Transcript
Speaker: Hi guys, and welcome back to my podcast.
Speaker: I hope you're all doing well.
Speaker: It is currently Friday, August 4th, and I'm sitting here recording my eighth ever episode, which is crazy, I guess in two senses.
Speaker: One, that I've been doing this podcast since January, and I'm
Speaker: So speaking of
Speaker: Speaking about going back to school, I think one topic that's always in the media around the start of something new, like a new year, a new school year, new summer, et cetera, et cetera, is the concept of glowing up.
Speaker: And I think the thought about glowing up is really great when it's approached in the right way, like new year, better me, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker: But I do think there's a lot of hidden toxic messages that are wrapped up with the thought of glowing up, like
Speaker: following diets, overexercising, vending excessive amounts of money just to look like every other girl on social media.
Speaker: With that being said, I do feel that personally, I actually have quote unquote grown up when you're comparing high school me to college me, but then also
Speaker: even freshman year college me to now going into senior year of college me.
Speaker: And I think my approach to glowing up, whether it be mental, physical, emotional, relationship, all, is that a word?
Speaker: I don't think so.
Speaker: You get what I'm trying to say.
Speaker: actually works, it's actually sustainable, and it's actually like healthy self-love and holistically the right thing for everybody to try to do.
Speaker: So I want to share my tips, especially as we get back to going back to school or like a pivotal time going from summer to fall in everyone's lives.
Speaker: So let's just get right into this episode.
Speaker: I'm really excited for it.
Speaker: Now, my first topic about glowing up is related to habits.
Speaker: And I believe that creating and implementing really great habits into your days is a key way to ensure that you are glowing up because it's something that you stick to, something that you commit to, and something that works for you.
Speaker: So let's get into some of my favorite habits that I've implemented into my life throughout these past four slash eight years to feel like I am living my best life.
Speaker: So one habit that I think is guaranteed to make you feel like you've grown up and it's all over the media is having a really solid morning routine.
Speaker: And I would add a little caveat.
Speaker: Let's have an A variation, a B variation, and a C variation because obviously your mornings aren't going to look exactly the same every day, especially if you're traveling or, you know, some days I work out before breakfast, other days I work out after breakfast.
Speaker: Other days I don't work at all.
Speaker: Like I think you need to have variations of morning routines, but you feel very grounded and secure with all these variations and you're able to accomplish most of your steps regardless of where you are and what your life is looking like.
Speaker: So I think morning routines are great because it starts your day on the right note and it just makes you feel calm and at peace and
Speaker: We'll keep getting into this throughout the episode, but I think confident.
Speaker: I think confidence is really what glowing up is all about because if you're shining internally, you're going to be shining externally.
Speaker: Morning routines are great.
Speaker: I highly recommend that you find a routine that works for you or, again, routines that work for you.
Speaker: I actually just posted a YouTube video about my morning routine, specifically my skincare and makeup routine.
Speaker: I do have a YouTube channel, by the way.
Speaker: I haven't been using it all that much, but I'm bringing it back along with this podcast.
Speaker: It's at Kylie O'Black.
Speaker: I'll link it in the show notes.
Speaker: But I give you a little bit of insight into what my skincare and makeup routine looks like, which is a part of my everyday morning routine.
Speaker: But if you have any interest or want some inspo on that, I would recommend checking that out.
Speaker: But back to morning routines.
Speaker: Great way to start the day on the right note, feeling calm and confident.
Speaker: So for example, my morning routine starts with always waking up and making my bed because no matter where I am in my life, it is something small that I can do to start my day with a win.
Speaker: My field hockey coach in high school taught me and my teammates about this strategy.
Speaker: And it's, again, such a little thing, but it's literally telling yourself like, I'm going to take care of myself today and I'm going to be organized today and I'm going to be clean today.
Speaker: So you're like implementing that practice by making your bed.
Speaker: And then later, like you don't know what's going to happen in your day.
Speaker: You can't control what's going to happen in your day.
Speaker: But even if like you have a really stressful, awful day, if you come back to your room and it's nice and clean and tidy, it just like breathes confidence and peace into your body.
Speaker: And that is what you need, no matter if it's a great day or a bad day.
Speaker: So make your bed first.
