Grooming Habits of a Boss

To reach an elite level in any endeavour it's imperative that you develop good habits. Although some rituals may seem inconsequential, over a life time they can have a massive impact on your quality of life. For many of you, there are habits that seem pretty obvious. Commitment to learning, reading books, being social & connecting with family are all important & often talked about.

But what about healthy grooming habits? Do you know what it takes to make sure you're cultivating a positive self image so you can get the most out of work, love, friendships & life? We've compiled a list of some of the most important grooming habits that can set you up to be a boss in everything you do. A man who takes the time to get these things right, is a man in control of his own destiny.

It’s a well-known fact. Exercising gets the blood pumping, the heart racing and increases endorphins known to make you happier. An hour to an hour and a half a day is needed to ensure your physical and mental health are getting the workout they need. Exercising can range from a workout at the gym on your own to a packed Zumba class down at your local community centre. Whatever type of physical activity it is, its bringing you closer to a healthier body and a happier mind set.

Nutrition

Ensuring you are eating a nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water works hand-in-hand with exercising. A well-rounded diet can make huge differences to your mind and body. It’s amazing how what goes into your mouth affects your mood and ability to do things. To ensure you are eating correctly for your body type and size, we suggest visiting your GP or a Nutritionist to get specific information.

Skin Care

Let’s face it, nobody really wants to load their face up with lots of lotions and potions claiming to do all sorts of different things. But it is important to look after your skin correctly. Applying sunscreen daily (especially your face) means you won’t look like your skin has been made from leather by the age of 50. Australia has some of the harshest sun so it’s important to reach for a sun cream that is intended for every day wear yet protective enough for our rays. However, it’s important to remember the increase in UVB protection is minimal between SPF 15, SPF 30 and SPF 50.

While sunscreen does an amazing job protecting our skin from the sun, removing it at the end of the day is just as important. Often left-over cream builds up along with other everyday baddies like pollution, bacteria and sweat cogging pores and causing breakouts. Cleansing your skin every night (at least) is simple yet very effective. It’s important to reach for a product that is suitable for your skin type so further irritation doesn’t occur. After that, applying a light moisturiser, serum or oil will restore your skin with moisture (obviously) and leave it feeling soft and healthy.

Yes, another skin habit to get into. Exfoliating should be an essential part of your skin care routine. However only a step to put into practice 1-2 times a week to ensure you’re not being to harsh on your skin. Again, finding a product that suits your skin type will make a huge difference in how it reacts with your skin.

Washing Your Hair

There seems to be a lot of rules surrounding hair-washing out there. But it is known that over washing is a thing and can affect the balance of natural oils your body produces. These natural oils help look after your hair on its own and therefore it’s important to keep washing to 2-3 times a week. If you’re exercising intensely or sweating a lot throughout the day, we recommend washing your hair every second day to ensure your hair is smelling fresh but keeping those oils balanced. The more natural the shampoo and conditioner is, the better.

Same goes for facial hair. Every second to third day your beard deserves a little pamper. This also reduces the number of knots and tangles that may form. Milkman 2 in 1 is a go-to one bottle source of yummy smelling goodness that softens and cleanses at once. Think of it as a fabric softener for the beard.

Whether it be from social media, booze or your PS4, it’s important to have a break from habits that you know are doing you more bad than good, but can’t resist. A few days to a month free of one of those can do great things for your mind and body. If you’re constantly scrolling through Insta or Facebook, give those thumbs a break and just spend a little vacay away from it all. Downloading helpful apps can give you the motivation to keep going through what may seem like the longest week in history!!

Check Up

With days like R U OK day and 10/10 it’s a great reminder to check up on your mates and let them know you’re there for them. But what about the days in between? Calling or messaging on your friends and family once a month is not only a great way to catch up but to also check up on them and remind them that you are there to listen.

While you may be head over heels in love with a scent of a cologne, there comes a time when you need to mix it up. Changing and experimenting with your signature scent can be fun and you may just stumble across a new-found favourite. Milkman have begun introducing seasonal aftershave serums which double as a cologne and a moisturiser. There is a difference in summer and winter fragrances so why not use the change in climate to encourage a change in smell?

Visit the Doctor

Men seem to be disinterested and against the idea of going to the doctor to get a good ol’ fashioned check-up. Some men use the excuse ‘what I don’t know won’t hurt me’. But guess what, it can and it does! A few moments of awkwardness or perhaps discomfort twice a year can mean peace of mind for months on end. Going to the doctor for a chat and check-up about mental or physical health is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.

It’s a pain in the a$$ but it’s got to be done eventually. While a lot of products don’t have an expiry date, it’s a good idea to throw out opened (and sometimes even unopened) bottles, tins, tubes and containers of product that have been opened for a year. It could be riddled with who knows what and honestly, if you haven’t used the whole product up after a year of opening it, did you really like it enough to keep it?

Go through your wardrobe and make three piles; keep, donate, throw out. The keep pile is pretty self-explanatory. However, there is a difference between clothes worthy of becoming a donation and throwing them in the bin. While charity shops appreciate all donations, sometimes items worn to death just need to go in the bin.

Other articles that might interest you:

1. Beard Care Tips - Picking a Style to Suit You

2. Optimise Your Daily Potential

3. The Hipster Beard is Not Dead - It was Never Theirs in the First Place

4. Get the Perfect Shave with Shave Oil