tips for restyling your image

Whether you're interested in updating your physical image or work on some of  your behaviors (or a combination), this post has some tips to tackle that task.

How do people see you now? How does that compare to how you want to be seen?
Do you have a habit of interrupting people? Are your friends' bad habits rubbing off on you?

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

focus on the inner you

To change how you interact with others, you'll need to reflect on what you do well and what you need to work on.

Do you struggle with:

• Procrastination
• Lying
• Gossiping
• Interrupting
• Negativity
• Taking credit for others' work
• Tardiness
• Bad body language
• Using profanity
• "Lone wolf syndrome"
• Speaking without thinking

You don't need to wait for a new year to make resolutions to improve yourself. The first step of reflection on whether or not you have one or more of these habits is key - many people don't even realize they have one of these bad habits.  If you have a close and trusted friend or family member who will be honest with you, ask them if you have any of these habits (or others not listed). By working to overcome these, you will improve your professional and personal interpersonal relationships.

The next step is to come up with a plan to replace your bad habits with good habits. Do a quick online search for "how to overcome __________", filling in your bad habit. Read several articles to see if any of the solutions appeal to you.

Then set goals for the next week. Write your goal on an index card that you see when you get ready in the morning, to remind yourself of your goal. Keep it by your monitor for your video calls. If you want to keep track of your "successes", tally them in a notebook or on your phone. 

Each week, decide how you can keep improving. After a month, you will look back and see the progress you've made. Think about how your interactions have been with people at home and work. Ask your trusted friend if they've noticed a change. Ask yourself if you've noticed people acting more comfortable around you.

focus on the outer you

If you have skincare or dental issues that impact your self-confidence, make a plan to address this. For skincare, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist or use an online service to find out more about your skin type and the best types of products for you to use. If you need to, start saving so that you can afford to see a specialist or to purchase the products you need. You can also go see an aesthetician at a local spa. Or go to both to compare their recommendations. Follow the advice you get and be consistent and patient to see results.

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If you have always wanted to straighten your teeth or have some cosmetic changes made, schedule an appointment with a local dentist to find out about your options. There are invisible options that you can wear daily, or even just at night, that will get you straight teeth on your schedule. 

If you feel like your wardrobe needs an update, consider hiring a stylist to update your style choices. They can help you identify the types of clothing that flatter your body shape but are still comfortable. You  may discover new brands and stores from your stylist that you  never knew about before.