That thing in the sky is the sun. Those places where people congregate are called bars. As you get reacquainted with life outside the home, step out looking and feeling your best with these post-pandemic self-care tips.
Dress like a swell
Sustainable vintage fashions get better with age. Look casual but sharp in khaki chinos or broken-in jeans, a classic OCBD (that’s Oxford cloth button-down), and denim trucker jacket, says Andy Kintzi, owner of The Midtown Dandy, Harrisburg (themidtowndandy.com). For work-from-home ease without the sweatpants, try Vietnam War-era OG-107 sateen fatigue trousers, and roll up the sleeves of an iconic “Urban Cowboy” pearl-snap western shirt that’s as comfy and cool as a t-shirt.
Change the nibbles
Don’t overhaul. Start small. Completely upending your diet is a recipe for failure. It’s the little changes that last, advises Erin Dunleavy, registered dietitian for Weis Markets (weismarkets.com). Swap steak for seafood night. Choose a handful of nuts over that bag of chips. Add a side salad to dinner. Vary your protein regimen with plant-based sources. Fight disease with fiber, heart-healthy fats, and vitamin-packed foods. “These simple changes can eventually become lifelong habits,” says Dunleavy.
Checking up
Guys, your life expectancy is trending downward. Regular physical exams, starting around 40 years old, can reveal those undetected notes of heart disease or cancer that ravaged your dad and uncles. Depending on your age, habits, and family history, exams can screen for high cholesterol, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and—if you’ve ever smoked tobacco—abdominal aortic aneurysm and lung cancer, says Dr. Matthew Silvis, family and community medicine physician at Penn State Health (pennstatehealth.org).
Ahhhh, spa!
It’s time for women to spill their secret. Spa treatments rock! Services customized for men increase circulation, invigorate muscles, and soothe skin worn down by shaving and sweat. Male guests of The Spa At The Hotel Hershey and MeltSpa by Hershey love their deep tissue and hot stone massages, says Director Shian Wang (chocolatespa.com). Pedicures and body treatments should be scheudled too. Recommended: Facial, massage, body treatment, and pedicure, every four to six weeks. Manicure, every two weeks.
Hair today
Longer hair, good. The inexplicable return of mullets, bad. The popular crop cut that’s long on top and short on the sides gives the best of both worlds. Then, switch out the gel for texture powder, for that slightly messy lift. A long beard is still trending, but shape it to your face. “It can be groomed but also rustic without being too manicured,” says Justin Lamey, barber at Didi & Smiling John’s, Lancaster (didiandsmilingjohns.com).
Home game
Enjoying that workout from home but miss the pro equipment? Build a home gym, with these five steps from York Barbell (yorkbarbell.com).
1. Designate an unused space.
2. Set your budget. Quality isn’t cheap, so start with the must-haves you’ll use the most.
3. Measure, to make sure your purchases fit the space.
4. Watch for sales on the additional stuff you want.
5. Add motivation by putting workouts in your weekly schedule.
