[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fRdy4Ph-Pr3_YSRANo4UELfNtlCWM9i03GPoJzUPa93A":3,"$fxVafriSNsHHvOuDGiV9ZX4DeWdENMaPff3RfP-NfgWU":37,"$fJ4wCrV9JO_0gZSLEWiOCOi1teXxD2SoQWMSTV2SMFM4":133},{"data":4,"meta":33},[5,9,13,17,21,25,29],{"id":6,"name":7,"slug":8},1,"Career & Finance","career-and-finance",{"id":10,"name":11,"slug":12},11,"After Hours","after-hours",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16},3,"Wellness","wellness",{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},12,"Style","style",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},4,"Voices","voices",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},2,"Mindset","mindset",{"id":30,"name":31,"slug":32},10,"Nourish","food",{"pagination":34},{"page":6,"pageSize":35,"pageCount":6,"total":36},25,7,{"data":38,"meta":131},[39],{"id":40,"title":41,"createdAt":42,"updatedAt":43,"publishedAt":44,"content":45,"slug":46,"coffees":14,"seo_title":41,"keywords":47,"seo_desc":48,"featuredImage":49,"category":98,"author":102,"img":130},121,"The Solo Travel Guide for Ambitious Women: What Nobody Tells You About Going Alone","2024-07-03T14:58:18.576Z","2026-04-14T04:10:15.655Z","2024-07-03T15:10:21.703Z","\u003Cp>\u003Cem>This post includes affiliate links. If you snag something via our links, we may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you. It's a sweet way to support our work here so we can keep creating content you resonate with! We only recommend what's already earned a permanent spot in our routine.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time I traveled solo, I was terrified in the specific way that has nothing to do with danger and everything to do with being alone with yourself for an extended period. No shared dinner to fill the silence. No one to confirm that you made the right call on the hotel. Just you, your choices, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Feurope-on-a-budget-5-affordable-european-destinations\">whatever city you decided to land in\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was years and several countries ago. Since then, solo travel has become the thing I protect most fiercely in my calendar, ahead of most meetings and all events I can legitimately decline. Not because it is always comfortable, but because nothing recalibrates thinking, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhobby-and-personality\">resets creative energy\u003C\u002Fa>, and clarifies priorities the way spending time in an unfamiliar place without anyone's schedule to accommodate does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guide is not the version with tips like 'charge your phone' and 'be aware of your surroundings.' Those exist in approximately 40,000 other places on the internet. This is the version for women who run things, who have limited time and no patience for vague advice, and who want to know what solo travel actually looks like when you are ambitious, busy, and doing it on your own terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Why Solo Travel Does Something to You That Group Travel Cannot\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>There is a specific kind of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fdecision-fatigue\">decision-making confidence\u003C\u002Fa> that comes from navigating an unfamiliar city alone. Not the surface-level confidence of getting on a plane, but the deeper kind: realizing that you handled the missed connection, found a better restaurant than the one on the list, had a conversation with a stranger that you never would have had with a traveling companion absorbing your attention, and made every call from logistics to dinner without consulting anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This compounds. The woman who has navigated Tokyo alone for a week comes home with a recalibrated sense of what she can handle, and that recalibration transfers directly into her professional life. Founders and executives who travel solo consistently report that it sharpens their tolerance for ambiguity and their speed of decision-making under conditions of incomplete information. Both are significant professional assets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is also the creative dimension. Boredom, which is structurally impossible to achieve when you are with other people, is where creative thinking lives. The ideas that surface on a long solo train journey or a morning walk with no agenda are qualitatively different from the ones generated in co-working spaces and back-to-back meetings. This is how default mode network activation works: the brain needs \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwant-to-be-smarter-these-are-the-9-habits-that-will-boost-your-intelligence\">genuine rest from goal-directed processing\u003C\u002Fa> to produce the associative thinking that generates insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>How to Plan a Solo Trip Without Over-Engineering It\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>There is a planning \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-art-of-failure-how-to-turn-mistakes-into-actual-success\">failure mode\u003C\u002Fa> on each end of the spectrum. Under-planning produces preventable stress. Over-planning produces a trip that feels like executing a project rather than traveling. The goal is a structure loose enough to accommodate the unexpected and specific enough that you are not making decisions from scratch when you are tired and disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>The Non-Negotiables Before You Leave\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Research the destination's safety profile for solo women, specifically.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Not generic travel safety ratings. The experience of solo women in that city, in that neighborhood, at the time of year you are traveling. Reddit's solo female travel communities are among the most accurate sources for this, more reliable than any aggregated travel guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Book the first two nights of accommodation before you land.\u003C\u002Fstrong> After that, flexibility is an asset. But arriving somewhere new without a confirmed place to go after a long flight adds unnecessary cognitive load at exactly the moment your judgment is most compromised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Download offline maps for your destination before you get on the plane.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Reliable data service is not guaranteed, and the moment you need navigation most is usually the moment you have the least connectivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Get travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and trip interruption.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Not optional and definitely not a cost to minimize. The one time you need it, nothing else will matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Tell one person your itinerary.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Not for surveillance. For the simple reason that if something goes wrong, someone should know where you last were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch3>What to Leave Out of the Plan\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Every night pre-booked. Every meal pre-researched. Every hour accounted for. The best things that happen during solo travel almost universally come from unplanned time. Build at least two to three unscheduled half-days into any trip longer than four days. The discomfort of unstructured time is the point. It is where the recalibration happens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Packing for Solo Travel: The Rule Is Always Less Than You Think\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Packing for solo travel has a constraint that group travel does not: everything you bring, you carry alone. Through airports, up stairs in hotels with no elevator, across cobblestones in cities that were not designed for wheeled luggage. This changes the calculus significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The practical standard: if you cannot carry everything you are bringing for a brisk ten-minute walk without stopping, you are overpacked. This is not an aspirational standard. It is functional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002Fwomen_traveling_solo_1c8774458e.webp\" alt=\"women traveling solo\">\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>The Skincare Edit for Solo Travel\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>The single biggest packing win for most women is consolidating the skincare routine. Full product ranges packed in liquids bags that take up half a toiletry kit are the reason most women overpack. The solution is a multi-functional product that does the work of several and takes the space of one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>OUR EDITOR'S PICK: ONESKIN OS-01 FACE\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Foneskin-peptide-moisturizer\">OneSkin OS-01 Face\u003C\u002Fa> is the product that replaced four separate steps in the travel skincare routine. It works as a moisturizer, supports skin barrier function, and reduces the visible signs of the kind of dehydration and sleep disruption that long travel days produce. One tube, significant space saved, no compromises on skin quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Foneskin.pxf.io\u002FB5x5Dq\">GET IT HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\u003Ch2>Solo Travel Safety: The Real Version\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The safety conversation around solo female travel has two failure modes: dismissing it entirely ('just go, you will be fine') and treating it as a reason not to go. Neither is useful. The accurate version is that solo travel carries specific risks that can be significantly mitigated with specific behaviors, and that the vast majority of solo trips by women go without serious incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>The Behaviors That Actually Reduce Risk\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Trust your instincts immediately, not eventually.