As a tradie, self care may not be high up on your priority list, but that doesn’t mean that both you and your work wouldn’t benefit from a bit of a self care routine. In fact, you definitely would benefit from it. Performing an active self care routine will help to keep your body and mind in check, especially when you have a rigorous day-to-day work routine out in the hot sun. Austates have been in the business for a while and know the toll that not taking time for yourself can have on your body and mind. Also, while your physical appearance isn’t at the forefront of your job or trade, if you’re a business owner, it’s always important to make a good first impression. That’s why we’ve put together a list of easy, tradie- friendly, self care tips to have you looking and feeling your best for your next day on the job.
Cleanser
Washing your face should be a part of everyone’s daily routine but especially for tradies. With dirt and grime flying around the air, mixing in with the sweat created by labour-intensive work, you’ll want to strip your skin of this everyday gunk. This is as simple as investing in a cleanser for your skin type and spending 2 minutes in front of the tap with a face towel in your hand. This will leave you feeling refreshed and clean before putting your head on the pillow for a hard earned rest.
Sunscreen
Simply being Australian is enough to make anyone aware of how strong the sun can really be. With one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, an active life outside can have detrimental effects if not approached correctly and carefully. Applying sunscreen should be a no brainer for anyone who completes the majority of their work outdoors. Bringing along a small supply of sunscreen to use throughout the day for multiple applications- particularly on the back of the neck, face and shoulders- will do wonders for your skin in the short term to avoid sunburn and even more in the long term to avoid a leathery complexion or worse, melanoma.
Moisturiser
As a tradie, your skin generally takes a bit of a thrashing, so taking care of it is important. There seems to be a different moisturiser for every part of the body, so we’ll break it down to what you really need:
✓ Firstly, a facial moisturiser. This will be important to apply after your cleanser. While a cleanser does rid your skin of dirt and grime, it can also strip away the skin’s natural oils that keep it from getting dry or flaky.
✓ Secondly, a body moisturiser. As mentioned previously, being out in the sun can deeply impact your skin so a body moisturiser will help to rehydrate your dry, tired skin. Try to focus your body moisturiser on areas that dry out the most like your elbows, knees and neck.
✓ Last but not least, hand moisturiser. A good hand moisturiser can help you to keep your hands in tip top condition, especially when they’re being used all day long. If you tend to form calluses or have dry, cracked knuckles, a thick hand moisturiser will help heaps.
Quality Body Wash
Let’s face it, when you work outside on your feet, you sweat a lot. You will want a body wash that will be prepared to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate all in one to get the job done. Investing in a body wash that might be a little bit more expensive but that has these properties will be well worth the extra few bucks. Make sure you’re creating a foamy lather when you do use your body wash so as to get the full benefits of the product.
At Austates, we’re in the industry of helping others grow their businesses in a range of trade niches by equipping them with the supplies and tools they need. We are here to kit you out whether you are just beginning or are looking to expand your business’ entire fleet. Contact us today to see how we can fit out your ute with a custom toolbox, a made to measure canopy, trade equipment and much more.