Celebrity Wellness Tips We’re Following This Global Wellness Day & Beyond
Saturday, June 11 is Global Wellness Day which is a day that celebrates “living well,” according to the website. The Global Wellness Day organization shared that this year’s theme is #ThinkMagenta which is said to be a reminder about positivity in a world that can sometimes be negative, especially lately. For Global Wellness Day, the organization will host a three-hour Livestream featuring keynote speakers in wellness, holistic wellness, yoga, and more.
While wellness isn’t new, a lot of people have become more conscious about taking care of their mental, physical and emotional health. From getting eight hours of sleep, going to therapy, or simply introducing one healthy food item a day, prioritizing wellness is easier than we think. There have even been a number of celebrities who have spoken about the importance of their wellness and how it has had a favorable impact on their career and life.
In honor of the holiday, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite celebrities who have shared their best wellness tips over the years.
Big Sean
Big Sean has been vocal about his mental health struggles and over the last few years, the Detroit rhymer has been focused on bettering himself and the people who follow him. During his March 2022 interview on Jay Shetty’s podcast, Sean shared how he uses meditation to help change his thinking.
“I change my meditations up frequently. I do mantra meditations sometimes and sometimes I do just guided meditations that are specifically for me. Maybe for that week, things that I, not necessarily trying to accomplish but things that I put in my consciousness,” he said. “Things that I want to approach right, but most importantly it gets me right for the day. It’s like taking a shower after you work out and you take that shower and feeling fresh. That’s what it does for my consciousness, my energy and things just flow better.”
Issa Rae
In the Women’s Health April 2019 issue, Issa Rae opened up about her fitness and admitted that she didn’t always have the mindset to take care of her body until she saw herself on TV.
"I exercise for, like, an hour each day," she said. "My neighborhood has a bunch of hills. I alternate between walking and jogging. I hate jogging – you're going in circles, but I recognize that it helps."
While she typically enjoyed listening to music on her jogs, one mishap led her to appreciate the quiet. "You know those earbuds that you put in your ears? I was running, and one fell,” she added. “It was dark outside and I couldn't find it. So I was forced to be alone with my thoughts, and I was like, 'Oh, I need to do this more often.' Those moments are the most creative."
Karamo Brown
Queer Eye star Karamo Brown opened up about how he breaks through moments of darkness in an interview with Mashable. "It's very much like...thank you for trying and doing all you could do because sometimes it's all you can do," he said. "I forgive myself for the things that maybe I thought that I should have been doing."
He added, "I think that in those moments, something that I tell people is that it's okay to say to people, 'I need you to love me a little bit louder today.'"
Laverne Cox
As a trans person and advocate for trans rights, Laverne Cox has faced adversity that began to take a toll on her mental health. The actress, who just celebrated her 50th birthday, opened up to Health about how she takes care of her mental health even with so much oppression.
“Well, one way is to unplug from the news sometimes. And I've learned that I have to lean into my joy,” she said. “One of the six skills of the Community Resiliency Model, which is a process developed through the Trauma Research Institute, is resourcing. And resourcing is just really about that thing that makes you feel good in your life. It might be a song. It might be the thought of a person. I'll think about my boyfriend cooking breakfast for me and I just light up inside.”
“We have to lean into those things that bring us joy. And the things that don't, we need to let them go to protect our mental health.”
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has multiple platforms such as her Super Soul Sunday podcast and OMagazine where she dedicates herself to bringing awareness about living better and achieving happiness and peace. In a letter to her O Magazine readers, the legendary talk show host shared how she practices self-care.
"I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal — a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk and I allow myself time to BE — capital B-E — with myself," she said.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union has had her fair share of hardships from surviving rape to struggling with fertility and so the actress knows when and when not to be strong. The actress spoke with Forbes about women standing in their power.
“Sometimes you forget that it takes strength to center yourself, that’s not being selfish that’s being strong,” she said. “Because you cannot be strong for everyone else and be of service to everyone else when you have literally left nothing for yourself. So, be strong for yourself, advocate for yourself to center yourself. Because without that, it's hard to be superwoman.”
LeBron James
NBA superstar and recent billionaire LeBron James isn’t one of the best players in the league for any reason. The Los Angeles Lakers star shared in an interview with The Tim Ferriss Show how sleep helps him be on top of his game.
“That’s the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100 percent as possible,” he said. “Now, will you wake up and feel 100 percent? There are some days you don’t. So some days you feel better than others. But the more, and more, and more time that you get those eight – if you can get nine, that’s amazing.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy