How are you this new year? How are you doing with your goals?
When it comes to new year’s resolutions, we often see people fail because they stumble a bit with their goals and if they can’t give one-hundred percent, they lose interest or focus. At Bellini’s, we want you to succeed in your intentions.
In order to come into balance, you have to go off balance.
The Truth About Resolutions
There’s a popular saying, “Perfectionism is a curse.” Perfectionism actually stops us from attaining goals when there is no balance.
A 2023 Forbes Health survey found the average new year’s resolution lasts just 3.74 months. The Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month, while 22% last two months, 22% last three months and 13% last four months.
According to psychologist J. Clayton Lafferty, Ph.D., who looked at the lifestyles and personalities of 9,211 professionals. “Because they’re equating self-worth with a flawless performance, perfectionists often get hung up on meaningless details and spend more time on projects than is necessary. Ultimately, productivity suffers.” Lafferty says.
Understanding Perfectionism
But there are some positive sides to perfectionism. It can drive individuals to set high standards for themselves and strive for excellence in their pursuits; often committing to high quality, which can result in meticulous attention to detail and a strong work ethic. However, pursuing perfection can become relentless and demanding. Perfectionists may find themselves trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and unattainable expectations, leading to stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Perfectionism is rooted in a fear of failure and a desire for external validation. Perfectionists may be wary of starting new challenges or taking risks out of fear they may not meet their own impossibly high standards. This fear of failure can hinder personal growth and limit the exploration of new opportunities. Constant pursuit of perfection can strain relationships, as the perfectionist's expectations may extend to others, creating tension and dissatisfaction.
Finding a balance between striving for excellence and accepting imperfections is crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset. Embrace the concept of "good enough," which acknowledges achievements while understanding that perfection is unattainable.
Developing self-compassion and focusing on progress rather than flawlessness can help individuals break free from the bad aspects of perfectionism and lead a more fulfilling and well-rounded life.
Stress and the Body
Did you know when you’re stressed, your body is reacting the same way as if a dinosaur was chasing you? Your body creates adrenaline which is meant for you to physically use during stressful times. Your body gets confused when you don’t use the adrenaline created, it thinks you didn’t have enough energy and needs more reserves. Then it makes you crave food, and those with the most calories – sweets and carbohydrates, and holds on to visceral fat (which increases your risk for health problems) because your body is tricked into thinking it needs it.
The Mayo Clinic explains nerves and hormones signal a system of adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, such as cortisol. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugar, also called glucose, in the bloodstream, enhancing the brain's use of glucose and increasing tissue repair.
But when stressors are always present and you always feel under attack, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. This puts you at higher risk of many health problems, including:
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Digestive problems.
- Headaches.
- Muscle tension and pain.
- Heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
- Sleep problems.
- Weight gain.
- Problems with memory and focus.
Your IQ even drops when you’re stressed. A study detailed people with elevated stress levels were 37% more likely to have poor cognition. In a Georgetown University study, they found children who are under emotional or physical stress score 13 percent lower on intelligence tests than youngsters who are functioning virtually worry-free.
Stress can eventually lead to burnout. Which is classified as a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.
Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic – often workplace – stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion.
- Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism.
- Cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficiency.
Stress & Skin
When it comes to your skin, stress can cause increased inflammation, slow down wound healing, and negatively impact skin conditions. Your glands produce more oil when under stress, which can cause acne to worsen in people who are prone to outbreaks. Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema worsen under stress, causing the conditions to flare-up. Stress can have a large impact on how our skin ages too. Stress hormones break down the collagen and elastin in skin and interfere with rejuvenation, which can speed up the aging process causing more fine lines and wrinkles.
The contraction of “inflammation” and “aging –” “inflammaaging” – or “silent aging” is a phenomenon that affects all humans. With age, chronic and silent reactions spread through skin tissues and weaken the cell’s defense systems, thus entailing wrinkles, dehydration, skin slackening and a dull complexion.
