For a long time, "looking after yourself" felt like something other, more put-together women did effortlessly. Green smoothies. Matching workout sets. A morning routine that didn't involve hitting the snooze button.
What changed wasn't a revelation. It was a slow realisation that the days I felt genuinely good (energised, clear-headed, like my body was working with me) weren't random. I ate well. I moved. I wasn't wearing something that made me want to stay on the couch. None of it was complicated. It just took me a while to connect the dots and learn that it isn't one size fits all.
Feeling good shouldn’t be a bonus
How you feel physically affects everything else. Not in a vague, motivational-poster way. In a very practical, setting yourself up for success type of way.
If I'm under-eating, I notice it in my mood first. I am irritable, scattered, staring at something that should take twenty minutes for an hour. When I eat clean, I feel sharper, more patient, and better at the things I care about. The physical stuff follows: skin looks clearer, workouts are stronger, and recovery doesn't drag on.
Most women I know describe some version of this. We just don't always connect it back to the basics because the basics feel too simple to be the answer.
Protein is the real deal
I spent years not eating enough protein without realising it. I thought I was eating healthily, but I was consistently under-fuelling. It showed up in my energy, my skin, and how long my body took to recover after training.
Protein isn't just for building muscle. It's the raw material for everything your body repairs and maintains: skin, hair, nails, joints, hormones. When you're not getting enough, your body quietly deprioritises the "cosmetic" stuff first. Then you wonder why your nails are brittle and your skin looks tired.
I found the easiest way to add in more protein was a scoop of the Chief Nutrition Collagen Powder in my coffee. If you are like me, Dark Chocolate or Creamy Vanilla hits the spot. But if you like your coffee as is, Unflavoured is perfect.
The collagen bars and beef snacks are what keep me on track when the day goes sideways. Chief collagen bars are actually good, not "good for a protein bar" good, just good. They are any easy grab and go when I don’t have time to prepare or just need an extra pick-me-up.
Dress for success
Buying new activewear won’t change your whole life. But there's something real in the idea that if getting dressed to train feels like a chore, you've already made the whole thing harder than it needs to be.
That’s why when I switched to Earthletica, all the sudden working out felt better. Not because the clothes changed the way I performed but because I actually felt like myself. They fit like they were made for an actual body, they don't move around, roll down, or press in on areas that might cause extra self consciousness. Made from recycled fabrics, B Corp certified, so choosing them doesn't feel like a compromise.
Removing that one small friction point, makes a real difference to whether you actually do the thing or decide today isn't the day.
Where it all connects
I don't have a perfect routine. But the times I feel most like myself tend to coincide with doing a few simple things consistently: eating enough, getting enough protein, moving regularly, wearing things that make me want to move.
None of it is revolutionary. But done consistently, it adds up to something that feels significant. It’s not one product or habit, but the cumulative effect of treating yourself like someone worth looking after.
Which, just to be clear, you are.