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The moment something feels wrong, act on it. Get out of the situation. Do not wait to confirm whether the feeling is justified. The cost of being wrong about a false alarm is minor discomfort. The cost of being wrong about a real one is significantly higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Ask locals, not travelers, for neighborhood advice.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Your accommodation host, a restaurant owner, a shopkeeper. They know which streets are fine at night and which are not, which tourist areas attract pickpockets, which transport routes are reliable. Google Maps does not have this information. People do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Do not share your itinerary in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Foversharing-social-media\">real time on social media\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Showing exactly where you are and that you are alone is information you do not need to distribute. Post the photos after you have left the location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Blend in as much as possible in your destination context.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Research the dress norms before you arrive, not after. In some locations, visible tourist markers (branded bags, obvious camera setups, maps open on your phone in the street) attract unwanted attention. In others, they are irrelevant. Know which situation you are walking into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Keep cash and cards separated.\u003C\u002Fstrong> One set in your bag, a backup in your accommodation safe or a different pocket. If one gets stolen, you have the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch3>The Technology Stack for Solo Safety\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Offline maps: Maps.me or downloaded Google Maps for your destination cities\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>A local SIM or international eSIM plan: staying connected is a safety variable, not a luxury\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Your accommodation's address in the local language saved on your phone: for when you need to show a driver or a local where you are going\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Emergency numbers for your destination country saved before you land\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2>Solo Travel as a Working Woman: The Parts Nobody Covers\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>How to Work Remotely While Traveling Solo\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>If you are traveling with work commitments, the logistics are different from pure vacation travel. The practical framework that works: designate one block per day for work, preferably morning, and protect it. Do not distribute work across the whole day in a way that means you are never fully present in either the work or the travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Co-working spaces are the most reliable option for focused remote work while traveling. Most major cities now have a functional co-working infrastructure, and day passes are available without membership. The alternative, working from your accommodation, works for focused solo tasks but is isolating over multiple days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-rise-of-digital-nomads-exploring-the-trend\">\u003Cem>Can a Digital Nomad Actually Build a Business? The Honest 2026 Guide for Women Who Work Remotely\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Ch3>Networking in Cities You Do Not Live In\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FWomen_Solo_Travelers_0a2f21e22e.webp\" alt=\"woman traveling solo in train station\">\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solo travel is one of the most underrated networking opportunities available. You are in an unfamiliar city with no existing social obligations, and the people you meet in that context are not pre-categorized by existing relationships or professional hierarchies. A conversation with someone at a co-working space in Lisbon or a coffee shop in Tokyo carries none of the social complexity of networking in your home city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The practical approach: look up one professional event, conference, or industry meetup in your destination city before you go. Attend it. The conversations that happen when you have the credibility of having flown in for something are different from the ones that happen when you are a local attendee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F7-minute-rule-networking\">\u003Cem>The 7-Minute Networking Rule: Why I Stopped Working the Room and Started Scaling My Authority\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Ch3>The Books Worth Taking\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Long flights, slow mornings in cafes, train journeys with actual scenery. Solo travel produces reading time in a way that normal life rarely does. The books that work best in this context are ones that require sustained attention and reward it, not quick-reads you will forget before landing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>CHIARA'S CURRENT TRAVEL READING PICK\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the hours between destinations and the evenings when a city is still unfamiliar, the book that has been in the bag most recently is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F425yEhm\">Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action\u003C\u002Fa>. For travel itself, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F425yEhm\">Kindle Paperwhite\u003C\u002Fa> is the only gear investment that consistently justifies its space and weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>The Loneliness Question: What to Do With It\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Solo travel produces loneliness. Not constantly, and not for everyone in the same way, but it does. This is the part that travel content designed to sell the lifestyle skips, and it is worth naming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The specific texture of solo travel loneliness is different from regular loneliness. It tends to surface at meals, at places you want to share with someone, at the end of a particularly good day with no one to debrief with. It is not the same as isolation, and it passes. But pretending it does not exist produces unnecessary confusion when it shows up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most functional frame for it is the same one that applies to other forms of discomfort in ambitious professional lives: it is information, not a verdict. It tells you something about what you value, what kinds of connection matter to you, and what you would like more of when you return. That is useful data. Let it surface instead of filling every moment so it cannot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Frequently Asked Questions: Solo Travel for Women\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>Is solo travel safe for women?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>The accurate answer is: it depends on the destination, the preparation, and the specific behaviors you maintain while traveling. The vast majority of solo trips by women are completed without serious incident. The risk profile varies significantly by destination, time of year, neighborhood, and individual behavior. Research your specific destination using sources written by solo female travelers, not generic safety ratings, and apply the mitigation behaviors described above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What are the best destinations for first-time solo female travelers?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>For first solo trips, destinations with strong tourism infrastructure, reliable public transport, and established communities of solo female travelers reduce the logistical cognitive load significantly. Japan, Portugal, Iceland, New Zealand, and certain cities in Southeast Asia (Chiang Mai, Bali, Hoi An) consistently rank highly in solo female traveler surveys for safety and ease of navigation. The full destinations guide is in our companion article.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>How do you handle eating alone?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Eating alone in restaurants is the thing most people worry about most before their first solo trip and think about least after the first few times they do it. Bring a book or your e-reader. Sit at the bar if one is available. Order something you would not order in company. The self-consciousness fades quickly, and solo meals in good restaurants in unfamiliar cities become one of the more reliably pleasant parts of the trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>How do you manage work and travel simultaneously?