“Learning how to manage your stress response is a very powerful addition to every skin care regimen.” says Keira Barr MD, FAAD.
Luckily, there are products that aid in slowing the process of stressed-prone skin. Below are some of our favorite anti-acne and anti-inflammaaging products.
For Anyone Having a Stress Breakout |
Essential for those who suffer from chronic breakouts – especially stress-related acne. 98% natural, purifying emulsion helps clear and calm blemish-prone skin.
Gentle botanical treatment renews, refreshes and purifies skin for a fresh, healthy complexion. Helps heal skin, control excess sebum and calm inflammation and mitigate the occurrence of breakouts.
Both masks use 3 types of clay & Yonka Quintessence, which is clarifying and tightens pores. Soothes and restores a luminous complexion. Balances, purifies and tonifies. 103 is for normal to oily skin and 105 is for dry or sensitive skin.
Boosts mask, essential oils boost it keep it active ingredients -- treatment combined.
An important step to keep your clay mask wet. This naturally refreshing toner offers the PG for oily to normal skin and PS for dry to normal skin. The mist tones, hydrates and invigorates skin. Aromatherapeutic blend balances the mood and energizes the mind and body.
Deeply hydrates skin, refines the look of pores, and balances skin's natural pH. Regenerating, it stimulates the ATP energy cells for ultimate healing.
Rescue skin afflicted with spots and imperfections with this powerful, alcohol-free topical treatment booster that spot treats blemishes quickly and effectively. The purifying qualities remove imperfections, while soothing irritation associated with breakouts. Rich in anti-bacterial, antiseptic, and healing ingredients, this solution helps speed the healing process of breakouts for clearer, healthier skin.
For Sensitive Skin Break Outs |
Phytomer OLIGOPUR Blemish Target Gel
This gel dries and corrects, targeting blemishes with precision. It rapidly improves the skin's appearance, reducing the risk of scarring. Reduces redness & size of blemishes.
P
hytomer CITYLIFE Ultra-Cleansing Flash Peel
A 30 second step that transforms daily cleansing into an exfoliating, detoxifying, facial treatment. Rinse to reveal a smooth, soft, revitalized complexion totally free of toxins and pollutants. Forms an anti-pollution veil on the skin and strengthens the ability of the skin to "breathe" properly in a polluted environment by restoring minerals and trace elements levels which reactivate cell functions.
Phytomer VEGETAL EXFOLIANT with Natural Enzymes
The soft texture and action of this exfoliant is adapted to even the most sensitive skin. It eliminates impurities and refines the skin's texture. Removes impurities and creates a soft texture.
Illuminate your skin with this ultra-gentle, 4-in-1 gel facial peel that has exfoliating, clarifying, hydrating, and balancing effects. This botanical feast is a natural astringent that tightens pores and firms the skin. It is an essential weekly treatment to give dry or sensitive skin a healthy glow and is especially recommended for those with visible redness.
Ages 45+ Anti-Inflamm'aging |
This cream helps redensify skin and fill out the look of wrinkles. Next generation wrinkle filling spheres made of natural konjac root are filled with hyaluronic acid to plump skin with moisture for a visibly healthier, smoother skin quality. Exclusive botanical complex enhances skin health by protecting the skin from environmental aggressors throughout the day.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
This breakthrough corrective cream helps reverse visible signs of aging impacted by glycation and collagen decline, including fine lines and deep wrinkles. This anti-wrinkle cream helps correct visible skin aging and defend against new and recurring damage. All in a luxuriously textured formula.
Phytomer PIONNIÈRE XMF Creme Supreme
This is an exceptional beauty cream that combines two natural marine sugars with incredible youth properties. This sumptuous pink cream infused with flowery and soft notes provides the skin with all the freshness and glow that it deserves. Wrinkles are visibly smoothed in 1 hour. Day after day, the complexion’s radiance is enhanced, the skin looks plumped and glows with new youthfulness.
What Helps Stress?
