When Your Fading Charm Isn’t Enough, Try Our 5-Step Spring Rejuvenation Plan
#SpaJoziStyle
I was chatting with a couple of friends the other day, mostly about their respective romantic situations, or lack thereof. I won’t single out the ladies, but let’s just say some have long passed their prime and are still alone, save for their cats. I’ve also got a few gentleman friends who insist, “people must accept me the way I am.”
Now, you know I’m all for self-acceptance, but notwithstanding your apathetic charm, a little bit of a makeover wouldn’t hurt anybody. I do the same thing myself. Every spring, I take a good long hard look in the mirror. This year was especially brutal. I had to face the facts: I’m not a teenager anymore, and my challenges aren’t about style, they’re about gravity.
Spring is springing, and we all need to look our best. This is especially true if you are single. So, here are five ways to prepare yourself for the new season.
1. Get the Cape in Shape: Fitness and Nutrition
It is time to re-evaluate your fitness routine. Now is the perfect opportunity to start getting into shape, which might mean incorporating new forms of exercise. As the weather improves, consider activities that can be done outdoors, like walking around the block, hiking, or cycling.
If you are so inclined that you want to run around the block, that is certainly a viable option. I went around the block the other day and noticed so many people lumbering around the neighbourhood, trying to get in shape. I just walked, because that is all I can manage. I’m too tall for running; us tall boykies have problems with our joints and our backs. I don’t run, I walk. Also, because I’m a gentleman, and gentlemen never run.
Now is also the time to focus on your nutrition and your hydration. Many of us have been plugging away at those kilojoules over winter, indulging in comfort eating. Some people do this especially when they are alone, thinking nobody is going to see those second helpings slipping under the belt.
I’ve made a conscious decision that all our meals have to get lighter. The goal here isn’t necessarily to lose weight just to look more attractive to the opposite sex. The goal is to be healthier, because there is absolutely nothing sexier than looking healthy. Prioritise a balanced diet with a wide variety of healthy proteins, fruit, and vegetables. Also, remember your hydration. I have to keep reminding myself, so I always keep a glass, jug, or mug around to ensure I stay hydrated.
2. Chuck It, Toss It, Burn It: The Wardrobe Intervention
If you want to spruce yourself up for spring, now is the perfect time to re-evaluate your wardrobe. It amazes me how many of my friends look like they are dressing out of a time capsule. I compliment them on an item, and they proudly say, “Oh, I’ve had this since 2000.” That was a long time ago, folks. Colours, styles, and fabrics have changed dramatically since then.
I’m guilty of hoarding things myself. While I’m generally good at not buying things that are too trendy, I sometimes look at old items and realise you’ve just got to give up the ghost. Throw it away. Reuse it as a rag.
I have two shirts I refuse to toss. One would fit like a dream if I could lose 25 kilogrammes overnight. The other fits nicely, but before I wore it, I got cancer, had radiation and treatment, and suddenly those buttons were popping for dear life. My goal is to lose the weight and fit into those shirts at least once before they go completely out of fashion, so people don’t look at me and say, “Oh, look at the boomer.”
We can all afford to prune our wardrobes a little bit. If things are looking tired or ill-fitting, chuck them, toss them, burn them, recycle, repurpose, or donate. There are so many options for your old clothes, and it gives you a wonderful opportunity to replace them. I even have some old jeans I bought before I got sick that are so out of style now it would be better just to burn them rather than give them away.
3. Update Your Skincare and Makeup
Spring is a great time to update your skincare and, if you’re so inclined, your makeup. Winter weather can be harsh on your skin, so consider lighter moisturisers and hydrating cleansers. You certainly want to double up on your sunblock.
For the ladies, you can explore lighter makeup formulations, such as tinted moisturisers, BB creams, or CC creams. Experiment with softer, more natural shades that complement the season.
4. Find Your Wash-and-Go Haircut
I think everybody, regardless of whether you are a boy or a girl, needs to update their hairstyle. We all get set in our ways. I’ve noticed people who have had the same tired hairstyle since 1999. For us older folks, 1999 was a memorable year, the Y2K, and we partied like it was 1999, but sometimes those fashions just stick.
We shouldn’t need a life-changing event, like a death, divorce, or a new job, to change our hairstyle. I notice gentlemen especially hanging on to a haircut they had since they actually had thick hair. Your hair thins out, the colour fades a little bit—go get a professional haircut. It amazes me what a basic barber can do with basic hair.
A lady friend of mine once argued that women don’t always have time or money to go see a hairdresser, but I told her: steal a lesson from the guys. Get a wash-and-go haircut. Everybody should have a style that allows them to simply wash their hair and leave the house. You shouldn’t need to spend hours tinkering and tailoring. For special occasions, yes, maybe you want to pimp up a little bit, but your default should always be a great wash-and-go cut.
I really wish I still had hair to complain about. I yearned for the days when my hair was so thick it looked like blades of grass fighting for the sun. But I truly believe a great, modern haircut is an instant lifestyle improvement.
The JoziStyle Lesson: Living Life to the Fullest
You’ve reached an age where, sadly, it doesn’t matter how old you are, someone out there is going to see you as an old person. I know, because not long ago, I commented on a social media post and someone replied, “Keep quiet, boomer.” I was hurt! I was born in the 1970s; I’m Generation X. But then I realised, it’s besides the point.
This is a reminder for everybody to celebrate every day of your life as if it were your last. Look your best, eat your best, do your best, and learn the best. Exploit every waking moment to the best of your ability. That is the key differentiator between simply going through life, day by day, versus living life to the fullest.
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