How Maintenance Keeps Me Sane

I am by no means a “high maintenance” girl. I prefer my shoes flat, my nails untouched, and my hair usually ‘come as you are’. T-shirts and jeans, sneakers, and minimal makeup.

What Maintenance Means To Me

I have to be real: hygiene is still important to my maintenance of good mental health and upkeep. A makeup routine makes me feel better because it enhances my natural features. My hair is too thick and unruly to leave to its own demise. My clothes aren’t expensive but I know a deal when I find one. Likewise, I try to stay away from fast fashion.

These are all ingredients to helping me look my best, smell my best, feel my best. It’s the essence of taking care of my body and spirit.

Outward vs. Inward

When I’m lazy and negative about my appearance, it doesn’t help my outlook or mood. I keep running because I love to eat, but honestly, I struggle with looks when I’m overweight. I hate to admit it, since so many people are overweight and obese and at a higher weight than me, but my self-respect decreases if my weight increases. Diet is so crucial to staying healthy – our weight loss efforts are about 80% diet and 20% exercise – I could run a 5k every day for months and gain weight, if I don’t mind my eating habits.

But I digress. Outward appearance does have an impact on inward mood. That’s my point, and it encompasses hygiene, makeup, hair and clothes. Weight is another story for another post.

Just Do It

There’s a saying my mom used to tell me: “Behavior change produces feeling change.” This is sometimes (not always) true. I find it truest when I am in a funk, or a mood, and don’t feel like doing anything different. For example, I am on my third day without a shower. I know it would help, I don’t want to, but I know if those two things are true (it would help and I don’t want to) then I should probably get it done.

I don’t want to do it, but it will help = JUST DO IT

Then I’ll feel better.

Skincare and makeup

Skincare is also vital to my routine. I don’t especially like to take the time and effort to take care of my face, but I think about it this way: the sooner I start taking care of my skin, applying sunscreen and washing my face, then the younger I stay looking.

Most nights, honestly, I don’t brush my teeth or wash my face, but I do take my contacts out and at the very least take off my makeup. I already earned a sty from leaving my makeup on overnight several years ago. Never again.

Makeup is fairly straightforward for me, and I usually apply in the morning in seven or eight steps.

Haircare

Hair is a trick. I am glad for the dryer air out in the Midwest compared to Florida, Texas or East coast. After washing, I’ll blow out with a hair dryer and brush – takes about 12 minutes. If I desire to further tame it with a straight iron, I make sure to apply heat protectant before that, and sometimes a serum to smooth the frizz afterward.

If I want to be lazy and still look good, I curl the ends with a 1.5” curling iron.

If I want to be completely lazy, I let my hair air dry, and brush it out later (maybe). Ponytail works to manage.

I don’t think most of you would care about my style of clothes – like I said I’m t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. I noted which stores I like to shop at in this post.

Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate the Positive

Do you remember the KISS Theory? Keep It Simple, Sweetheart. You don’t have to go all out to feel better about yourself. And there is no substitute for taking good care of yourself with a mental illness. The ups and downs will be hard, but if you can stabilize and find a routine, your body and spirit will be better off. So keep it simple, but don’t neglect your hygiene, skincare/makeup (for us ladies), hair and clothes. Looking good will help you feel good.

Stay brave and bold,

Katie