Self care: Tips on how to care for yourself (young girls and women edition)

Have you ever felt like your life is on repeat?  Wake up, sign into zoom, do assignments, study, and go to bed.

Wake up, sign into zoom, do assignments, study, and go to bed. Wake up, sign into zoom, do assignments, study, and go to bed. I just want to scream ‘STOP’. With everything going on, how can I relax? Especially on a budget. In my opinion, I always believed that self-care was very important. Whether you’re a high school student, full-time or part-time college student, or even a career woman, it's good to just have time to yourself. 

​People might call it selfish but what's wrong with being selfish once in a while. Some say that self care is a necessity and not a luxury but for people who don't have time for themselves or don’t have the privilege to step away from all the work they have, it can be a luxury. So for my high school girls, here's tips on how to self care while saving money:

1. Turn off your phone for an hour and take this time to get away from the stress of peer pressure. Get away from the stress of consistently checking who liked or commented on your photos or the consistent information of what's going on right now. Research shows that when you turn off your phone or take a break from your phone it can improve sleep, enhance memory, better social interactions, increased efficiency, become more resourceful, and less stressed (I think that's what we all want the most)​

 2. Get a journal or an empty book and jot down some of your goals or dreams. Explain why you want to achieve them. If you are afraid to achieve or accomplish these goals, write down who or what is hindering you from feeling like you couldn't succeed. Or if you are secure and know that you can achieve these goals, use this journal to write down your physical flaws. On the first page of your journal, jot down what you don't love about yourself and explain in one sentence why. Also jot down what or who made you feel that way. After this get up, look at yourself in the mirror and tell your reflection that “you’re a queen” “you will accomplish your goals” “you will be successful” “No matter what people think of me, I was beautifully and wonderfully made” When you are done with speaking those beautiful affirmations, use the rest of the journal to write love letters to yourself, so when you wake up in the morning, you'll have a positive start to your day.

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3. What I liked to do after a stressful day, I would bluetooth my phone to my speakers and put on my favorite soca or afro beat music and just dance. You can do the same. Drop everything and turn on your favorite music whatever it may be and just dance. Let all the stress, anger, sadness or whatever emotion you're feeling right now wash over you.Try thinking outside the box of social media and cell phones and take a day to figure out   what interests you or what intrigues you past technology. Discover the inner you.

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Now I didn't forget about my career women who go through the hustle and bustle of work, family, school and everyday life. When do you find time for yourself? What would be the ideal relaxation for you, is it a spa treatment, a staycation, hanging with the girls and sipping wine? Or just staying home doing nothing? This all sounds good but when do you actually find time to do it? We all need to make time for ourselves. Statistics show that when you relax, it reduces symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, reduces stress, benefits with health conditions like lower heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, reduce muscle tension and chronic pain. If you are married or in a relationship, relaxation can make it easier for healthier communication, better listening, and a stronger connection between both partners. So for my career women, here's tips on how to self care on a budget:

1. Instead of going to a sip and paint, you can have your own at home. Target has a wooden easel stand for $4, Michaels has 10 pack canvas for $10 and 24 color pack acrylic paints for $10. You can buy your favorite wine or if you don't have a favorite, I recommend Josh cellars red wine. Go home, paint your heart out and sip on your delicious wine. Enjoy this moment to yourself.​

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2. While the kids are out or you live by yourself, light some candles, turn on some soothing music, fill your bath with bubbles, dim the lights and enjoy. This is the time where you can kick back in your tub and relax. Lather up away the stress of work and everyday life. Statistics show that warm or hot bubble baths are not only good for improving blood circulation and heart health, but can relieve tight muscles and soreness, better sleep, relax your mind and improve our moods, and nourish, hydrate and heal our skin.

​3. Take this time to listen to podcasts about self care, black love, mental health and just everything culture. Some of the podcasts you can enjoy (which are my personal favorites) are brown girl self-care podcast, the roommates, between sessions, black millennial marriage, dope black women, H.E.R space, carefree and black diaries,  black girls heal and balanced 

black girl. You can find these podcasts on an app called stitcher. Research shows that listening to a podcast can stimulate your brain more than television, cuts back on screen time, broadens your knowledge on unique topics from experts which helps you avoid “bias mainstream media” and helps support small businesses (I know we're all for supporting small businesses).

So take this time out to enjoy this moment alone. Use this time to find out what interests you, what intrigues you, what inspires you and just to love yourself. Don’t let nothing stop you from enjoying yourself and your space.

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Written By Brittany Thompson