know, you may learn something that helps further your spiritual connectedness.

23. Find a deeper connection to your beliefs

This could look like praying or meditating every day, learning more about spirituality in general, or figuring out where your values lie. Strive to deepen your growth and knowledge about what you believe in!

24. Reflect on where you’re at spiritually in a journal

I haven’t really focused on spirituality in my life as much as I’d like to. Between the busy-ness of work, staying on top of adult life, friends, and managing my mental health, spirituality tends to fall on the back burner for me.

And if you can relate, then reflect on it in a journal! You can start with my spiritual journal prompts for spiritual growth. Reflect on wherever you may be at and what’s been holding you back from focusing on spirituality. Reflect on what you do know and where you’d like to be.

25. Find a church group or other spiritual social opportunity

It can feel lonely if you’re not surrounded by like-minded people, so surround yourself with people who can be alongside you in your spiritual growth journey! And making friends is always a bonus.

26. Research the questions or things you’re conflicted on about spirituality

It can be challenging to confront the things we have doubts about, but leaving your doubts unaddressed will only make you feel conflicted. It’s perfectly healthy to question your beliefs and explore the answers!

27. Get in touch with manifestation

Using manifestation is a great practice to achieve your goals by visualizing them, believing in them, and keeping them at the forefront of your mind. Feeling confident in yourself and your abilities is a great sign of a glow up.

If you speak as if something has already happened, or that it WILL happen, you’ll feel empowered to make it happen!

{RELATED POST: Essential Tips on How to Manifest Something Fast to Reach Your Goals}

28. Explore your personal values

What are your personal values? James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, has a great list of core values to look at and choose which ones resonate with you. Spend some time thinking about:

• What matters most to you
• What aspects you need to thrive
• What you simply can’t compromise on

Being aware of your core values will give you a sense of direction and guide you in life. For example, if security is in your top 5 core values, you know that you need to prioritize the value of security in order to thrive. So maybe you’ll seek out stable relationships, financial security, and limit your risk taking.

29. Journal gratitudes

How often do you think about what you’re grateful for? Making it a regular practice to journal your gratitudes will spark positivity and help you keep sight of all the good in life.

This can also help you identify what you value in life. If you recognize that you often feel grateful for your health and fitness, you know that these areas of your life should be a priority!

{RELATED POST: 40 Refreshing and Helpful Gratitude Journal Prompts}

30. Practice mindfulness

If you’re very future-focused and find it hard to live in the moment, practicing mindfulness will be super useful to you. Sometimes, we just need to take a step back and live in the present.

This can be as simple as finding extra appreciation in your morning cup of coffee, or putting extra effort in being present with your family in the evening. Meditation is also another great way to practice focusing on your current senses.

RELATED: 45 Mindfulness Affirmations to Immerse Yourself in the Present

DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE MONTHLY RESET CHECKLIST!

This post was all about the glow up checklist.

And with that, you have the perfect (realistic!) glow up checklist to feel as rejuvenated as ever! A glow up can (and should) be more than just your physical appearance. Make sure you’re also prioritizing your personal growth in areas like mental health and spirituality. It’s all about complete wellness!

Do what makes you feel good, what will help you thrive, and benefit you in the long-run! Living a healthy lifestyle that’s conducive to your growth is what the glow up checklist is all about.

Have a great glow up!

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LIKE THIS POST ON THE GLOW UP CHECKLIST? PIN IT FOR LATER!