Speaker: I recommend doing that.
Speaker: My next step in my morning routine is to get some caffeine.
Speaker: I know that all the wellness girlies and registered dietitians out there are going to come at me for saying this.
Speaker: And I know it's not the healthy thing to do, but it works for me.
Speaker: And that's my whole point is you need to find a morning routine that works for you.
Speaker: And for me, it's caffeine.
Speaker: I love having a little bit.
Speaker: literal happy boost into my day and it gets me out of bed excited.
Speaker: So just letting you guys know that's what I do.
Speaker: And I also play good music.
Speaker: I usually try to like search happy morning playlists, but sometimes I need like a European club music playlist to get me excited for out of getting out of bed.
Speaker: I just know that I'm always going to play some music when I get up because again, it's like romanticizing your life You're listening to music and I can drink caffeine and play music when I get out of bed No matter where I am.
Speaker: I could be at home.
Speaker: I could be at school I could be at my friend's house.
Speaker: I could be in Europe.
Speaker: I could be again literally anywhere So that's what makes my morning routine so great is the first three steps
Speaker: make bed, caffeine, music.
Speaker: I can literally do anywhere and everywhere.
Speaker: My next part of my morning routine, which I kind of spoke about already, is to do my skincare and makeup.
Speaker: For one, it makes me feel physically confident.
Speaker: I didn't wear makeup all that much in high school, but in college, it's become a part of my routine.
Speaker: And it's not because I'm obsessed with the way that I look or that I'm insecure about what people will think about me if I don't.
Speaker: wear makeup but more for me it makes me feel good and it's like putting on a mental switch like okay i'm out of sleepy girl mode now i'm in like boss babe mode like whatever whatever my day looks like and usually it means taking on many modes workout mode then work mode then class mode then social mode you know what i mean like it's just like a mental thing for me
Speaker: While at the same time making me feel like I'm presenting myself well and I feel confident with who I am.
Speaker: So finding a really good skincare and makeup routine for me is both a mental and physical confidence booster.
Speaker: And then lastly with my morning routine, this fifth step sometimes always doesn't get accomplished if I'm running off to go work out or if I'm running late to work or you get the point.
Speaker: But something that I always try.
Speaker: try to do if I have the time is to go to a new room, so separate space, and respond to emails and to hop on my Instagram account and respond to messages and to think through my day and to say affirmations to myself.
Speaker: So again, not all this will always get done, but if I can get even one or two of those aspects into my day, it makes me feel like I'm starting my day organized and empowered.
Speaker: And that is what is so important to feeling confident is to feel grounded in
Speaker: who you are as a person and to feel like you have purpose and a plan going into your day.
Speaker: So this is what works for me.
Speaker: My whole point, again, is that you need to find a morning routine that works for you.
Speaker: Another habit that I encourage you to implement into your days to feel like you've quote unquote, grown up is to have a nighttime routine.
Speaker: And for me, my nighttime routine is
Speaker: a little bit less structured than my morning routine and I think for good reason.
Speaker: My mornings, I'm a morning person.
Speaker: I'm pretty much guaranteed to have a pretty similar start to my day every single day, whereas my nighttime routine can shift a lot, especially like weekday versus weekend versus what time I'm going to bed versus when I'm waking up the next morning, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker: But I think for me, my nighttime routine is important
Speaker: And just having something calm and happy to look forward to every single day, no matter what happens during the day.
Speaker: So in the same way that I have a morning routine to start my day feeling calm and confident, I have a nighttime routine to finish my days feeling at peace and relaxed.
Speaker: And so for me, the only things I always try to commit myself to when it comes to having my routine at night
Speaker: is to do my skincare because that's just self-love, self-care.
Speaker: And then two, sipping beam.
Speaker: This is not promo.
Speaker: They don't sponsor this episode, but if you see my Instagram, you'll know that I drink beam every single night.
Speaker: It tastes really good.
Speaker: It makes you feel calm and cozy.
Speaker: And I literally fall asleep within 20 minutes
Speaker: So again, I sound like this is like a paid ad, but this is just, again, genuine promo, but might as well put it out there.
Speaker: You can use code KylieRuns15 to save, and I'm not trying to do this for the affiliate aspect.
