Slow Living Glow-Up: Gentle Ways to Feel Great This Spring

As the first daffodils began lifting their yellow, sun-like heads in anticipation of spring, very slowly, almost invisibly, life began to stir. Late January is a time when I walk with my eyes drawn to the ground, always on the lookout for the first shoots of the early varieties of flowers.

In a few weeks, here in the Somerset countryside, colour will be returning: the daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses will be decorating roadsides, village greens and cottage gardens.

This week, orchards all around the country are celebrating Old Twelfth Night (around the 17th of January) - an ancient tradition of wassailing. Fruit trees are “fed” with cider or beer, and toast or cake is placed on their branches for a good harvest and to attract robins - the guardians of the orchard.

In old England, Twelfth Night was the very last day by which the Christmas decorations should be taken down. With days growing noticeably longer and the thrall of winter easing, it was time to begin preparing for the coming spring. 

Read all the posts in the
"A Slow Start to 2026" series here

Of course, it will be a little while before warmth truly returns to the land and the natural world fills once more with colour and life. While we are sheltered in the cosy comfort of our homes, this is the perfect moment to begin preparing for the arrival of the new season. So let's look into some wholesome ways to glow up for spring!

1. The Basics

I’m sure you know how important a good night’s sleep is for us - including for our face. Having a consistent sleep pattern can extend our life expectancy by up to four years, and “beauty sleep” is no myth either. It has measurable effects on how we feel and how we look.

No amount of expensive creams or Botox will help if you’re not sleeping well. Of course, some people struggle with health issues that affect their sleep, but for many of us the problem lies in the small habits: scrolling on our phones late at night, drinking alcohol a little too often, eating too close to bedtime or simply not getting physically tired.

The last one is something I struggle with when I stay at home all day to write or edit. Although by the end of the day I’m mentally tired, my body hasn’t had enough movement or fresh air, and it struggles to shut down for the night. For me, a gently challenging walk - and by "gently challenging" I mean even something as simple as being cold outside or walking uphill - makes me sleep like a baby.

2. A varied diet

Now, in January, many people begin dieting, and I dread to think how many of them restrict any kind of joyful food, only to snap a few weeks later and feel like a total failure - when the whole idea of sticking to a “clean diet” was unrealistic to begin with.

Too many people have this all-or-nothing mentality, and I used to be one of them. Thankfully, thanks to my husband, I came to understand that you can eat a healthy, varied, nourishing diet and still enjoy a burger or a slice of cake. Health and chocolate don’t exclude each other. Since food is such a huge part of everyday life, it needs to be enjoyable.

Of course, there are professional athletes or highly motivated people who genuinely enjoy a strict diet, and that’s great! But let’s be real - for most of us out there, a normal, varied diet is more than enough to keep us in good shape without losing the will to live:)

Before spring arrives, make sure you nourish your body with warming meals cooked with root vegetables, plenty of protein, some carbs and even sugars. A well-rounded diet - one that also includes a little treat here and there - will help you thrive in these last weeks of winter and give you energy for all your spring plans.

Find our hand-poured candles, ready to bring spring into your home, here 🤎

3. Talking positively to - and about - yourself

I always encourage an honest internal dialogue. Proverbial patting yourself on the back while real changes are needed is only a temporary way of masking your issues, but in the majority of cases we actually tend to be too harsh and overly critical of ourselves. This internal feeling of misery often shows up externally too - in our body posture and on our face. The frown between our eyes deepens, the corners of our mouths drop, and we quite literally look miserable.

The really strange thing is that we also tend to think badly about ourselves in the third person. Do you know that feeling when you’ve never spoken to someone - maybe never even properly met them - yet you already feel that they don’t like you? Of course, sometimes there are clues that this might be true, but it’s worth stopping and honestly asking yourself whether it’s a genuine gut feeling, or simply your own thoughts imagining what they might think about you - even though you have no access to their mind at all. It’s actually you thinking badly about yourself in the third person.

