Okay, Fine. Let’s Talk About the “Glow Up” Work (It’s Not Just Sheet Masks)

Heeey Collective

So, I’m a former stay home Mom/Small Business Owner. Who has found lots of time on my hands over the last few years. And like you, maybe I’ve been scrolling through perfectly curated feds, seeing all the “glow up” journeys, the transformations, the women stepping into their next chapter looking and feeling amazing. And yeah, part of me is like, “Ooh, pretty!” I love the idea of the soft life, the ease, the aesthetic of a glow up. Give me a beautiful planner, a chic outfit, maybe a new skincare routine, and I’m already feeling fancy.

But then the reality hits.

That feeling, that real change, the kind that actually sticks and makes you feel powerful and capable, doesn’t come from just buying the right things or following a checklist of superficial tweaks. Nope. The real glow up? The one that actually makes your life easier, more beautiful, and more yours? That’s the work.

And for a long time, I think I resisted the “work” part. Because honestly? Work sounds… well, like work. It sounds hard. It sounds uncomfortable. It sounds like it might mess up my carefully planned soft-life vibe. I prefer creating beautiful things, recording videos where I can connect, building courses that share what I know, and dreaming up passive income streams that flow effortlessly while I sip rosé.

But here’s the tea, spilled directly onto my vintage silk scarf: the passive income? It requires massive active effort upfront. That feeling of effortless confidence? It comes from building skills, setting boundaries, and understanding yourself at a deep level. The beautiful, functional life you dream of? It’s built brick by brick, strategically.

The “glow up” isn’t a magic spell. It’s a construction project. And you are the architect and the lead contractor.

So, what does the real “glow up work” look like, especially if you’re like me – someone who loves the softer side of life but knows deep down that real leverage requires structure?

1. It’s the Inner Excavation: This is the least glamorous part. It’s looking at why you do what you do. Why do you procrastinate? Why do you shrink back? What old stories are you telling yourself that keep you stuck? For me, it was realizing that wanting a “soft life” was sometimes a cover for avoiding uncomfortable growth or difficult conversations. This work isn’t about blaming; it’s about understanding so you can build a stronger foundation. Journaling questions here aren’t just pretty prompts; they’re demolition tools.
2. It’s Building the Engine FIRST: You love passive income? ME TOO! But passive income is the output of a well-oiled, active machine you built. That means creating the high-value content (videos, courses!), setting up the systems, understanding the market, and putting in the consistent, focused effort before it starts flowing freely. This is the strategic build phase. It’s not always “soft,” but it’s essential for the sustainable “soft” outcome.
3. It’s Strategic Self-Care, Not Just Indulgence: Yes, sheet masks and bubble baths are lovely. Keep them! But strategic self-care is about fueling the machine. It’s the sleep that enables clear thinking, the movement that keeps your energy high, the boundaries that protect your focus time, and the difficult decision to say “no” to things that drain you, even if it feels uncomfortable in the moment. This is maintenance and optimization, not just pampering.
4. It’s Facing the Resistance: You’ll hit walls. You’ll feel overwhelmed. You’ll want to retreat back into purely aesthetic pursuits or busywork that feels productive but isn’t strategic. This is where the “work” really shows up. It’s recognizing the resistance and pushing through it anyway, armed with your strategy and your “why.”

This work isn’t always Instagrammable. It’s messy. It’s sometimes lonely. But doing this inner and strategic work is the only way to build the external life you truly desire – the life where the “passive” income actually flows, where the “soft” lifestyle is earned and sustainable, and where your external “glow” is a genuine reflection of the strength and clarity you’ve built within.

So yeah, keep the pretty planners. Keep the luxurious skincare. But don’t confuse the accessories with the architecture. The real glow up? It’s in the doing of the deep, uncomfortable, strategic work. And honestly? That’s the most beautiful part of all.

Specific, Actionable Steps:

1. Define the “Engine”: Identify one specific passive income stream or project (like a course) you want to build. What are the absolute essential foundational pieces you need to create? (e.g., Outline course content, record first module videos, build basic landing page).
2. Schedule the “Uncomfortable Work”: Look at your week. Block out 3-5 dedicated, non-negotiable hours specifically for the hardest part of building that engine (e.g., outlining complex module, researching market needs, writing sales page copy). This isn’t creative flow time; it’s strategic build time.
3. Identify One Resistance Point: What is the single biggest thing you avoid doing right now that you know would move you forward strategically? (e.g., Learning a new tech skill, having a difficult conversation about boundaries, analyzing sales data).

Easier Approaches (to achieve the same initial momentum within the same timeframe):

• Instead of outlining an entire course, outline just the first lesson or module.
• Instead of researching the entire market, spend 30 minutes finding one key competitor’s strategy.
• Instead of tackling the biggest resistance, pick a slightly smaller, but still uncomfortable, task that moves you forward (e.g., Draft the email you’ve been avoiding sending, spend 15 minutes trying out the new tech skill).
• Use your love for video: Instead of doing the uncomfortable task, record a private video diary talking through why you are avoiding it. This uses your preferred medium to gain insight into the resistance point (#1 above).

Direct Challenge:

Stop admiring the glow. Start building the structure. By the end of the week, I want you to report back on those 3-5 hours of “uncomfortable work” you scheduled. What did you do? What resistance did you face? And what one specific, difficult task will you commit to tackling next week? Don’t give me excuses about needing inspiration; give me the hours completed and the next step defined. Let’s go.

~ Kartek Beauty