Speaker: I'm just, I know it's an expensive product, so I'd rather give you guys a discount than not, especially since I have one.
Speaker: Oh, well, but back to my nighttime routine.
Speaker: Yeah, so I do skincare I sip some beam and I stretch because the mind body connection ladies and gents those gents who are listening to this it's important and it just is like reinforcing to myself that I take care of my body I recover I do everything I can to stay healthy or to get healthy etc.
Speaker: So that's my nighttime routine everything else is very variable, but I know that those three things will make me happy and feel good about myself.
Speaker: So
Speaker: So maybe your nighttime routine will be more structured, kind of more like my morning routine.
Speaker: But again, you just want to find what works for you.
Speaker: You'll also want to have some other habits that genuinely make you feel good.
Speaker: You, not what somebody Instagram is telling you to do.
Speaker: Not what your mom does, but what makes you feel good.
Speaker: So obviously for me, one habit that makes me feel really good is working out.
Speaker: So most days, not every day, I take rest days, ladies and gents, as you should.
Speaker: But most days for me, it's doing some form of training, whether it's running, cross training, lifting, etc.
Speaker: Moving my body brings me those natural endorphins.
Speaker: It's something that I'm a part of as a college athlete.
Speaker: And it's just movement is medicine for me.
Speaker: So doing some more training is a habit that makes me feel good about myself.
Speaker: Another habit that Andrew Huberman constantly speaks about, he speaks about the scientific benefits, but I'm not a scientist and I don't have numbers off the top of my head.
Speaker: But
Speaker: Let me just put it this way.
Speaker: A Stanford neuroscience researcher says that there are scientific studies that prove that going outside early in the day is great for your internal happiness and it has something to do with sunlight and vitamin D and dopamine.
Speaker: Again, I don't know the actual studies, but all I'm trying to say is this actually works for me.
Speaker: Like I'm not doing it to be like, yes, like living my best life.
Speaker: Like, no, I know for me, as soon as I wake up, I want to eat my breakfast outside.
Speaker: And obviously, because I live in the Northeast, I can't
Speaker: eat outside every single day even this morning it's summer and it was beautiful and warm but then it started raining but I try to improvise and make it seem like I'm not getting outside natural sunlight so even if it's just going outside my college dorm for like five seconds just to get a breath of fresh air and feel the sun on my face I'll do it but even on like the bad days I try to eat my breakfast near good lighting near a window because I know natural light makes me feel good and it's a really happy way for me to start my day
Speaker: Two quick other habits that work very well for me are one, going on my Instagram and checking in on the Kylie Run Smiley community because everyone I follow on that account, which is literally like I think 70 people, are incredible people.
Speaker: And I hope you know that if you're listening to this and I follow you back, like you are special.
Speaker: But two, the people who follow me are so great and I just like feel so much fulfillment and joy from interacting with them.
Speaker: So that's a positive habit that I implement in my everyday.
Speaker: And then also using a planner makes me feel organized and feel good and again, calm and at peace.
Speaker: So that's a habit that I definitely implement into my everyday.
Speaker: And then, of course, just like social interaction.
Speaker: I always make it a goal for myself that I have one hour of socializing every single day.
Speaker: And sometimes it's impossible and I'm just by myself for most of the day.
Speaker: So then I turn that hour of socializing into a phone call with someone.
Speaker: catching up, etc., etc.
Speaker: So getting that good social dopamine into my life is another really beneficial habit that I implement into my life and I recommend that you do in yours.
Speaker: Now, when people hear the word glow up, they usually think it correlates with a physical appearance change or, you know, like zero to 100 real quick, etc.,
Speaker: And you know what?
Speaker: We might as well talk about it because I do feel like physically I have grown up since college, since high school.
Speaker: So I'll share some things that I think work for me and I hope would work for you as well.
Speaker: So I touched on this earlier in my habits section, but getting ready.
Speaker: doing my hair, doing my makeup.
Speaker: Those things make me feel good internally and externally.
Speaker: And I'd recommend that if you're looking to like have a little boost into your day, like wear some mascara, put on a new lip gloss, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker: Like if you're looking for that physical change, very easy.
Speaker: It's like $2 at CVS.