It’s a bit of mental gymnastics, but it also works the other way around. Someone might assume that you think badly about them, and when you meet at work or at a family gathering, they are unpleasant or guarded - simply because they’ve created an entire scenario in their head involving you thinking badly of them!

If this happens to you, try working on lightening up your inner world. Don’t dwell on imaginary things that have never happened - instead, be kind to yourself. Focus your mind on the good things that are so abundant in your life - it will show on your face too. Pleasant thoughts will brighten your features and may even bring a gentle smile that makes you look lovely!

4. Choose consistency over intensity

When we begin planning new endeavours - even those that actually involve doing less, not more - we are naturally full of energy and motivation. This often leads to an intense start that can quickly burn us out. Instead of starting strong, choose longevity and consistency.

Rather than planning to exercise five times a week, try two proper training sessions and then aim to go for walks as often as you can. You’ll end up getting plenty of movement and exercise without feeling like you’re punishing your body.

Instead of following an extreme 1,000-calorie diet, try reducing your current intake by just 200–300 calories. It won’t feel as painful, and it’s far more realistic to maintain over months. This is exactly how I lost 25 kg in one year.

We all know that shortcuts and promises of fast results rarely work - and often leave us feeling worse than before. Remember, your progress isn’t measured by speed, and you’re not competing against anyone. Take your time with your goals, and allow yourself to enjoy the journey. When you do, everyday life will begin to feel like you’re flowing with the river rather than against it.

5. No more comparing

The ultimate glow comes from feeling good in your own skin and in your own life. And the fastest way to lose it is by comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone younger, richer, or simply different from you. If you allow yourself to fall into the trap of comparison, you will never feel enough.

Notice I said different, because beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Quite frankly, two very different people can both be equally beautiful - there is no universal definition of beauty. Just because someone else has a lovely home, a great relationship, or amazing hair, it doesn’t mean that yours are lacking. 

Here we come back to the first post from this series - "Meeting yourself again". Consider what the things that you enjoyed before you felt the need to curate your style and your life? What would your choices be if no one was watching?

Instead of repeating trends, let yourself be guided by your own sense of style and choose things that make you feel good and highlight your personality. You are most radiant when you enjoy being in your own skin.

6. Create time to slow down

I know the excitement of new beginnings and the approach of spring can make many of us want to go, go, go. But as we’ve already discussed in point 4, burning out quickly is the opposite of a true glow-up.

Make sure you create time to slow down: to enjoy quiet moments at home. Feet up, a seasonal candle lit, and nothing pressing or important on your mind. It’s easy to feel guilty about moments like these, but let this be a gentle reminder that rest is an essential part of our daily cycle. And if we don’t choose to slow down regularly, our bodies often end up forcing us to.

Your home isn’t just a place where you cook, clean, and sleep. It’s your sanctuary - the place where you recharge, find inspiration in books and shows, and allow yourself to be your most authentic, true self, surrounded by the people you love most.

This kind of slowing down is the best way to glow-up. When you rest well, feel safe and grounded in your own space, it shows in your energy and in the joy you carry into spring.

If you’re wondering - yes! These pictures with daffodils were taken this week (mid-January 2026) at Barrington Court in Somerset, UK.

A few closing words

Forgive me the platitude, but beauty truly does come from within. Think about what you remember most about other people - it’s usually how they made you feel, rather than whether their hair was styled perfectly or if they had a pimple that day.

What we really notice - interestingly - are the things we sense rather than consciously analyse. We pick up on energy, posture, tone of voice, and presence. We notice if someone feels tired, tense, upset, or, on the other hand, calm, light, and relaxed. Our instincts register these things almost immediately, often before a single word is spoken.

If you’re ready for a spring glow-up, begin by focusing on how you feel on the inside. Nourish your body, rest well, soften your inner dialogue, and choose habits you can sustain. This kind of glow isn’t about how others perceive you - although it often shows there too - but about how you feel living inside your own life, day after day.

Thank you for being here for week 4 out of 6, and for all your comments on the previous posts and this one. I’m so incredibly grateful for you reading and commenting - it truly means a lot 🤎

Adriana x