4 Smart And Doable Lifestyle Habits Of Successful Women You Can Emulate Today
Discipline. Routine. Habits. Sometimes, those can seem like curse words, especially in an unpredictable world where any - and everything can happen, and life is often life-ing. But, as the very true cliche goes: Where there's a will, there's a way, and many successful women prove that good lifestyle habits are the foundation to at least alleviating stress, getting a head start on overcoming challenges, and adding a bit of order to the day.
Check out a few of the lifestyle habits of successful women living out their dreams and be inspired by what might be helpful in your day-to-day life:
1. They are lifetime learners who read, read, and read some more.
For Serena Williams, the Bibleis her jam; for a transformative boost, The Alchemist does it for Issa Rae, and Regina Hall has sworn by Freedom In Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lamai. It's clear that no matter what industry or career you choose, reading is more than fundamental: It's a must for inspiration, motivation, and reflection.
And so many successful women are either leaders of expansive book clubs (hello, Oprah Winfrey, Tanya Sam, and Gloria Edim!), and Bookstagram communities filled with amazing, educated, savvy women professionals and entrepreneurs are no longer just a trend. They are the norm.
No matter what career you choose, reading is more than fundamental, it's a must for motivation.
2. They find passive ways to grow their wealth.
While a love of money is the root of evil, financial freedom is a must, and successful women don't play about those finances. For some, following a budget or facing debt can seem like a real headache and really not something we want to spend our Friday nights doing, but the full picture of success includes one's financial security. That being said, think about any woman you admire (or who has the receipts of a successful life), and name one who doesn't have her hands in more than one cookie jar of income.
I'll wait. Yep, all of them.
Even the most successful doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur, homemaker, or creative is doing more than one thing to get to the bigger bag, with a good number of them earning passive income.
Some find success via investments (i.e., retirement and/or brokerage accounts, angel investment efforts, real estate, or tax-free savings accounts). If they're not investing, they have side hustles that practically make them money in their sleep or with minimal effort on their part (i.e., through book, course or content publishing, music royalties, voice-only YouTube channels, artwork investments or resales, buying and selling websites---the list goes on and on).
This is not to say you need to be a member of TeamToo-Much--- pushing yourself to the limit toward busted, booked, and busy chasing quantity and not quality. If you can find ways to stretch the value of your time and money, be strategic, match those efforts with your actual passions and skills, and do what works for you.
3. They network across and up, and surround themselves with amazing folk.
Issa Rae took the idea of "networking across" mainstream. If you watch the growth of many of your favorite leaders in their respective fields, you'll notice that there are groups of besties, business partners, and friends who lift one another up as they all climb. From Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny Harris" winning in business, TV production, and music together, to Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah serving as respective powerhouses in Hollywood, to Sherri Shepherd and Niecy Nash holding each other down both personally and professionally, one thing successful women definitely have in common is a good network of friends, associates, and supporters.
Check out the Instagram or TikTok of any successful woman you admire, and you'll probably see some of the same faces at the baby shower, book launch, business opening, conference, or other major event in the photos or videos. They work together on projects, cheer each other on, show up for one another, and are down even in challenging times. They value strong relationships that are balanced, inspiring, and healthy, and they're always thinking about ways to work together for the advancement of their respective groups and those they serve.
Lifting each other up while journeying through success is a common thread shared among successful women.
4. They make mental and physical wellness a No. 1 priority no matter what.
It can seem like we're drilling this into the ground, but prioritizing health and wellness isn't something to take lightly, especially when you're in a glow-up phase or transitioning to ascend to another level in your life and career. You have to be at your best, mentally and physically, to sustain all that comes with being a boss, leading companies, building a business, or giving your best to your job.
Exercise (or some sort of intentional and consistent fitness activity), at least 20 minutes per day, is a common habit among successful CEOs and leaders. Meditation and prayer are also key common activities among successful women who often face quite a few stress triggers throughout their day.
Therapy is also big on the list of habits that boost success, as the practice allows for trauma healing, reflection, emotional release, and simple stress relief.
If you're not into traditional exercise (i.e., pumping up in the gym or running on somebody's treadmill), you can explore other creative ways to incorporate fitness, such as a dance class, walking instead of driving to certain places, taking on Pilates, going for a bike ride, or twisting up in some aerial silks. No matter what size, shape, or lifestyle, adding fitness and wellness habits to your day is a no-brainer when it comes to success.
No matter what walk of life or stage you're in, at least one of these habits could take you that much closer to the life of your dreams. Take a nod from women who have shown that we can continue to be our ancestor's wildest dreams, one step at a time.
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 alex starnes on Unsplash
- 10 Things That Truly Confident People Do ›
- These Are The Things Self-Aware People Do Daily ›
- Life-Changing Habits To Start Your Week Off Right ›
- 10 Habits Of Successful Creatives ›
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."