Now we’ve realized “all or nothing” perfectionist thinking isn’t sustainable long-term, The Pareto Principle of balance can be applied. The principle suggests 80% of results come from 20% of the work. But we can think of this in terms of meeting goals as well — if you keep to your goal 80% of the time, you can take 20% to cheat a little! You deserve to enjoy life and all its wonderful experiences. “Good enough" becomes a benchmark to strive towards. You can take this idea and use it towards your goals for the new year.
Balance is the act of coming back. You have to exercise the yes and the no. But because the modern lifestyle is so demanding, stress abounds.
Take care of your body, mind and psyche. Stress happens, it’s what you do with the stress that impacts your body.
The Mayo Clinic suggests these stress management tips:
- Eat a healthy diet, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep.
- Do relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing, massage or meditation.
- Keep a journal. Write about your thoughts or what you're grateful for in your life.
- Take time for hobbies, such as reading or listening to music. Or watch your favorite show or movie.
- Foster healthy friendships and talk with friends and family.
- Have a sense of humor. Find ways to include humor and laughter in your life, such as watching funny movies or looking at joke websites.
- Organize and focus on what you need to get done at home and work and remove tasks that aren't needed.
- Seek professional counseling. A counselor can help you learn specific coping skills to manage stress.
Body Repair Shop
Rest is very important to your overall health. Our organs dedicate their energies to defense during the day and repairs during the night. Maintenance mode happens when you’re asleep.
Repair, regeneration and detoxification – all fundamental processes for our health. A good night’s sleep is vital to healthy hormone production.
Short sleep and poor sleep quality can hinder how hormones are produced and how they interact with each other. This can lead to hormone imbalance as well as any conditions that can result from that imbalance, like thyroid diseases, sexual dysfunction, and even sleep disorders.
The sleep hormones we need regulated are–
- Melatonin: Often referred to as the “sleep hormone,” it is directly responsible for promoting healthy rest and regulating your body’s circadian rhythm, as well as your sleep-wake cycle. Sleep disruption or poor quality sleep can negatively impact your body’s melatonin production. And because a good night’s sleep is so important to your overall health and wellbeing, it’s vital to manage melatonin with proper sleep.
- Progesterone and Estrogen: Both women and men produce these hormones. But because of women’s monthly hormonal changes, they are more likely to experience sleep insufficiencies than men.
- Testosterone: In both women and men, testosterone works to support reproductive health and bone health. If you’re not getting enough REM sleep, it can affect your body’s testosterone levels.
- Cortisol: Sleep regulates cortisol, it’s often known as the “stress hormone.” Along with melatonin, cortisol is key to maintaining your sleep pattern. When you wake up, your cortisol level temporarily spikes, helping to wake you up and feel refreshed as melatonin production reduces. As you approach your bedtime, cortisol production reduces as melatonin production ramps up, helping your body prepare for sleep. Elevated cortisol levels can negatively impact your sleep, most often as a result of stress and electronic devices suppressing your body’s melatonin production.
In Conclusion
When it comes to resolutions, it can be hard to stick to them one-hundred percent. Remember, perfectionism isn’t optimal – you actually lose productivity overall on small details. Embracing the concept of "good enough" acknowledges achievements while understanding perfection is unattainable. The 80-20 rule of moderation can help with black-and-white thinking. Keep in mind, going off balance is needed to return to balance sometimes. Don’t stress yourself out needlessly or you’ll feel it and see it in yourself. Make rest a priority when possible and you will see the returns in the way you feel and look.
We hope this blog will make an influence in your life. As chronically overstressed as we are in our modern world, a reminder to slow down, rest and prioritize self-care can be an essential reminder.
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Sources not cited in links:
Zisapel, Nava. “New Perspectives on the Role of Melatonin in Human Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Their Regulation.” British Journal of Pharmacology, John Wiley and Sons Inc., Aug. 2018,
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This blog post was written by Moss Hatheway