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Designate one clear working block per day and protect it. Outside that block, be fully present in the travel. The failure mode is distributing work attention across the whole day, which produces neither good work nor genuine travel experience. If your work requires more than one focused block per day, you are traveling at the wrong time and should reschedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>The Trip That Changes Your Reference Point\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The thing that solo travel actually produces, beneath the logistics and the safety precautions and the affiliate-optimized packing list, is a recalibrated reference point for what you can handle alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sounds small but it is not. The working woman who has navigated three countries solo, made a hundred decisions without consensus, handled the thing that went wrong, and come home with better stories than anyone who traveled in a group that year operates with a fundamentally different relationship to uncertainty. She has evidence. Specific, personal, unreplaceable evidence of her own capability under conditions she did not control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is the actual return on investment of a solo trip. Everything else is logistics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n","women-traveling-solo","women traveling solo, solo travel guide for women, women solo travel tips, solo travel safety women, solo travel packing list, solo female traveler tips 2026, ambitious woman travel","Solo traveling can be an unforgettable experience for women. However, read what essential steps you should take into consideration before you set off for your next destination.",{"id":50,"name":51,"alternativeText":52,"caption":53,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":56,"hash":92,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":93,"url":94,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":96,"updatedAt":97},316,"Women Solo Travelers.webp","Woman traveling solo","Women Solo Travelers",1600,900,{"large":57,"small":68,"medium":76,"thumbnail":84},{"ext":58,"url":59,"hash":60,"mime":61,"name":62,"path":63,"size":64,"width":65,"height":66,"sizeInBytes":67},".webp","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp","large_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb","image\u002Fwebp","large_Women Solo Travelers.webp",null,66.34,1000,562,66340,{"ext":58,"url":69,"hash":70,"mime":61,"name":71,"path":63,"size":72,"width":73,"height":74,"sizeInBytes":75},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp","small_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb","small_Women Solo Travelers.webp",25.68,500,281,25678,{"ext":58,"url":77,"hash":78,"mime":61,"name":79,"path":63,"size":80,"width":81,"height":82,"sizeInBytes":83},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp","medium_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb","medium_Women Solo Travelers.webp",45.5,750,422,45500,{"ext":58,"url":85,"hash":86,"mime":61,"name":87,"path":63,"size":88,"width":89,"height":90,"sizeInBytes":91},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp","thumbnail_Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb","thumbnail_Women Solo Travelers.webp",8.64,245,138,8644,"Women_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb",144.44,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FWomen_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp","aws-s3","2024-07-03T15:08:36.480Z","2024-07-03T15:08:43.492Z",{"id":10,"name":11,"slug":12,"createdAt":99,"updatedAt":100,"publishedAt":101},"2024-12-23T20:58:07.737Z","2024-12-23T21:00:14.455Z","2024-12-23T21:00:14.453Z",{"id":103,"name":104,"slug":105,"instagram":63,"facebook":63,"bio":106,"createdAt":107,"updatedAt":108,"publishedAt":109,"linkedIn":63,"avatar":110,"avatarImg":129},15,"Chiara ","chiara","Food, drinks and pop art are her gigs. If it’s trending, visually arresting, or tastes like summer in Italy, she’s already covering it. From late-night gallery openings to the secret menus you need to know about, Chiara captures the lifestyle that most people only double-tap on.","2024-12-28T22:26:21.133Z","2026-04-12T04:00:49.868Z","2024-12-28T22:27:14.626Z",{"id":111,"name":112,"alternativeText":113,"caption":113,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":115,"hash":125,"ext":117,"mime":120,"size":126,"url":127,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":128,"updatedAt":128},794,"Chiara.jpg","chiara the working gal",250,{"thumbnail":116},{"ext":117,"url":118,"hash":119,"mime":120,"name":121,"path":63,"size":122,"width":123,"height":123,"sizeInBytes":124},".jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Chiara_53656a0cf9.jpg","thumbnail_Chiara_53656a0cf9","image\u002Fjpeg","thumbnail_Chiara.jpg",8.38,156,8379,"Chiara_53656a0cf9",17.95,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FChiara_53656a0cf9.jpg","2024-12-28T22:25:34.900Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FChiara_53656a0cf9.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FWomen_Solo_Travelers_4bfe7978eb.webp",{"pagination":132},{"page":6,"pageSize":35,"pageCount":6,"total":6},{"data":134,"meta":464},[135,213,283,348,417],{"id":136,"title":137,"createdAt":138,"updatedAt":139,"publishedAt":140,"content":141,"slug":142,"coffees":26,"seo_title":137,"keywords":143,"seo_desc":144,"featuredImage":145,"category":180,"author":184,"img":212},120,"How I Stopped Spending Money","2024-07-02T17:21:45.782Z","2025-02-18T01:46:38.206Z","2024-07-02T17:32:00.314Z","Let's face it: in our world, financial well-being is a significant pillar of stability and freedom. Money facilitates everything in our lives, from paying for necessities, such as food and housing, to being able to afford entertainment costs and experiences and traveling around the world -or wherever.\n\nBut if we're truly honest, a significant part of our spending is fueled by emotions rather than practical needs. That momentary happiness we get from a new purchase or the urge to retail therapy after a stressful day can be a recipe for overspending and **declaring bankruptcy** before the end of the month.\n\nConsidering that I grew up with parents who were entrepreneurs and I now manage my own company, my finance, accounting, and budgeting skills should have been exceptional all these years. Well, I can admit that I have made some money over the years; however, doing my **self-assessment** recently, I will admit that I haven’t been an exemplary money saver.\n\nWhy? Because I, too, fueled my emotions via useless purchases or kept subscriptions that I never used to avoid the FOMO syndrome (the struggle is real!). Over the years, overspending left me in a cycle of acquiring things that ultimately didn't bring lasting fulfillment and, worse, put a strain on my finances.\n\nSo, while scrolling through an e-shop with some incredible summer dresses, I realized that I already have many hanging in my closet and won’t even be able to wear them all this summer. Then, a classic [overthinker](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwhy-are-you-overthinking)\\- I started thinking about the **pile of clothes** hanging in there and how much money I have spent over the years. Also, I got to think that evening some years ago while having drinks with friends, they kind of “judged” me about something (completely nonimportant), and I instantly just bought an expensive pair of shoes online. And then I got terrified; if I hadn’t spent all that money **shopping**, I could have built a house or, at least, would have had the advance payment to buy one (pulling my inner Carrie Bradshaw here)!\n\n### It was precisely at this moment that I decided it was time to end this ridiculous overspending\n\n![woman looking at her purchases unhappy](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblog_900x550_2_1_09bcbb08da.webp)\n\nAnd I did. It’s easy to spend, but it’s possible to stop. Fortunately, there are ways to break free from this vicious cycle of overspending.\n\n# Understand Your Triggers\n\nWhen I decided it was time to start saving some money, I first had to identify **what caused** this overspending. Emotional spending is entirely different from spending money to cover basic needs and travel. It is when you purchase stuff in a specific emotional status, not because you need it. For instance, emotional spending could be a lipstick purchase because you feel **overwhelmed** by PMS and need something to feel better or because you had a stressful week and were rewarded with a spa appointment.\n\nIn order to recognize the triggers of overspending, you need to remember your last **unnecessary** purchases and consider your emotional status at that time. Were you stressed, anxious, bored, or just wanted to reward yourself because you nailed that presentation at work?\n\n## The most usual overspending triggers are\n\n- Stress or anxiety\n- Boredom or loneliness\n- Celebrating or rewarding yourself\n- Seeing a sale or discount\n- Shopping with friends or family\n- Social Media\n\n# How To Identify the Triggers\n\nOnce you understand your emotional status while making unnecessary purchases, it will be even easier to overcome them. These are the questions I ask myself when I want to identify my triggers.\n\n_How am I feeling right now?_\n\n_Do I genuinely need this item, or is it just a craving?_\n\n_Have I recently experienced a negative event that might be making me want to spend?_\n\n_Will this purchase set me back from my savings goals?_\n\n_Could an alternative activity help me feel better?_\n\n# What I Did To Stop Overspending\n\n## I Went With The “Waiting Rule”\n\nAccepting and identifying our overspending triggers is the first and most important step to stop spending money. After asking yourself the above questions, the next and very helpful step is to implement the **“Waiting Rule”** whenever you feel like purchasing something you don’t need. How to? Whenever you have an emotional **up or down** that makes you send this pair of shoes in the cart, don’t purchase it immediately. Step away from the phone, laptop, or iPad, and leave the product(s) in the cart for **48 hours**. Then, you can go back and ask yourself whether you need it. You probably don’t; the urge is gone! When the emotions subside, you will be able to think clearly and rationally about whether or not to hit the “purchase” button.\n\n## I Minimized The Temptations\n\nSocial media is great. The Internet is great as well. However, both can contribute to overspending without even realizing it. The digital world is flooded with influencers, [UGC content](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.edl.gr\u002Fblog\u002Fuser-generated-content), and myriads of shops offering sales, as well as lower prices on products and subscriptions. It’s not easy to skip them anyhow. But it’s essential to reduce the time you are spending on them. The more you see influencers having the time of their life on a unique [Greek island](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-best-greek-islands-welcome-to-naxos), promoting the new excellent bathing suit and matched flip flops, the more the urge to be one of them. I can’t count the times I bought something because I saw it on Instagram or an influencer’s promotion; they are uncountable. What you should keep in mind is that influencers are just doing their job: **_making you want to purchase more and more._** So, getting into this vicious cycle of uninterrupted buying and overspending is easy. It’s good to check out what’s new, but make sure you do it wisely and not in situations where you feel susceptible to your emotions. You can unfollow all accounts that make you want to buy more -it worked for me!