A true glow up can’t be complete without strengthening your relationship with Allah. If it doesn’t bring you closer to Him, what are you really getting? A pretty face with an arrogant heart? Glowing skin but a mind not of your own? Churning out the garbage you hear on TikTok? A toned body but a home that resembles a dumpster?

I know this sounds extreme and I wish I was exaggerating. False appearances have never been more rampant than today. A true glow up begins from within. The thoughts that occupy your mind, the way you spend your downtime, the emotions you carry within, the parts of your life that are not shared with others. What you do in private for your inner and outer glow will eventually show externally.

Let’s dive straight into the 10 mindset and lifestyle habits that will have the biggest payoff for your ultimate summer glow up!  

1) Think The Best Of Allah

If you’re going through a hard time or you’re being tested by Allah, it’s so easy to go down that rabbit hole of feeling lost and abandoned. Of getting stuck in the storm instead of passing through it. This is where you need to step up for yourself. Like a parent to your inner child, become aware of the thoughts which are causing you to spiral. Not every thought or feeling is true.

A glow up that begins from thinking good of Allah transfers into every part of your life. Suddenly, life begins to feel easy again. Joy has returned and your heart begins to flutter. Life begins to feel safe and playful when you truly know that Allah is doing all this for you, not against you. That even the pain and delays serves a purpose.

Make no mistake – none of this is passive. You’re not sitting by and wishfully thinking positive. You’re fully present for your life, following your joy, being proactive, staying close to all the things that remind you of Allah, basking in the beauty of life, going all out for yourself.

This girl isn’t lacking in any way because her duas aren’t here yet.

That’s the power of thinking good of Allah. You don’t internalise negative situations. You don’t question your worth when things are taking longer than expected. You don’t blame yourself for a delayed dua.

Thinking good of Allah is the ultimate life hack. It’s having thoughts like:

• Allah will make a way out for me
• Allah is with me, I’ll be okay
• Allah knows what He is doing, I trust Him
• Allah’s timing is perfect
• I know it’s happening for me
• Someday it will work out for me
• It doesn’t end here, Allah is with me

2) Prioritise Dhikr/ Reciting Quran

Because that soothes her soul. Worshiping Allah and remembering Him is some of the best moments of her day. Not because she’s trying to get an outcome. Not because she’s trying to hit a number. Every time you remember Allah, it brings your focus within. In other words, you’re at peace. No drama, no noise or opinions. You don’t want to have a blast of a summer only to feel empty after.

3) Focus On Releasing Daily

Ooh this is a good one! As you glow up and step into the next version of yourself, you’ll constantly be releasing and letting go of the past, physically and emotionally. It’s releasing what no longer serves you. It’s feeling lighter in your body. You start to feel really good and whole within yourself when you’re not carrying the weight of the world.

Emotional releases look like therapy calls, speaking with Allah, journaling as you need it, time in nature away from your phone, long and sincere duas to Allah, working with a life coach, crying it out, reading Quran out loud.

Physical releases look like lymphatic drainage massages, lymph exercises, infrared saunas, hot showers, epsom salt baths, herbals tea that you brew at home, sweaty workouts, eating consistently well.

Make it part of your day and week. It’s not a chore that needs to get done but a little self-care that you look forward to each day. Your body and mind begins to crave the feeling of resetting and replenishing yourself. You become that wellness girlie, getting to bed early each night (look at you!) and prioritising your healing and wellbeing in every way.

4) Be In Tune With Yourself  

You’re not recklessly going with the flow and having fun. It’s more intentional. Aligned. Connected from within and guided from above. There’s a difference between frolicking around all summer versus living from your heart. Your duas aren’t going to fall out from the sky but you don’t need to worry and stratergize over it. But you do need to stay open and align to it. It’s a fine balance and the energy work is key.

Keeping yourself too busy can be a way of avoiding the discomfort in your heart. Choose intention and alignment over distraction and busyness.

5) Play Around With Fashion 

Just because you wear an abaya/ niqab/ dress modestly outside, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fashion within the comfort of your own home or private spaces. What makes you feel feminine and put together? It might be wearing satin slip dresses or sleeping in lace cami sets. It might be a chic bracelet that pulls your outfit together. Do you lean towards more preppy looks or sporty chic? Play around with your clothes and accessories. Soft textures like satin, silk and modal add that touch of femininity to your appearance. Find that sweet balance between feeling put together but also practical for daily life.