Speaker: Another thing that I've done to quote unquote physically grown up is to kind of develop a style of clothing for myself and like what makes me feel good, what flatters my appearance, if that makes sense.
Speaker: So I would recommend just literally taking an hour to kind of sit with yourself and be like, what do I want my style to be?
Speaker: And what do I think I look good in?
Speaker: And then just acting on it, you know, like buying those pieces of clothing.
Speaker: Chances are if you think you look good in it and you feel good in it, you probably already have a lot of staples in your closet.
Speaker: But if you need some inspo, you could check out Pinterest.
Speaker: or Lemonade, or just scroll through Instagram, or even pictures of yourself, and just kind of compile a photo album of outfits that you've worn in the past that you think fit your style and you feel good in, or outfits that you've seen online that you'd like to recreate, and again, act on it.
Speaker: It doesn't take a lot of work to just pick clothes out of your closet that flatter you and you feel good in, and to start wearing clothes like that.
Speaker: I guess on a similar topic, like obviously I've grown a lot of hitting a second puberty, like going into college.
Speaker: And that means letting go of clothes that used to fit and now are too small and just like accepting that, like that is no longer my style.
Speaker: I don't force myself to fit into clothes that make me feel uncomfortable and don't look good on me.
Speaker: So your style is totally going to change with your life as you grow, as your passions change, as where you live change.
Speaker: Like I find that I dress very differently when I'm in the Boston area than I do when I'm at school than I do when I'm in New York.
Speaker: city.
Speaker: So just, I guess if anything I'm trying to say is figure out what your style is and then work with it.
Speaker: Like I know for me, I'm usually typically wearing brighter clothing.
Speaker: I like to live in athleisure clothes.
Speaker: That's what makes me feel good.
Speaker: Kind of clothes that looks presentable, but I also could break into a sprint if I really wanted to.
Speaker: That's kind of how I describe my style to people.
Speaker: But again, it's just finding a style that makes you feel good, that
Speaker: feels good on you and owning it.
Speaker: And if you're looking for some instant dopamine and a way to feel excited about your look and to feel like you're quote unquote glowing up physically, literally just buy one new outfit.
Speaker: Make it so each piece of clothing can be reused into a different outfit.
Speaker: Like for example, jean shorts.
Speaker: Those are so versatile.
Speaker: Like buy clothes that make you feel good.
Speaker: that fit your style, and that you can re-wear in different ways.
Speaker: And then on that topic, buy one new product of makeup and one new product of skincare.
Speaker: Like maybe it's moisturizer and eyeshadow.
Speaker: I don't know.
Speaker: Whatever works for you.
Speaker: But those are just like a little change makes you feel like, yes, like I'm doing something differently.
Speaker: I'm glowing up.
Speaker: Now, as you make the transition in this episode from physical glow-ups to mental glow-ups, I want to share a piece of advice that I think is
Speaker: so fantastic and something that I've come up with for myself that I want to share with you guys for going up and that is having something in your back pocket as a physical action that is guaranteed to make you feel mentally better.
Speaker: So when you're having an icky or a sad or a frustrating, any just negative moment, you know that doing it will instantly make you feel better and it should be something that you're able to do anywhere and anytime.
Speaker: And so that's the catch.
Speaker: It has to be something
Speaker: That is so small that you can do it anywhere and it's going to work for you So for me, I have two different tactics depending on my vibe one caffeine.
Speaker: I said this earlier.
Speaker: I said this earlier.
Speaker: I don't have a crazy caffeine addiction I don't drink incredibly high amounts of caffeine But I know that if I have a bad doctor's appointment, what's going to make me feel better?
Speaker: Literally coffee if i'm feeling nauseous or lightheaded what might make me feel better a celsius?
Speaker: It's just like, I don't know.
Speaker: I don't do anything really unhealthy.
Speaker: I hardly drink when I'm 21.
Speaker: I've never smoked.
Speaker: I never will.
Speaker: I don't touch vapes or whatever the hell that is.
Speaker: I practice very safe habits.
Speaker: I wear a helmet when I bike.
Speaker: You get what I'm trying to say.
Speaker: So if there's anything that I do that is relatively not quote unquote healthy girly is just drinking caffeine.
