Oprah Says She Didn’t Leave Her Home For 322 Days During The Pandemic
When it comes to Oprah Winfrey’s health, the OWN network creator doesn’t play any games. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many people were scared to leave their homes in fear that they may catch the contagious virus, but as time went on, more people started to leave their homes and commune with others. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as political officials recommended wearing masks and/or taking the vaccine as a safety measure.
However, there were others like Oprah who found that the best safety practice was to not leave their homes, no matter how long it takes. The multi-media mogul made the revelation to TheLos Angeles Times. "I didn't leave home for 322 days — literally did not leave the house," she said. While her friends such as Gayle King teased her about it, she surprisingly got adjusted to not being around other people.
"I remember one point [Gayle King] said, 'Don't you just miss being around other people?' I go, 'Eh, not really.' And I think it's because every day, I was in an audience of 350 people twice a day, so I've had shaking hands and autographs and selfies, and lots of attention, and exposure to being around a lot of people," she said.
“Overall, I was able to adjust because I have the ability [and] really strong sense of being in this present moment and living this moment without having to worry about the next. You can do that when you don’t have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from. I didn’t have to worry about, 'Am I going to have rent? Am I going to be able to get food? Am I going to be able to keep the lights on and am I going to be able to take care of my children?'”
She added, “And I make no apologies for it. Because I worked to earn it. Nobody gave it to me, I didn’t have a father that took over the business or a husband who left me money, or uncles who helped me. I feel completely responsible for having created the life that I have and also equally grateful and blessed for it. But I understand that it is a very blessed and privileged life that gives you access to healthcare, access to whatever you need, in a way that many people do not.”
Currently, the TV icon is promoting her new project called The Color of Care, which is a documentary that is focused on families of color’s experiences dealing with racial disparities in the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will feature interviews with family members who lost loved ones during the pandemic due to a lack of access to health care.
Oprah is the executive producer of the film and it premieres Sunday on The Smithsonian Channel.
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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.
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Are You Waking Up At 3:30 A.M. Every Night? There's A Scientific Reason For That.
If there’s one thing that I strive to do, whenever it comes to whatever content I put out into the universe, it’s to offer at least one thing within the pieces that provide a bit of an ah-ha moment. Today? What does it really mean if you find yourself waking up between 3 and 4 a.m. either every night or all of a sudden for several nights in a row?
If you’re someone who had a church-goin’ grandma, you might’ve heard that midnight and then again at 3 a.m. is when the devil is his busiest (also known as “the witching hour”). And if you just connected the dots on why she would say that there is nothing open past midnight but legs (LOL) well…there ya go. Then there arethe more logical explanations (some of which I will expound on in a moment) including that you may have eaten too late, you drank too much (which requires you to get up and go to the bathroom), you’re subconsciously stressed out, your room is too hot (or cold) and/oryou’re looking at your phone screen too much (the lighting of it can wreck your sleep patterns).
Okay, but what if you’re in your late 30s-early 40s and it seems like, out of nowhere, you’re waking up at 3:30 a.m., damn near on the dot? Is that just a random thing or is there really something to it? Chile, you might be surprised by what I discovered. Read on and I’ll explain.
Waking Up at the Same Damn Time Every Night? Here’s the Deal.
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Oh,perimenopause. It’s a fact of life that no woman can really escape and, to be honest, if you’re in your late 30s, it’s something that you should learn as much about as you possibly can. I say that because, according to many health experts, that time of life (when you’re transitioning into menopause) can lastanywhere from 4-10 years (although for some women, it’s only a few months while for others, it can go past a decade). During perimenopause, you may experience everything from hot flashes and incontinence to mood swings and infertility challenges (in part, due to irregular menstrual cycles) —and that’s just for starters.
Another very telling sign that you are either in perimenopause or very close to the day that officially marks menopause (because technically, menopause is the day that you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period; after that, you’re in post-menopause)? Sleep problems. I mean, the kind that has you wondering if you’re either an official insomniac or you’re low-key losing your mind. And guess what? For many women, the wake-up call for if they are indeed perimenopausal is 3:29 a.m. Pretty wild, right?
Apparently, there was a survey that was released in honor ofWorld Menopause Day (yes, there is a day; it's in the fall) that said an overwhelming amount of women wake up at that time of the night. Although studies are being conducted to see what the backstory on all of that is about, what is clear is the roller coaster ride of hormones (especially estrogen and progesterone) messes with your circadian rhythm and that can make it challenging to fall asleep and/or stay asleep.
Do you have to just grin and bear it? No. Well, not totally. If it’s been a few months of waking up around this time and some other of the symptoms that I mentioned are happening too, you might want to make an appointment with your healthcare provider, just so they can confirm that it’s perimenopause as opposed to something else (like say,a thyroid issue). Another thing that you can do is check out online services that specialize in menopause; they will assess you virtually and provide recommendations and sometimes even prescriptions (some of those includePlushCare,Versalie, andLet’s Get Checked).
In the meantime, there are a few things that you can do from the comfort and convenience of your home that may provide some semi-immediate relief. I’ve got eight of ‘em right here for you to try.