\n\n## I Cancelled All My Subscriptions\n\nSubscriptions are the most sneaky way to spend your money. Netflix, Hulu, Coursera, Alo Moves… the list is endless. All those subscriptions take much of our money without realizing it until we see the bill at the end of the month. And honestly, how much do you use each of your subscriptions? Are they a value for money? Do you benefit from them **for the whole month**? If so, then tell us your secret time-wise!\n\n![woman calculating money](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblog_900x550_1_d495ed7eda.webp)\n\nIf not, then cancel all your subscriptions for a week and see which of those you absolutely need. For instance, if work gets busy, I don’t think you will be able to watch both Netflix and take up a new course on Coursera. Also, if you are attending **Pilates or** [**Yoga**](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F5-yoga-poses-for-immediate-stress-relief) **courses** in a gym, do you also need Alo Moves? Evaluate how your life will look over the next three months (at least), and make informed decisions about the subscriptions you need.\n\n## I Started Using My Beauty Products\n\nI know that this may come as a shock, but you don’t need all these little bottles in your bathroom. At least, I didn’t. So, instead of buying the fourth **moisturizer**, I decided to use the three standing in my bathroom drawer, waiting patiently for their turn. This trick saved me a lot of money, and I also decided which products I liked and which felt friendly to my [skin](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fface-care-the-top-3-face-masks-to-try-at-home). Buying different products, using them a couple of times, and then purchasing something else does not give your skin the time to understand what works for it and what does not, and makes your **skincare** inconsistent -and your bank account weak. Get in the bathroom now and start using what you already have. You will be surprised how many skincare products you actually use.\n\n## I Explored Investments\n\nThis is not something that has to be significant. Baby steps. Instead of having my money hanging in the closet (inner Carrie again!) I decided that an easy and more profitable solution to overspending would be putting my money somewhere I couldn’t touch. So, I invested them. Just talk to a couple of people who have done that and start investing small amounts in the most secure way. Micro-investing apps are a great way to begin exploring investing without any particular risk, and they can eventually give you some money back. Then, when you are more familiar with the whole process, talk to an expert and invest more. So, next time you feel like spending money, instead of buying an extra lipstick (how many colors do you need anyway?), put this money into your investment account and let your money grow!\n\n## I Meal Prepped\n\nTo be honest with myself, I always thought that meal prepping was an actual waste of time. However, I am always willing to experience new things, so I decided to give it a try and see the results. I was very reluctant to do it since I never had any particular problems deciding what to eat for dinner. Needless to say, after one month of [meal prepping](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F5-tips-for-meal-prep), I must have saved a considerable amount of money. Meal prep has helped me in so many ways, not only financially. Since the article's point is about our spending habits, I strongly advise you to start meal prepping as soon as possible. Being organized meal-wise can not only save you time, but you can also buy what you need and avoid food waste. Start planning your meal every week and your bank account is going to be extremely thankful.\n\nThese are the actual ways that made me reconsider my finances, start spending my money wisely, and be more considerate. However, stay tuned because The Working Gal Team will soon have more tips and tricks for you to take your finances to the next level!","how-i-stopped-spending-money","how to stop spending money, overspending, emotional spending, wasting money, overspending money, i can t stop spending money on food","This is all the information you need in order to stop spending money and fix your finances.",{"id":146,"name":147,"alternativeText":148,"caption":149,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":150,"hash":175,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":176,"url":177,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":178,"updatedAt":179},312,"How To Stop Spending Money.webp","Woman holding money","How To Stop Spending Money",{"large":151,"small":157,"medium":163,"thumbnail":169},{"ext":58,"url":152,"hash":153,"mime":61,"name":154,"path":63,"size":155,"width":65,"height":66,"sizeInBytes":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp","large_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013","large_How To Stop Spending Money.webp",23.1,23098,{"ext":58,"url":158,"hash":159,"mime":61,"name":160,"path":63,"size":161,"width":73,"height":74,"sizeInBytes":162},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp","small_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013","small_How To Stop Spending Money.webp",9.94,9942,{"ext":58,"url":164,"hash":165,"mime":61,"name":166,"path":63,"size":167,"width":81,"height":82,"sizeInBytes":168},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp","medium_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013","medium_How To Stop Spending Money.webp",16.39,16394,{"ext":58,"url":170,"hash":171,"mime":61,"name":172,"path":63,"size":173,"width":89,"height":90,"sizeInBytes":174},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp","thumbnail_How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013","thumbnail_How To Stop Spending Money.webp",4.09,4086,"How_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013",45.28,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FHow_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp","2024-07-02T17:29:31.337Z","2024-07-02T17:29:41.331Z",{"id":6,"name":7,"slug":8,"createdAt":181,"updatedAt":182,"publishedAt":183},"2020-12-24T19:15:38.145Z","2020-12-24T19:15:38.158Z","2024-06-26T07:27:59.419Z",{"id":6,"name":185,"slug":186,"instagram":187,"facebook":188,"bio":189,"createdAt":190,"updatedAt":191,"publishedAt":192,"linkedIn":193,"avatar":194},"Dimitra","dimitra","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fdimdimi\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fdimitra.lioliou.9","She worked in corporate, then embraced the freelancer dream and built two businesses. In the meantime, she learned five foreign languages, picked up a Master's in Digital Marketing, and somehow ended up deep in the world of AI Risk Strategy — because understanding people was always the strategy anyway.\nNow she spends her time between Greece and the US, meeting with clients, writing about whatever life brings, and helping businesses figure out what AI gets wrong before it costs them.\nJust a suggestion: don't ask her about languages. She will never stop talking.","2020-12-24T18:56:38.909Z","2026-02-19T19:46:02.745Z","2020-12-24T18:56:43.888Z","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fdimitra-lioliou\u002F",{"id":195,"name":196,"alternativeText":197,"caption":198,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":199,"hash":208,"ext":201,"mime":204,"size":209,"url":210,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":211,"updatedAt":211},1244,"Dimitra Lioliou.png","dimitra lioliou profile pic","dimitra lioliou the working gal",{"thumbnail":200},{"ext":201,"url":202,"hash":203,"mime":204,"name":205,"path":63,"size":206,"width":123,"height":123,"sizeInBytes":207},".png","https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_4c495e8044.png","thumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_4c495e8044","image\u002Fpng","thumbnail_Dimitra Lioliou.png",47.83,47833,"Dimitra_Lioliou_4c495e8044",34.56,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FDimitra_Lioliou_4c495e8044.png","2025-04-09T22:06:21.464Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FHow_To_Stop_Spending_Money_31589d6013.webp",{"id":214,"title":215,"createdAt":216,"updatedAt":217,"publishedAt":218,"content":219,"slug":220,"coffees":14,"seo_title":215,"keywords":221,"seo_desc":222,"featuredImage":223,"category":255,"author":258,"img":282},116,"10 Red Flags That Your Friendship Is Over","2024-06-23T15:02:12.351Z","2025-12-11T22:10:51.506Z","2024-06-23T15:10:37.998Z","From the moment we leave our protected home environment as kids, we make friends with other kids, and this happens throughout our lives. Making friends is one of the key elements of socialization.\n\n### Friendships are the cornerstones of our lives; our friends are our source of laughter, support, and fun\n\nThey are the people we turn to when we have problems or when we want to share exciting news about anything. Some think our friends are **“the family we chose.”**\n\nBut like all things in life, sometimes friendships change or fade away. Maybe you've noticed a shift in your once-close bond with your friend. Maybe lately, your usual weekend adventures are now met with scheduling conflicts and **busy** weekdays. Priorities seem to have changed, and finding common ground feels like an uphill battle. **Sharing** personal achievements no longer elicits the same enthusiasm, and you find yourself confiding in others instead. Conversations that flowed effortlessly now feel strained. Not to mention texts that used to ping back and forth instantly now take days to get a response.\n\nThe hard truth is that relationships sometimes are hard to maintain, no matter how many years they count. People change, **priorities change**, and, therefore, people who were in your life forever now seem to not fit in your social circle anymore. However, this change doesn’t happen overnight; the signs are there, and the red flags appear day by day to remind you that something is not the same anymore.