Speaker: And again, I know that it always makes me feel happy and organized and put together and
Speaker: Yeah, that's my one physical thing, drinking caffeine that will guarantee to make me feel better mentally.
Speaker: My second tactic, and this is obviously if it's like later at night and something that nobody knows about me, not even my boyfriend, who basically knows everything about me, is this little thing.
Speaker: I close my eyes, I put in my headphones, and I play this song called These Are Days by 10,000 Maniacs.
Speaker: Look it up if you don't know it.
Speaker: But basically, this song is one, it's just a beautiful song.
Speaker: And I first heard it in kindergarten.
Speaker: So it's like a sentimental song for me.
Speaker: But the song is, I can't sing, but it goes like, these are days to remember.
Speaker: And those words always hit me so hard.
Speaker: The amount of times I've cried to this song is just way too much to count.
Speaker: But it reminds me that no matter what I'm going through, whatever's putting me in this bad mood, like it's one, it's temporary.
Speaker: It's going to pass and I'll be back to status quo.
Speaker: Happy Kylie very, very, very soon.
Speaker: But two, it's that like every moment that you live is a gift.
Speaker: So I sound like sappy and cheesy, but it's so true.
Speaker: Like you need to hear this.
Speaker: And if not from your own head, you got to hear it from me.
Speaker: It's like you're going to look back on these days, wherever you are in life, as like, wow, that's a good time to be me.
Speaker: And you don't get back any moment.
Speaker: So even on those tough days, even those tough moments, remember like you're doing it.
Speaker: You're doing great.
Speaker: And this is something that you're going to remember and you want to make the most of every opportunity.
Speaker: So those are my two little tactics that
Speaker: always make me feel better no matter what mood I'm in.
Speaker: And I hope that you're able to find something in your day and in your life that is something small that is guaranteed to make you feel better when you're going through those tough times.
Speaker: So now that we've had that transition away from physical, let's talk about the mental things you can do to glow up.
Speaker: One thing is affirmations.
Speaker: Again, cheesy, I know, but it works.
Speaker: It's just saying some sentences to yourself every day, especially when you're having those icky moments that are going to remind you of who you are,
Speaker: what makes you special, and what you're trying to do with your life.
Speaker: So for me, obviously, my affirmations change on the daily depending on what I need for the day.
Speaker: During that period of life, you get what I'm trying to say.
Speaker: But currently, some affirmations that I've been saying to myself are one,
Speaker: I am healing and um one because i'm doing the shin injury, but to just overall I am healing to my presence brings joy to other people three My content is lifting up other people and four i'm living my dream life This probably all doesn't come as a surprise to you given that I talk about my affirmations on this podcast instagram quite a bit, but
Speaker: yep, that's what works for me.
Speaker: You need to find what works for you.
Speaker: And two, another thing that I have done to feel like I've mentally grown up, it is to drop the practicality mindset.
Speaker: And through this, I mean, stop making such calculated decisions that you're sucking the fun out of your life because almost all of my favorite moments have been spontaneous decisions, which are
Speaker: Usually not practical ones.
Speaker: So just to name a few.
Speaker: I always talk about this by going to Sweden during fall break to visit my brother for a weekend, quitting hockey to become a runner, all my many excursions to New York City at last minute decisions.
Speaker: Even this, it's not practical for me to be taking time out of my day to record a podcast and then to edit the podcast and do all this stuff because I don't have many followers or listeners and I'm not making any money from this.
Speaker: It's really just taking away time from my actual job or training or what other practical things like I should be doing with my day.
Speaker: But it doesn't matter because doing this makes me so happy.
Speaker: I love creating stuff.
Speaker: I love talking to you all.
Speaker: This is fun and it just makes me feel like
Speaker: joyful.
Speaker: Is that silly?
Speaker: But it's true.
Speaker: So drop the practicality mindset, like obviously do your homework and get good sleep, but also do things that are fun and that make you excited.
Speaker: And you know, the more that I think about it, the whole dropping the practicality mindset is really just practicing and reaffirming to yourself that you are living life for you.
Speaker: Not for your parents, not for your teachers, not for your coach.
Speaker: Your life is yours.
Speaker: So do what makes you happy, what makes you feel good, what makes other people around you happy too.
Speaker: You know, you want to be a good friend, a good neighbor, of course, but do what makes you feel good.
