Springtime is in the air and for Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, she’s soaking it in, telling Vogue that “There are flowers everywhere, everything is fresh and blooming.”
For the Marvel actress, spring isn’t just the time to get lost in the beauty of blooming poppies. In fact, it’s also a great time to reset your health. In fact, if you’re hoping to “spring clean” your body, then Portman has the best spring self-care hacks.
Natalie Portman’s Spring Self-Care Secrets
1. Replace alcohol with water
Natalie Portman/Instagram
Alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your health, so if you really want to give yourself a boost and start afresh, then you should probably cut back.
Speaking to Vogue, Portman revealed that she’s been drinking less alcohol and no coffee since the new year, and it has had a great for her health.
“I find that my energy is evening out. I’m not getting very tired and then pumping it up. It feels more steady!”
She also adds that drinking more water by filling a two-liter water bottle and carrying it around all day has also been great. As for how she’s managing the temptation of drinking? Simple – by staying home, “Going out less for dinner is also more helpful for me to not have wine. It’s much easier if I’m just eating at home to stay away from that. It’s a little harder when you’re out!”
2. Keep your diet local
When it comes to her diet, the Black Swan actress chooses to source her food locally, which is great for her health, as well as that of the planet.
In regards to the planet, eating locally grown food means that there’ll be less pollution and fewer carbon emissions when it comes to transporting said food. Additionally, there’ll also be a reduced risk of plastic packaging, which then translates to less waste.
As for your health, locally sourced food is not only fresher, but it’s also more nutritious due to the fact that it hasn’t lost any nutrients as a result of the transporting or processing system.
Eating locally also means that you’ll be supporting farmers, which is something that we should all be doing.
3. Unplug
Whether it’s before bed or when she’s spending time with her two kids, the Star Wars actress makes sure to unplug,
“I feel like when I’m doing that, I really just shut off, which is amazing…I think you start just being in multiple places at once and you realize to be actually present with someone you kind of need to not be on your phone.”
Natalie Portman/Instagram
So why is using your device before bed such a big no-no?
For one, your phone emits blue light and this can affect the body’s production of melatonin, which is more affectionately known as the sleep hormone (1). In doing so, it makes it harder for you to sleep and wake up.
Using your phone before bed causes our brains to be more alert due to being so engaged. Whether it’s adding your two cents to the discussion about the slap heard around the world, or maybe you’re invested in a word game, you end up being more engaged, which then tricks your brain into believing that you need to stay awake.
Lastly, using your phone before bed can affect REM sleep, also known as deep sleep. REM sleep is vital for your health because it plays a role in regulating dreaming, memory, emotional processing, and healthy brain development and any disruption to it can lead to poor concentration, poor memory as well as other sleep disorders like narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea (2).
4. Go for a run
Whether it’s playing a ballerina or Marvel superhero, it’s clear that fitness is a priority for Natalie Portman. So much so that she tries to run or swim four times a week.
Running is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to exercise. It’s a great way to build muscles, manage your weight and it’s also been found to help better your heart health. If it’s good enough for a Marvel hero, then it’s good enough for you.
In terms of swimming, jumping in and doing a few laps can also keep your heart healthy and it’s also a great way to build endurance, all while keeping your muscles toned and healthy.
5. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
In regards to her top beauty hack, for Portman, it’s all about staying moisturized.
Dry skin, in addition to being uncomfortable, can also enhance the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. What’s more, dry skin can also affect the efficiency of the skincare products that you’re using to alleviate the appearance of the aforementioned signs of aging.
If you’re struggling with dry skin, might we recommend looking out for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and shea butter?
Kate Winslet/L’Oréal
Want to know more?
Natalie Portman has been in the public eye since she was 11 years old. As such, she definitely understands the pressures that come with aging in Hollywood.
Another actress who also understands this pressure is Kate Winslet. In fact, in her new campaign with L’Oréal, the Titanic actress is shifting gears and focusing instead on positive messaging around natural beauty.
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: Natalie Portman/Instagram
References
1. Leena Tähkämö, Timo Partonen & Anu-Katriina Pesonen (2019) Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm, Chronobiology International, 36:2, 151-170, DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2018.1527773
2. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/stages-of-sleep/rem-sleep