\n\n![2.webp](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002F2_20c5513239.webp)\n\nIt’s never easy to accept that you may have nothing in common with a friend or don’t enjoy their company as much as you did in the past, but recognizing that can help you **move forward** with healthier connections, whether this change is a recent drift or a long-term simmer.\n\nHere are the 10 red flags that show your friendship is not the same anymore:\n\n# A Lack of Empathy\n\nEmpathy is the cornerstone of a friendship. A friend should be able to understand and share your feelings. If your friend consistently overlooks or invalidates your **emotions**, it may be a sign that they don't care about you as much as they used to. If you notice that your friend doesn’t take your **concerns** seriously or just doesn’t listen to you, they probably don’t care about being in your life anymore.\n\n# Constant Criticism\n\nOur friends are usually the people we turn to for advice and discussion about our lives. They listen to us and help us **objectively** see another point of view.\n\nHowever, healthy friendships involve a balance. That means a good friend will celebrate your successes and offer support during challenges without judgment or criticism. If your friend focuses solely on flaws, overlooking your strengths and **accomplishments**, that means that they are more judgmental than they need to be. Regardless of your effort, it can feel like you can never do anything right.\n\n### Constant [criticism](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fcriticism-at-the-workplace-can-you-handle-it) might take the form of comments on your weight, outfit choices, or even how you handle everyday situations\n\nFriends should be able to give each other constructive criticism, but if your friend constantly puts you down or makes you feel bad about yourself, it's a sign of a toxic friendship.\n\n# They're Jealous of Your Success\n\nIn a healthy friendship, your wins are their wins. They're genuinely excited about your achievements, whether they are big or small. But a jealous friend might downplay your success or even try to minimize your accomplishments. Their response might be a lukewarm _\"Oh, that's nice\"_ or even a dismissive joke, leaving you feeling confused about why you can't share your happiness.\n\n### True friends celebrate each other's wins without feeling the need to compete\n\nAlso, a jealous friend might constantly try to \"one-up\" you. For instance, if you get a promotion, they might dwell on a past achievement of theirs, or if you land a dream vacation, they might suddenly mention their own upcoming (albeit less impressive) trip. The **focus shifts** from genuine support to a need to prove themselves better. Constant jealousy can create a toxic dynamic in the friendship which could lead to making you hesitate to share good news, fearing their **negative** comments or response.\n\n# They're Not There for You During Tough Times\n\n![1 (1).webp](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002F1_1_bd621555e2.webp)\n\nA true friend is someone who is there for you through **thick and thin**. If your friend is always too busy or flaky when you need them, it's a sign that they may not be as invested in the friendship as you are. A true friend is a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader during life challenges, and a reliable source of support. If your friend consistently flakes out or avoids you when you're going through a tough time, it speaks volumes about their **commitment** to the friendship. Life gets busy, but a true friend makes an effort to be there, even if it's just to listen offer empathy, and try to understand what you're going through.\n\n# You Can't Be Yourself Around Them\n\nFriends should be able to relax and be themselves around each other. If you feel like you constantly have to walk on eggshells around your friend, it's a sign that the friendship isn't **healthy**. Friendships are a safe space to be your authentic self, quirks and all. If for instance, you find yourself holding back your jokes or opinion for fear of judgment around this friend, then this is a sign that the friendship is not working as it should. This constant **self-editing** can be exhausting and prevents genuine connection. A healthy friendship allows for open communication and playful banter. You shouldn't pretend to be someone else around someone who truly cares about you, should you?\n\n# They Violate Your Boundaries\n\n[Boundaries](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-set-and-preserve-boundaries) are the cornerstone of every relationship. Setting boundaries lets us create a healthy space with the people around us. They define what we're **comfortable** with and what's not. That said, a friend who respects you will understand and acknowledge your boundaries, whether needing personal space or having clear communication about what kind of support you need. Everyone has boundaries, and friends should **respect** them. If your friend constantly crosses your boundaries, it's a sign that they don't respect you or your friendship. If your friend knows that you have a busy and challenging week at work and they pressure you to go out or get annoyed if you skip plans, then something doesn’t work. Or, if they share personal information you confided in them with others then check **the** **red flag is flapping about your friendship**.\n\n# They're Gossipy or Two-Faced\n\nGiven that friendships are built on trust, you should feel **comfortable** sharing your thoughts, feelings, and secrets with your friends, knowing they'll be kept confidential. If your friend constantly gossips about others, this is something that creates a sense of insecurity since you never know if you'll become the next topic of conversation -**behind your back**.\n\n# The Effort is One-Sided\n\nFriendships are a **two-way street**, so if you're the only one who is ever putting in the effort to make plans or stay in touch, it's a sign that the friendship may be over. It's not just about the number of interactions but the connection quality. Sure, some friendships require less frequent contact due to busy lives. But even in those cases, there's a sense of **mutual** care and interest. In a one-sided friendship, the quality suffers - conversations feel forced, and there's a lack of genuine interest in your life. When you're the only one putting in the effort then you might start to **question** why you're the only one invested in keeping the friendship alive.\n\n# You Don't Have Anything in Common Anymore\n\nPeople change and grow over time, and it's natural for friends to **drift apart** sometimes. If you and your friend no longer have anything in common, it may be a sign that the friendship has run its course. Conversations become strained and **one-sided**, and your interests are not the same as those of your friend. Shared experiences and interests are the glue that keeps friendships strong. This doesn't mean there's any blame or fault. As you evolve, you might find yourself drawn to new people who share your current interests. There's space to cherish the friendship's **memories** while acknowledging that it may no longer serve your current needs for connection.\n\n# You No Longer Don't Enjoy Spending Time Together Anymore\n\nThis is perhaps the most important sign about the future of your friendship. Friendships should be a source of **joy** and laughter. They should energize and uplift you and make you feel good everytime you communicate with your friends. That said, if you have a feeling of obligation rathen than excitement when you spend time with your friend, then maybe you **don’t enjoy** this friendship anymore. Forced conversations, awkward silences, or a general lack of enthusiasm for get-togethers are common signs of loss of interest. This shift from looking forward to catching up to actively **avoiding** connection signifies a troubled friendship.\n\n#### Life is too short to surround yourself with people who don’t offer you what you are looking for. \n\nTrue friends enrich your life and make you feel good.\n\nIf a friendship consistently leaves you feeling drained or unhappy, it might be time to prioritize connections that bring you joy and support.\n\nDon’t forget that letting go of a friendship doesn't have to be **dramatic**. It can be a gradual shift, focusing your energy on nurturing more fulfilling connections. You can acknowledge the friendship's role in your life and move forward with a sense of peace.","10-red-flags-that-your-friendship-is-over","signs a friendship has run its course, friendship red flags, toxic friendship red flags, red flags in a friendship, red flag friendship","Are you having a tough time with a friend? Maybe something has changed but you can't tell what? Check the 10 red flags that your friendship is over and move forward accordingly!",{"id":224,"name":225,"alternativeText":226,"caption":227,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":228,"hash":250,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":251,"url":252,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":253,"updatedAt":254},307,"Red flags of friendship.webp","4 girls laughing in a car","Red flags of friendship",{"large":229,"small":235,"medium":240,"thumbnail":245},{"ext":58,"url":230,"hash":231,"mime":61,"name":232,"path":63,"size":233,"width":65,"height":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp","large_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8","large_Blog-1600x900-_1_.webp",53,563,{"ext":58,"url":236,"hash":237,"mime":61,"name":238,"path":63,"size":239,"width":73,"height":74},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp","small_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8","small_Blog-1600x900-_1_.webp",21.39,{"ext":58,"url":241,"hash":242,"mime":61,"name":243,"path":63,"size":244,"width":81,"height":82},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp","medium_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8","medium_Blog-1600x900-_1_.webp",35.88,{"ext":58,"url":246,"hash":247,"mime":61,"name":248,"path":63,"size":249,"width":89,"height":90},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp","thumbnail_Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8","thumbnail_Blog-1600x900-_1_.webp",8.29,"Blog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8",104.28,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp","2024-06-23T15:06:48.439Z","2024-06-23T15:07:20.326Z",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28,"createdAt":256,"updatedAt":257,"publishedAt":183},"2020-12-24T19:15:46.057Z","2025-10-01T19:50:39.801Z",{"id":26,"name":259,"slug":260,"instagram":261,"facebook":262,"bio":263,"createdAt":264,"updatedAt":265,"publishedAt":266,"linkedIn":267,"avatar":268},"Tonia","tonia","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fliolioutonia\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Ftonia.lioliou","If