The Art Of Reframing Self-Care As Micro Self-Care
In the past several months, self-care has been painted as a luxurious act that is often earned but in reality, it must be everyone's norm. You should not and do not need to earn self-care because every day should entail the care of self. Unfortunately, that is not always the case for many women due to scheduling conflicts, work, friendships/relationships, family, and additional obligations.
Part of the reason many women have had such a difficult time making time for self-care is because it is often illustrated as being a grand type of practice such as traveling, going to the spa, shopping, going out to eat and more. While all of those things are indeed self-care practices, it is essential that people keep in mind that due to the state of our world, we may not have access to all of those options or may not feel comfortable partaking in them.
With that being said, it is essential that we reframe our thinking of self-care as micro self-care.
Micro self-care takes on the approach of self-care as being feasible despite one's schedule or personal obligations. Below are some practical and feasible micro-self care practices that every woman can practice today.
Walk
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A nice 20-minute walk while listening to your favorite tunes can turn your day around. Working out is not confined to the gym or with a trainer. You can go on a brisk walk and burn some calories if you cannot make it to the gym.
Breathing exercises
Breathing techniques can refocus you if you are having a stressful day. I suggest breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Focus on your breathing and clear your mind. Doing this for just five minutes a day can bring relief throughout the day.
Coloring
Coloring is not just for kids. It is for adults too! Some of the benefits of adult coloring is:
- Stress and anxiety decreases
- Mindfulness occurs since are focusing on the present
- You begin to think positively
Cleaning/Decluttering
Spring cleaning is not just a yearly act, it can be daily, weekly, or monthly. There is something about decluttering your space and getting rid of the things that no longer brings you joy or comfort as prophetic. Cleaning your space can create space and peace in your environment and at the time that we are in, who would not want to experience that.
Do Absolutely Nothing & Actually Rest
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For the busy woman who is usually juggling multiple projects, attending various events and meetings, this may be a bit challenging to do and that is the act of doing absolutely nothing.
When your weekly schedule is often filled with fulfilling tasks or your to-do list, doing nothing teaches your body and mind to rest. Very often people believe that if they work despite feeling exhausted that they are "ahead of the rest". However, the reality is that even though you are indeed checking off your to-do list, you are not doing quality work.
Remember, you can only do your best after experiencing a place of rest.
As you can see, some of the ways to practice micro self-care does not take much effort and it is actually practical. I challenge you to not limit yourself with the suggestions provided and explore new micro self-care practices. Now, more than ever, is the time that we shift the narrative around self-care no longer being a luxury but a part of one's daily routine.
For more inspiration, self-care, and healing tips, check out xoNecole's Wellness section here.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Originally pubished on April 21, 2021
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Joy is a 2x Author, Empowerment Speaker, and Strategy Coach. Her platform, Speak With Joy, mission is, "To empower and equip Women and Young Adults to speak with JOY despite life's circumstances in the area of FAITH, PURPOSE, and RELATIONSHIPS".
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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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images