Speaker: And again, sometimes that means doing something that doesn't make much sense to other people, but it does make sense in your heart.
Speaker: And my last topic of this episode is things that you can do socially to feel like you have grown up.
Speaker: So for one, it is to surround yourself with people who genuinely make you feel good and inspire you to be better.
Speaker: And there's that quote that says that you're the combination of the five people who you hang out with the most.
Speaker: So be mindful of that, you know, like surround yourself with people who support you, who uplift you, who would be there for you in a moment of crisis.
Speaker: But
Speaker: people who like understand you who challenge you who I'm rambling God but you know what I'm trying to say be with people who are good to you and who you'd like to spend time with it's so simple but I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in social hierarchies etc that you forget that it's up to you who you want to be around well
Speaker: That's a lie.
Speaker: You can't control everything.
Speaker: You can't control everything.
Speaker: Like you'll have your co-workers, your teammates, your classmates, your even your family, et cetera, et cetera.
Speaker: And maybe that's not a choice of yours, but you do have your choice to limit a toxic relationship.
Speaker: So remember that.
Speaker: Just be mindful of that.
Speaker: who you're around the most because they're impacting you probably more than you know.
Speaker: Another social tip that I'd recommend investing time into thinking about is knowing your social battery and then playing to that.
Speaker: So I definitely have friends who love and need to be around people all the time.
Speaker: Like that is what works the best for them and being alone is just not something that brings them joy.
Speaker: I also have friends who like the idea of going out on a Friday night is literally like pulling teeth.
Speaker: Like you have to bribe them and then still hold their hand the whole time they're with you out.
Speaker: So those are two extreme situations.
Speaker: But it's just knowing like what works for you.
Speaker: Like personally, I love my time with people, but I also love my alone time and I need my alone time.
Speaker: So it would be unfair to myself to know that and then to force myself to constantly like isolate myself or to constantly go out.
Speaker: I hope this is what I'm trying to say is making sense.
Speaker: Just know, again, know what works for you and stick to that.
Speaker: And then secondly, I would recommend spending some time alone, even if you're in the camp of loving to be around people, because at the end of the day, you want to be comfortable with who you are as a person.
Speaker: And I believe that that is only possible if you just spend that solo time where you really just like appreciate yourself and feel the emotions that you've been kind of blocking because you've been so busy and learning to love who you are behind closed doors.
Speaker: I think that is the greatest superpower, especially for busy, overachieving women like myself, is to become so grounded and comfortable and proud with yourself that nobody or nothing can break your sparkle or your shine.
Speaker: I truly believe that really that is what glowing up is, is that when you own who you are, you're flaunting it, you have this genuine internal confidence and love who you are,
Speaker: And that is what makes you glow is just when you're so proud and happy and confident internally, that is when you shine on the outside, you know?
Speaker: So I guess that's the point of this episode.
Speaker: You are glowing the most when you are the most confident and happy and that will take work.
Speaker: That will take self-love.
Speaker: That will take a lot of things which I've talked about in this episode.
Speaker: But that is the secret, ladies and gents.
Speaker: You're glowing when you are confident.
Speaker: So with that mic drop statement, I guess we're at the end of my episode.
Speaker: So as always, thank you guys so much for being here.
Speaker: Your guys' love and support always makes my day.
Speaker: And I hope that these episodes are able to give some joy back to you guys because y'all deserve it.
Speaker: And you know what?
Speaker: Let's try something new.
Speaker: If you learned something awesome on this episode or if you could relate to anything that I've said, send me a message at Kylie Run Smiley on Instagram or the podcast Instagram at Staying Smiley PC.
Speaker: Maybe you send me a video or a voice message or something fun like that.
Speaker: There's not really much way to interact with you guys through Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Speaker: So reach me there.
Speaker: But yeah, I just I want to hear what you guys think.
Speaker: I'd love to hear that.
Speaker: So thank you guys.
Speaker: I hope you all have a great rest of your day and implement these ideas and tips into making you feel better about your world.
Speaker: But chances are you're already living your best life.
Speaker: So go you.
Speaker: You rock.
Speaker: All right.
Speaker: I need to stop now.
Speaker: Okay, bye.
Speaker: you