you could find one person combining physical strength and mental ability it would have her name. Tonia is also a teacher, but she has serious experience in all kinds of jobs. She can do whatever you ask her. She is also a big fan of remote work -and she is not afraid to admit it. This is why she loves writing about it.","2020-12-24T18:57:03.277Z","2022-03-04T12:40:41.173Z","2020-12-24T18:57:04.381Z","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Ftonia-lioliou-078949202\u002F",{"id":26,"name":269,"alternativeText":270,"caption":270,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":271,"hash":277,"ext":201,"mime":204,"size":278,"url":279,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":280,"updatedAt":281},"the working gal author.png","the working gal author",{"thumbnail":272},{"ext":201,"url":273,"hash":274,"mime":204,"name":275,"path":63,"size":276,"width":123,"height":123},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_tonia_614def26ea.png","thumbnail_tonia_614def26ea","thumbnail_tonia.png",52.63,"tonia_614def26ea",111.31,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Ftonia_614def26ea.png","2020-12-24T18:57:01.136Z","2025-02-22T08:34:14.859Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_1_873a4491a8.webp",{"id":284,"title":285,"createdAt":286,"updatedAt":287,"publishedAt":288,"content":289,"slug":290,"coffees":14,"seo_title":285,"keywords":291,"seo_desc":292,"featuredImage":293,"category":324,"author":325,"img":347},115,"Decision Fatigue: What Is It And How To Cope With It","2024-06-21T12:42:13.958Z","2025-02-22T19:06:49.381Z","2024-06-21T12:43:57.253Z","\nDo you ever feel like your brain is overloaded? Like every decision, from what to eat for breakfast to which email to answer next, is a battle, and you end up **overthinking** without ending up in a concrete decision.\n\nThis could be decision fatigue. This phenomenon describes the mental drain caused by excessive decision-making—that can lead to brain fog.\n\nThe number of decisions we have to make day in and day out—whether they are as easy as picking a route home from work or what to make for dinner—can be exhausting and cause many of us to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed.\n\n# What is Decision Fatigue\n\nDecision fatigue is the mental drain caused by **excessive decision-making**. If you compare your willpower to a muscle, the more decisions you make, the weaker this muscle gets, leading to poorer choices later. Decision fatigue affects big and small decisions, from what to wear to what career path to choose.\n\nOur ability to analyze options and make well-reasoned choices weakens in this exhausting state leading to poor decisions. This means that we become more susceptible to **impulsive decisions**, like grabbing unhealthy snacks from the grocery store or defaulting to familiar choices to avoid deciding properly. These can have consequences for our health, finances, and overall well-being.\n\nDecision fatigue is _“the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,”_ said Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist. _“The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”_\n\nWhile decision fatigue is not a new **phenomenon**, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused life to become _“more complicated, and we have to make more and more decisions in an ever-increasing complex healthcare environment,”_ said Dr. MacLean.\n\n# What are the Causes\n\nThe constant barrage of choices in our daily lives depletes our **mental resources**. From what to eat for breakfast to responding to emails and choosing a restaurant, every decision uses up a bit of energy. Besides, **overwhelming** situations with too many options can overload our brains, making it harder to focus and choose effectively.\n\n# Decision Fatigue and Burnout\n\nDecision fatigue can be a major contributor to **burnout**, since it impacts our mental energy causing severe mental exchaustion. When faced with constant decision-making, especially in high-stress environments, individuals can become emotionally exhausted and negative. This can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and difficulty managing challenges.\n\n\n![blog-900x550-_8_.webp](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblog_900x550_8_34a8e33431.webp)\n\n# Decision Fatigue and Paralysis\n\nDecision fatigue, the mental strain from excessive choices, can lead to a more debilitating cousin: decision paralysis. While decision fatigue drains your **willpower** to make good choices, decision paralysis freezes you altogether. You're hesitant to decide, fearing you'll pick the wrong one and deplete your remaining willpower.\n\nConsequently, you [end up overthinking](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fwhy-are-you-overthinking) even simple choices. The analysis paralysis kicks in, trapping you in a cycle of weighing every option without ever taking action.\n\n# How to Cope With Decision Fatigue\n\nIf you are experiencing decision fatigue _(take the test below to find out)_, you are on the right track to dealing with it, keeping your mental energy in higher levels.\n\n## Simplify Your Choices\n\nReduce the number of decisions you face daily. Create [routines for meals](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F5-tips-for-meal-prep), outfits, and even errands. This frees up mental space for important choices.\n\n## Batch Similar Decisions\n\nTackle similar decisions together. Schedule email response times or dedicate a block on your calendar to making phone calls. This minimizes the back-and-forth mental strain.\n\n## Delegate and Automate\n\nCan someone else make that decision? We bet they can. Delegate tasks or automate repetitive choices, like bill payments or grocery orders, and then you will free your mind of such decisions.\n\n## Prioritize away\n\nNot all choices are created equal and sometimes we tend to spend time and energy to not-so-important things. Identify the most important decisions and focus your energy on them. Let smaller choices slide—they probably won’t matter at the end of the day.\n\n## Schedule Decision-Making\n\nDon't let decisions linger. Allocate specific times for complex decisions and stick to them. Research shows that _“the best time to make decisions is in the morning,”_ said Dr. MacLean, emphasizing that “the morning is when we make the most accurate and thoughtful decisions, and we tend to be more cautious and meticulous.\n\n_“We hit a plateau in the afternoon, and by evening, our decisions may be more impulsive,”_ she added. _“So, definitely don’t make big decisions when you’re tired or hungry.”_\n\n## Embrace \"Good Enough\"\n\nDon't get caught in the **\"perfect choice\"** trap. Sometimes, a \"good enough\" decision is all you need. Perfectionism is the enemy of decision-making and rarely does it help.\n\n# Do you Suffer from Decision Fatigue?\n\nBy identifying the symptoms of decision fatigue, you can take steps to manage your decision-making and combat fatigue.\n\nThis is a quick quiz to estimate your potential for decision fatigue. Answer yes or no to each question. The more \"yes\" you answer to the questions, the higher your chance of experiencing decision fatigue.\n\n- Do you find yourself dreading small choices, like what to wear or eat for breakfast?\n- Are you more likely to procrastinate on decisions, even minor ones?\n- Do you feel easily overwhelmed by options, especially in stores or on menus?\n- Has your ability to focus and concentrate decreased lately?\n- Have you noticed yourself making more impulsive decisions lately?\n- Do you find yourself feeling irritable or frustrated more easily than usual?\n- Are you relying more on routines or defaults to avoid making decisions?\n- Do you have trouble saying no to requests, even when you're feeling overloaded?\n- Is it harder to complete tasks that require sustained decision-making?\n- Do you feel mentally exhausted by the end of the day, even if you haven't done anything physically strenuous?\n\nHowever, this test is just a **starting point**. Consider consulting a mental health professional if you're concerned about decision fatigue impacting your daily life and your\n\n### To write this article, we consulted:\n\n##### What doctors wish patients knew about decision fatigue | American Medical Association. \u003Chttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.ama-assn.org\u002Fdelivering-care\u002Fpublic-health\u002Fwhat-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-decision-fatigue?ref=dsebastien.net>\n\n##### What are the consequences of poor ergonomics in the workplace?. \u003Chttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.bliink.ai\u002Fknowledge\u002Fitem\u002Fview\u002Fquestion\u002Fwhat-are-the-consequences-of-poor-ergonomics-in-the-workplace\u002F>","decision-fatigue","have decision fatigue, reducing decision fatigue, decision fatigue how to overcome, decision fatigue help ","Do you suffer from decision fatigue? Maybe this article is for you. Check out the symptoms of decision fatigue, as well as a test to find out your decision fatigue state.",{"id":294,"name":295,"alternativeText":296,"caption":297,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":298,"hash":319,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":320,"url":321,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":322,"updatedAt":323},304,"Decision fatigue.webp","Hand with low level battery","Decision fatigue ",{"large":299,"small":304,"medium":309,"thumbnail":314},{"ext":58,"url":300,"hash":301,"mime":61,"name":302,"path":63,"size":303,"width":65,"height":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp","large_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7","large_Blog-1600x900-_9_ (1).webp",29.43,{"ext":58,"url":305,"hash":306,"mime":61,"name":307,"path":63,"size":308,"width":73,"height":74},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp","small_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7","small_Blog-1600x900-_9_ (1).webp",13.2,{"ext":58,"url":310,"hash":311,"mime":61,"name":312,"path":63,"size":313,"width":81,"height":82},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp","medium_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7","medium_Blog-1600x900-_9_ (1).webp",21.06,{"ext":58,"url":315,"hash":316,"mime":61,"name":317,"path":63,"size":318,"width":89,"height":90},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp","thumbnail_Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7","thumbnail_Blog-1600x900-_9_ (1).webp",5.16,"Blog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7",63.71,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp","2024-06-21T12:41:21.113Z","2024-06-21T12:41:50.179Z",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28,"createdAt":256,"updatedAt":257,"publishedAt":183},{"id":18,"name":326,"slug":327,"instagram":63,"facebook":63,"bio":328,"createdAt":329,"updatedAt":330,"publishedAt":331,"linkedIn":63,"avatar":332},"Mariana","mariana","Mariana is our amazing psychologist. She is generally shy, but she has the answers to all questions. She is calm but can be pretty sarcastic if she wants to! She is working with women who are struggling in their jobs. She also loves knitting. She helps our Working Gal Team with her valuable insights and tips for a balanced work life.","2023-11-12T05:43:27.688Z","2023-11-12T05:47:04.640Z","2023-11-12T05:47:04.619Z",{"id":333,"name":334,"alternativeText":335,"caption":335,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":336,"hash":342,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":343,"url":344,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":345,"updatedAt":346},248,"1.webp","",{"thumbnail":337},{"ext":58,"url":338,"hash":339,"mime":61,"name":340,"path":63,"size":341,"width":123,"height":123},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_1_ead45d4a4f.webp","thumbnail_1_ead45d4a4f","thumbnail_1.webp",4.51,"1_ead45d4a4f",8.67,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002F1_ead45d4a4f.webp","2023-11-12T05:43:16.157Z","2023-11-12T05:43:16.165Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_9_1_726d7570b7.webp",{"id":349,"title":350,"createdAt":351,"updatedAt":352,"publishedAt":353,"content":354,"slug":355,"coffees":14,"seo_title":350,"keywords":356,"seo_desc":357,"featuredImage":358,"category":389,"author":392,"img":416},114,"5 Tips for More Effective Meal Prep","2024-06-20T16:14:31.651Z","2024-06-21T18:39:33.128Z","2024-06-20T16:25:09.645Z","\n\nWe have all been there and done that. The morning scramble to pack lunch, the after-work temptation of unhealthy takeout, the constant battle against the **\"what's for dinner?\"** question.\n\nMeal planning and meal prep is one of the biggest challenges working people face every single day. Our fast-paced world does not leave us enough **time** to think and we usually end up ordering in and going down the unhealthy diet road.\n\nAccording to nutritionists, around **70% of balanced nutrition** is meal prep. Indeed, meal prep can be a game-changer in our struggle for more quality nutrition and help us manage what we give our bodies.\n\nIt may sound challenging and a bit overwhelming but, fear not! As long as you start planning the rest is yet to come! Get ready to save time, money, and, most importantly, your sanity!\n\nIf you are still reluctant about why we need to meal prep every week, let’s see together some of its many benefits that can only have a positive effect on both the quality of our diet and our wallet!\n\n## We save time and money\n\nWhen we plan and prepare our meals in advance, the daily decision about what to eat every single day is already been made. Therefore, having taken out one more thing of our long **To-Do list** releases valuable mental energy (decision fatigue is real and can be exhausting!) and, in addition, when we think calmly and clearly, we move away from impulsive and often unhealthy choices.\n\n## We control our portion\n\nOur brains are \"wired\" to seek pleasure, and food is an important source of pleasure, especially on stressful and pressured days. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead us to overeat without any **real control over our plate**. For this reason, when we have already prepared meals, we see a set amount of food on our plate and recognize the signs of satiety so we don't overeat.\n\n## We follow a balanced diet\n\nA [balanced diet](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002Fhow-to-balance-healthy-eating-and-work), rich in a variety of nutrients, is vital for maintaining our overall health and well-being. However, our busy lives often prevent us from getting all the essential elements our bodies need from each meal hence, incorporating foods from different groups can be a challenge.\n\nOn the other hand, when we plan our meals, we can consciously incorporate a variety of **food groups**, such as lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, colorful fruits, and nutrient-rich vegetables. This ensures a complete intake of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber throughout the week.\n\n## We reduce food waste\n\nPlanning our meals in advance helps us create an informed grocery store list and, therefore, avoid unnecessary purchases by solely buying what we need. This way, we don't fill our pantry with unhealthy choices and **perishable foods** that go bad in our fridge or cupboard. By planning our meals, we know exactly what and how much of it we'll need for each recipe, reducing the chance of throwing away food we don't eat. Bonus: we achieve our sustainable living goals!\n\n## We Eat Without Stress\n\nAfter a long day, the last thing we want to think about is, *\"What should I make for dinner tonight?\".* Preparing our meals eliminates the **decision fatigue** we mentioned above and lets us save our mental energy for relaxation and rest. Knowing that we have delicious and healthy meals waiting for us in the fridge or the freezer takes the thought and process out of spending hours cooking or, worse, ordering in.\n\n# And how can I achieve proper preparation?\n\n![blog-900x550-_7_.webp](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblog_900x550_7_8167798abe.webp)\n\nHere are 5 tips to help you make the most of this beautiful meal preparation process.\n\n## Get Paper and a Pencil\n\nSet aside a specific time each week to **plan** your meals. Do some recipe research, consider your dietary needs, and create your menu. That's what all great chefs do!\n\nImagine waking up on a Tuesday, having already meal-prepped for crockpot chicken. What more could you ask?\n\nThen, based on the meal plan you've created, make a detailed list of the ingredients you need for these recipes to avoid impulse buying and ensure you have everything you need.\n\n## Cook Onetime\n\nPick some free time during the weekend, and dedicate 2-3 hours to **cooking** what you will need for the week. Cook large quantities of protein sources (chicken breast, salmon, ground beef), grains (quinoa, brown rice, oats), or roasted vegetables (broccoli, peppers) and place them in the **fridge** or **freezer**. For example, if you have pasta bolognese on the menu, you can meal prep the ground beef and put it in the freezer; then, all you have to do is boil the pasta!\n\n## Opt for Variety\n\nDon't get stuck in a rut when preparing your meals! Do your research, try out new recipes, and experiment with new flavors every week! That way, you won't get **bored** and can look forward to something different and nutritious. Don't forget to also include special days such as birthdays or other **celebrations** in your planning days when you will have dinner with friends at home!\n\n## Smart Storage\n\nInvest in a set of high-quality, airtight **containers** or **mason jars** for refrigerator and freezer storage. Glass or plastic containers are ideal for keeping food fresh and avoiding leaks.\n\nIn order to know exactly what you have and when you made it, label the containers with the date, the name of the meal, and any **instructions** for reheating, in case someone else in the house is responsible for making dinner. This way, your fridge will be super organized, and you'll feel the **psychological high** that comes with it!\n\n## Nothing is Thrown Away\n\nLeftover food is never thrown away! With just a little research online, you can find incredibly [healthy and delicious recipes](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.workingal.com\u002Farticles\u002F5-1-mouthwatering-greek-recipes-to-incorporate-in-your-meal-prep) with the food you've been waiting for. Use what's left over to make new meals, saving you both time and money! For example, if you have leftover rotisserie chicken, you can refrigerate it and make a delicious and nutritious salad for your lunchbox the next day!