1. Get on a Sleep Schedule
If there are two things that folks don’t schedule enough (and probably should) it’s sex and sleep (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Sex? We’ll have to get into that at another time. Sleep? Listen, all that scheduling means is you’re prioritizing something, and when youschedule sleep that can help you to cultivate a routine that will help you to rest more soundly throughout the night. If you’ve never had a sleep schedule before, all you need to do is purpose in your mind to turn in at the same time every evening.
Actually,there are a few more things that you should add to this: don’t take naps through the day (that can definitely mess with your sleep patterns), do some sort of exercising in the morning or afternoon (that will make it easier to sleep at night) and incorporate a lot of these other tips, so that you’re able to cultivate an atmosphere of rest and relaxation before actually falling asleep.
2. Add a Magnesium, Calcium and Zinc Supplement to Your Diet
Something that my mother hipped me to, shoot, decades ago at this point, is taking magnesium, calcium, and zincas an all-in-one supplement. Not only do they work together to naturally relax your nervous system, but they’re also known to improve your sleep quality as well. It’s also a “fun fact” to know that when you’re going through perimenopause, you’re going to lose some calcium, so this supplement can help you stay on top of that in the process.
3. Don't Eat Late
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I’m definitely preaching to the choir when it comes to this particular point because it’s rare that I will look at the clock when it comes to snacking on something. If you can relate,there’s a study that indicates that eating something, even one hour before turning in, significantly increases your chances of waking up in the middle of the night. And since it can be hella challenging to go back to sleep once you are up, the more proactive that you can be at preventing this from happening, the better…right?
4. Sip on Some Golden Milk or Ashwagandha Tea
Before getting into this tip, it needs to go on record that whether it’s water or something else, if you don’t want to be making potty runs throughout the night, you should stop drinking abouttwo hours before bedtime.That being said, two drinks that can help you out on the rest and relaxation tip are golden milk and ashwagandha tea.
Golden milk is good for you because milk contains tryptophan (a natural sleep agent) and turmeric (which is also in golden milk) can actually help to treat sleep deprivation and anxiety. As far as ashwagandha tea goes, it helps to reduce stress and has compounds in it that actually help to induce sleep.
Nowas far as golden milk goes, I am a fan. I will give a heads up, though, that if your periods are topsy-turvy,turmeric is also a blood thinner; so, if heavy cycles are what you’re also going through, you might want to consume golden milk in great amounts of moderation.
5. Make Your Bedroom Cold and Dark
Hot flashes can be as simple as feeling the need to kick your sheets off in the middle of the night or as complex as soaking through your bedding via your sweat. One way to lower the chances of either of these things happening is to take the temperature in your bedroom down a few notches;preferably between 60-67 degrees.
Something else that you should do is keep your room as dark as possible by investing in some blackout curtains, putting on a sleep mask (especially if you share your bed with someone), turning off all electronic devices, and turning your alarm clock away from you.
Why? Becausesome studies indicate that setting your alarm can cause you to look at it off and on throughout the night in anticipation of waking up which can also hinder you from getting all of the rest that your mind and body need.
6. Calm Your Senses
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Calm is such a calming word. It means to be still and to get into a state of tranquility. Some of the synonyms for calm include quiet, serene, mild, smooth, soothing, peaceful, and restful. If your hormones are anything but all of this, you’ve got to be serious about doing things that will help to calm them — and you — down.
Read a couple of chapters of a non-stress-filled book. Play some nature sounds. Do some meditation. Get into some deep breathing. Read up on what is known as NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest).
Contrary to popular belief, if you crash into bed, that’s not the sign of being a healthy sleeper; it actually should take you between 15-20 minutes to lull yourself. Making the time to do things that will calm you can get your mind, body, and spirit to a place where you can fall into a deep state of sleep so much easier.
7. Put Some Marjoram Oil on Your Bedding
If you’re someone who likes to cook a lot, you might be familiar with marjoram as an herb that’s pretty popular when it comes to Mediterranean dishes. On the health benefits tip, it’s good for digestive issues and it’s loaded with antioxidants. However, if you apply it to your life as an essential oil, it actually has a sweet musky scent that can help to (get this) regulate your hormones and, quite possibly, your menstrual cycle too!
If you want to test it out, my two cents would be to apply some of this essential oil to your pillows and sheets; and see if it helps you sleep a bit more soundly over the next couple of weeks.
8. Use Your Bedroom for Sex and Sleep ONLY
It really can’t be said enough (by me and interior decorators) that your bedroom is not supposed to be a mini-office, entertainment center, or jungle gym for your kids. Your bedroom should be for sex and sleep ONLY (with very few exceptions).
And honestly, since orgasms help toproduce some of the hormones that actually help you to decrease your stress levels as well as help you to sleep better — if you do happen to wake up at 3:30 a.m. and you’ve got a fine specimen in your bed beside you…maybe that’s a sign to get some sex to rock you back to sleep! Can’t think of a better way to end this article, come to think of it. #wink
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