WHAT TO INVEST or WHAT TO SKIP

Let’s be truthful: There are a lot of service options out there.

Just off the top of my head, we have microblading, brow lamination, brow waxing, acrylic nails, gel nails, gel pedicures, sugaring, and the list goes on and on.

I truly believe that one hundred percent of these services can bring value to your life. However, over the course of the last several years, I’ve come to realize that it is in my best interest to truly prioritize which services would serve me best, and invest in those. If we just follow culture and are engrossed with everything online, we’ll be led to believe that we need every single service available to us. But, the reality is, money doesn’t grow on trees, and there has to be a line drawn in the sand based on both our values and what we are actually able to maintain and afford.

So, you might be wondering: how exactly do I approach this in my everyday life?

Well, for me, it’s pretty simple.

I’ve shared a bit about this before, but many years ago, I was a beauty pageant girl. In fact, I lived most of my life on stage, performing or otherwise doing things where I often altered my natural beauty in order to be perceived a certain way or project a certain thing. So for me personally, my ethos when it comes to services now, is that I don’t want something that is going to drastically change how I view myself every single day. Another way to think of it is that if something comes up that requires more of my time or there’s a financial change and I’m no longer able to get this service, would that leave me feeling “less than.” These are the things I think through and really utilize as a pulse check in my life.

Additionally, it’s important to think about time spent. Do I want to spend the little bit of free time I have and consistently fill that in with another service? And for me, that is often a no. Time is such a commodity, especially because I do work in the service space, and so I have prioritized a few services that I really feel add value to my life. Those things are getting my nails done every two weeks, getting my eyebrows waxed, getting regular blowouts, and getting quarterly facials. For me, the time I allow for these tasks is time well spent. Getting my nails done is a moment in time where I get to just stop and mentally recharge. I get my brows done every six to eight weeks, and it’s a way to make me feel super fresh that really doesn’t require much time. Getting my hair done regularly allows for easier maintenance and everyday efficiency for me. Quarterly facials lets me make the most of my at home skincare regimen, and keeps me up to date with how my skin is doing. And for me, that’s really about it! I feel like this is what I can realistically manage in a regular four to eight week period. Any more than that would honestly be overwhelming for me.

The third piece that I like to assess is budget. Oftentimes, when making choices in life, budget needs to be at the top of the list. But, I think that the beauty industry, and really just the service industry in general, has painted a picture that you just need it, so you will figure out how to afford it. But, the reality is that we’re called to be good stewards of what we have. And we all know that there are not endless dollars. So, we have to pick and choose. What are some of the services I can take care of at home, that I feel really confident in doing, and then what are those other services where I feel I really need to lean into an expert? For me, brows! I don’t want to touch those. I’m not great at that, and I really appreciate the professionals who are. Another big one for me is my nails. I’m not great at that! The time I would spend doing that would cause me way more frustration than just carving out time to be able to afford that. The same with facials. I really like a more natural beauty aesthetic and so that means that I really need to maintain my skin at a high level. I do my at home due diligence, but I love that little boost of having a quarterly facial. This really looks different for everyone. It’s wise to decide what is most important amongst your line up and prioritize that financially so that the services you choose can seem consistently feasible.

And honestly, that’s pretty much a wrap! I think we just have to sift through the plethora of services and really make a pros and cons list on the value to us personally. When doing this, be mindful of the cons, because I think when it comes to this topic, we can really easily talk ourselves into things.

I do think it’s important to note that I am not trying to talk you out of services! I wouldn’t do that, as I work in the service industry myself! But really, this is just to help you make calculated choices on what will best serve you. When you’re making calculated choices, you find even more value in it, and you can feel confident in your decision making. Then, when those opportunities do come along where you’re able to afford that something extra, it makes you appreciate it in a different way. These are really just my tips on how to decide what to invest in and what to skip.

I’d really love it if you share some of your thoughts with me! I want to hear from you on how you make these choices. We’re all unique and come from different walks of life and have different experiences and points of view, so let’s share them with the rest of our community and see what others have to say! That just may empower someone in a special and unique way.

Ok my friends, I’ll talk to you soon!