\n\nMeal prep matters and it should be part of our **healthy routine**. Try the above for a month and see how much this process will benefit you!","5-tips-for-meal-prep","meal prep, meal prep ideas with ground beef, crockpot chicken meal prep, ground beef meal prep ideas, ","Meal prep is, according to nutritionists, 70% of our balanced nutrition effort. Check the 5 tips our Working Gal Team proposes for the most effective meal prep.",{"id":359,"name":360,"alternativeText":361,"caption":362,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":363,"hash":384,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":385,"url":386,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":387,"updatedAt":388},302,"Meal prep chicken.webp","Tupperware meal prep with chicken","Meal prep chicken",{"large":364,"small":369,"medium":374,"thumbnail":379},{"ext":58,"url":365,"hash":366,"mime":61,"name":367,"path":63,"size":368,"width":65,"height":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp","large_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552","large_Blog-1600x900-_8_ (1).webp",132.81,{"ext":58,"url":370,"hash":371,"mime":61,"name":372,"path":63,"size":373,"width":73,"height":74},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp","small_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552","small_Blog-1600x900-_8_ (1).webp",38.67,{"ext":58,"url":375,"hash":376,"mime":61,"name":377,"path":63,"size":378,"width":81,"height":82},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp","medium_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552","medium_Blog-1600x900-_8_ (1).webp",80,{"ext":58,"url":380,"hash":381,"mime":61,"name":382,"path":63,"size":383,"width":89,"height":90},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp","thumbnail_Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552","thumbnail_Blog-1600x900-_8_ (1).webp",10.56,"Blog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552",298.52,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp","2024-06-20T16:20:14.309Z","2024-06-20T16:20:48.190Z",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16,"createdAt":390,"updatedAt":391,"publishedAt":183},"2020-12-24T19:16:00.904Z","2025-02-19T20:04:41.159Z",{"id":393,"name":394,"slug":395,"instagram":396,"facebook":397,"bio":398,"createdAt":399,"updatedAt":400,"publishedAt":401,"linkedIn":63,"avatar":402},6,"The Working Gal Team","the-working-gal-team","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fthe_working_gal\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Ftheworkinggal","At The Working Gal, we prioritize collective strategic insight. This piece reflects the shared expertise of our editorial board and specialists, delivering a 360° analysis of modern business and executive lifestyle.","2021-02-14T21:17:05.180Z","2026-04-12T03:32:03.659Z","2021-02-14T21:17:25.177Z",{"id":403,"name":404,"alternativeText":335,"caption":335,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":405,"hash":411,"ext":201,"mime":204,"size":412,"url":413,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":414,"updatedAt":415},108,"Untitled-7.png",{"thumbnail":406},{"ext":201,"url":407,"hash":408,"mime":204,"name":409,"path":63,"size":410,"width":123,"height":123},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd.png","thumbnail_Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd","thumbnail_Untitled-7.png",12.8,"Untitled_7_b2bf764bcd",22.3,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FUntitled_7_b2bf764bcd.png","2021-02-14T21:15:43.138Z","2021-02-14T21:15:43.147Z","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_8_1_ff5ea5b552.webp",{"id":418,"title":419,"createdAt":420,"updatedAt":421,"publishedAt":422,"content":423,"slug":424,"coffees":26,"seo_title":419,"keywords":425,"seo_desc":426,"featuredImage":427,"category":458,"author":459,"img":463},113,"Why Water is the Ultimate Beauty Elixir","2024-06-20T14:16:09.543Z","2024-09-03T18:23:09.835Z","2024-06-20T14:28:31.167Z","We are all aware that water is considered by many specialists to be the top beauty elixir.\n\nNutritionists, physicians, fitness experts, and beauty coaches swear on its benefits. By drinking more water, we reap the benefits of improved hydration and the good things that come with it.\n\nMoreover, drinking more water helps our body eliminate **toxins**, move nutrients to skin cells, and keep skin soft and elastic. Plus, when you drink plenty of water, your body can do all these functions better, leading to clearer, healthier skin.\n\nHowever, sometimes thinking that you have to drink so much water during the day can be challenging and, quite impossible. Also, a lot are wondering whether water is actually that effective.\n\n# What happens to your skin when you start drinking more water?\n\nRachel Liverman, the CEO and founder of Glowbar explains that _“Skincare begins and ends with drinking water! And it can do wonders for your skin!”_\n\nGiven that our skin is made up of a significant amount of water, around 64%, when we don't drink enough, this reflects on our skin. Dehydrated skin looks dull, flaky, and loses elasticity. Proper hydration plumps up the skin cells, giving our face a more youthful and radiant appearance.\n\nStaying properly hydrated can also reduce puffiness and swelling, particularly around the eyes, by balancing fluid levels and reducing water retention. In particular, for people with **oily skin**, drinking enough water can help balance oil production, preventing the skin from becoming too oily or too dry. Also, a​dequate water intake helps maintain the skin's elasticity, which is what keeps it looking firm and youthful. Dehydration can cause wrinkles and fine lines to become more noticeable. Is there anything more to say?\n\n# How long does it take for drinking water to improve skin?\n\nAccording to Liverman, people will usually notice the beneficial results of water intake in their skin in a few weeks to a month. “This gives your body time to adjust and can improve skin moisture, elasticity, and overall appearance,” she says. “But, keep in mind that individual results can vary depending on factors like your baseline **hydration levels**, overall health, diet, and what else you are incorporating into your skincare routine.”\n\nAs for the key takeaway, nurse practitioner and aesthetic specialist Limor Weinberg adds, _“Like anything else, consistency is key to seeing results.”_\n\n# Does drinking too much water have any negative effects on the skin?\n\nAbout a gallon daily intake is a good amount of water. But can too much water actually be bad for the skin? The answer is essentially no. _“In some rare cases, drinking too much water can disrupt the electrolyte balance and cause a condition called hyponatremia, which is basically a drop in the sodium levels in your blood,”_ explains Weinberg. “Sodium is an essential electrolyte and is responsible for proper heart function and fluid balance in the body.” To avoid this, try not to drink too much water in a short time span and try to spread out the intake throughout the day.\n\n# How to drink a gallon of water a day\n\nAs we mentioned before, drinking such an amount of water daily sounds intimidating, but, in reality, it’s not as much as you might think.\n\nThe first step in increasing your water intake is to start your **morning** with a large glass of water as soon as you wake up. This will kickstart your hydration journey and get you ready for what’s to come. Also, taking into consideration the fact that our body is fully dehydrated after 8 or so hours of sleep, you can imagine what a gift this would be. From there, try drinking two glasses of water every hour.\n\n![A woman drinking a glass of water](https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblog_900x550_7_a6401c6f6b.webp)\n\nA clever trick is to use **technology** on your benefit. Set alerts on your phone or use a water tracking app to remind yourself to drink throughout the day. By nighttime, you should be well-hydrated and most definitely hit the gallon mark.\n\nAnother very effective trick is to use a gallon-sized water **bottle**. This way, you can monitor your water intake more accurately and also you will know exactly where you are throughout the day!\n\nAlso, in case you feel like you don’t want to **taste** water that much, you can always add slices of fruits like lemon, cucumber, or berries to your water for a refreshing twist.\n\nFinally, you can always **“eat your water”**: Fruits and vegetables with high water content like watermelon, cucumber, celery, and leafy greens can also contribute to your daily fluid intake, so why don’t you add some celery to your green salad?","water-is-a-beauty-elixir","water, skin, hydration, proper hydration, a gallon of water, how to drink more water, bottle of water","Did you know that water is the ultimate skin elixir? Drinking a gallon of water daily can do wonders to your skin. Read the article and learn how.",{"id":428,"name":429,"alternativeText":430,"caption":431,"width":54,"height":55,"formats":432,"hash":453,"ext":58,"mime":61,"size":454,"url":455,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":456,"updatedAt":457},299,"water beauty elixer.webp","Drops of water","Why Water is a beauty elixir",{"large":433,"small":438,"medium":443,"thumbnail":448},{"ext":58,"url":434,"hash":435,"mime":61,"name":436,"path":63,"size":437,"width":65,"height":234},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Flarge_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp","large_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b","large_Blog-1600x900-_8__1 (1).webp",68.71,{"ext":58,"url":439,"hash":440,"mime":61,"name":441,"path":63,"size":442,"width":73,"height":74},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fsmall_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp","small_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b","small_Blog-1600x900-_8__1 (1).webp",26.57,{"ext":58,"url":444,"hash":445,"mime":61,"name":446,"path":63,"size":447,"width":81,"height":82},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fmedium_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp","medium_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b","medium_Blog-1600x900-_8__1 (1).webp",46.5,{"ext":58,"url":449,"hash":450,"mime":61,"name":451,"path":63,"size":452,"width":89,"height":90},"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fthumbnail_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp","thumbnail_Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b","thumbnail_Blog-1600x900-_8__1 (1).webp",9.45,"Blog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b",130.71,"https:\u002F\u002Fworkingal.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp","2024-06-20T14:27:04.643Z","2024-06-20T14:27:34.160Z",{"id":14,"name":15,"slug":16,"createdAt":390,"updatedAt":391,"publishedAt":183},{"id":393,"name":394,"slug":395,"instagram":396,"facebook":397,"bio":398,"createdAt":399,"updatedAt":400,"publishedAt":401,"linkedIn":63,"avatar":460},{"id":403,"name":404,"alternativeText":335,"caption":335,"width":114,"height":114,"formats":461,"hash":411,"ext":201,"mime":204,"size":412,"url":413,"previewUrl":63,"provider":95,"provider_metadata":63,"createdAt":414,"updatedAt":415},{"thumbnail":462},{"ext":201,"url":407,"hash":408,"mime":204,"name":409,"path":63,"size":410,"width":123,"height":123},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.workingal.com\u002FBlog_1600x900_8_1_1_1d144fb16b.webp",{"pagination":465},{"start":466,"limit":467,"total":468},0,5,109]