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We know that self-care routines are an integral part of maintaining our mental health. We know that pouring into ourselves brings fulfillment and meaning into our lives. But how often do we introduce new activities into our self-care repertoire? I’ll be the first to admit that my go-to self-care activities were starting to feel a little stale at the beginning of the year and weren’t making much of an impact in my life.

Thankfully, Oludara Adeeyo’s latest book, Mind, Body, & Soul: A Self-Care Coloring Book for Black Women, came on my radar at the perfect time.

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There’s nothing quite like opening a good book and getting transported to another place, period, or frame of thought. In the blink of an eye, you are a part of a character’s life, an author’s world. Another great aspect about reading books is that not only does it serve as a source of entertainment and education, it also boosts your brain and emotional health. Research shows that “regular reading can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.”

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While I write this article, my son is across the room—on a lovely Saturday afternoon—watching an episode of his favorite show. Soon, my husband will scoop him up, and the both of them will spend time together outside. But for now, his eyes are focused on a television screen while mine track words across a computer screen. Like clockwork, questions gnaw at me as I try to focus. Is he getting too much screen time while I work? Am I still a “good mom” if I’m hardly paying attention to him? Sure, we’ll spend the rest of the day together as a family, but what if I miss something important while he’s out with his dad? Why do I feel bad for taking time for myself in the first place?

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xoNecole's I Read It So You Don't Have To is a recurring series of self-discovery that breaks down self-help books into a toolkit of takeaways and tips that are meant to assist you in finding the best life you can live. Take what works for you, and leave everything else where it is.

At the beginning of the year, I knew I wanted to: 1) Prioritize myself and my dreams like never before and 2) Strive for authenticity in every aspect of my life. What I didn’t know was that in a few months, roadblocks would materialize, and old wounds would resurface. What started as well-meaning declarations slowly morphed into misguided attempts to chase after my dreams and show up for myself in the process. I felt overwhelmed by the unrealistic expectations I placed on myself and burnt out over balancing my responsibilities.

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It’s safe to say the self-care movement isn’t going anywhere anytime soon– and with good reason! Self-care has been clinically proven to reduce burnout, anxiety, and depression, and improve concentration, happiness, and much more. Mothers and caretakers alike are tapping into wellness practices that enrich the mind and rejuvenate the body. And they’re paying a pretty penny for it too.

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Before giving birth to my child two-and-a-half years ago, I was one of those women who thought I’d have the basics of child-rearing down. After all, I was in the fourth grade when my brother was born and spent much of my adolescence helping my parents take care of him. My experience with children increased even more when I became an aunt eight times over. I regarded motherhood as something I didn’t have total knowledge of but suspected I wouldn’t be too far off the mark when the time came for me to have a child of my own. Little did I know that there was no amount of practice that could prepare me for what was ahead.

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