I’ll be the first to say, there’s a time to lounge in your pyjamas all day but not daily. Instant comfort isn’t the priority when you’re focusing on a glow up.

6) Nurture Your Surroundings 

A good heart will do wonders for your glow up. Summer is the perfect time to connect and take care of the environment around you. It’s looking out for an elderly neighbour or taking the time out to feed stray animals, birds, squirrels etc. from the softness of your heart.

Have you ever looked at someone and thought they’re a good person? This is the glow that makeup can’t give you. Your energy speaks for itself. A good heart radiates on your face and a vibrant attitude is contagious.

What I love about summer is that you’re surrounded by the beauty of Allah’s creation. Lush trees, cherry blossoms, vibrant flowers, singing birds, clear blue skies… the signs are all there. And for this moment, you’re reminded that you are not the centre of the world. Your thoughts are not always true. Yes, a glow up technically means you’re focused on yourself but not in a self-centred way.

7) Embrace Your Natural Beauty 

I can’t help but notice that all the feminine women that I meet are naturally radiant. They look like a well rested, glowing version of themselves. Not a carbon copy of an Instagram influencer. There’s a softness to their look. Nothing is overly done or overly perfect. She’s not trying to look like a flawless filter but the most healthiest, lived in version of herself.

8) Eat Well To Feel Well 

There’s no way around it. The more you eat whole foods, high quality foods, the better you look and feel. Skincare starts on the inside. The glow comes from within. Which means making sure the majority of your meals are healthy, nourishing and home cooked. Adding in supplements, detox tonics and herbal teas as needed.

Don’t cut out sugar, carbs, dairy or anything else. Unless it’s haram or you have a medical restriction, cutting out foods only increases your appetite for it. Instead, become neutral around food. Avoiding extremes and allowing yourself to eat without guilt or cutting back on compulsive eating without feeling deprived. Okay, you ate too much junk food? Get the kids and let’s go for a walk in the park. Are you in the mood to scoff down a pint of Halo Top ice cream? Let’s slow down and savour every bite, stopping when you’re naturally full. It’s so much more than just the foods you eat but the relationship you have with your body. The way you eat and how you cook is often a reflection of your mental health. 

9) Cut Back On Quick Dopamine Hits 

Dopamine hits feel hard to stop. It’s doom scrolling, emotional eating, reading gossip, eating sugary sweets out of habit, mindless shopping etc. But with a little intention and push, you can break free from it. 

You may not notice it immediately but eventually you will feel the quiet moments of calmness in your day. Your nervous system begins to soften when you’re not on an emotional rollercoaster from scrolling all day. You’ll feel the peace in your heart. How your day runs smoother and how less reactive you are. Dopamine hits make you believe that you can’t live without it. If you sit with your heart and stop playing yourself, do you really want to feel stuffed from eating sugar all day? Forget about appearances for a second, what is the extra weight doing to your mental health? Does the endless inspo scrolling actually help you live better? What is it that you’re hoping to get from the next final purchase? 

This summer, free up your mind. Promise yourself that you’re going to get to your dream duas and desires, one day with Allah’s decree. Allah is with you and He will guide you. And that begins when you’re no longer running away and numbing yourself from your current reality. Cheap dopamine hits give you the illusion of feeling good without actually making any real progress. 

10) Avoid Extremes + Stress

A summer glow up doesn’t have to be extreme. Going quickly from zero to a hundred can often backfire. You may want it to happen overnight, you might make drastic changes but can you sustain it long term? Miracles happen all the time, your duas are so powerful. But the mindset of overnight miracles can sometimes hold you back when your heart and mind hasn’t catched up to what you’re asking for.

Being extreme in your approach looks like:

– Feast or famine mindset, restricting your diet for a couple of days followed by binge eating, gaining all the weight back after summer

– Chasing your dua and then running away from it, desperately wanting it but then backing off when it gets real

– Begging Allah for your duas, going all out with tahajjud, feverishly making dua at every accepted opportunity and then giving up because it’s taking so long

– Only focusing on the external glow up whilst neglecting your inner world

Let’s have a slower approach, one that’s more in tune with your heart. One that deals with the resistance instead of running away from it. One that allows you to process and gently heal. You’re not in a rush, sustenance comes from Allah and you my darling have plenty of time! 

P.S. If you’d like further 1-1 support to elevate your duas, heal through blocks that are weighing you down and step into the next level version of you – the woman who feels feminine, light and hopeful, aligned to her duas and excited for her future, have a look at my current coaching offers here. Book a free 20 minute call to get started!