Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul

by Oludara Adeeyo

Overview

Prioritize your wellbeing with these 150 self-care exercises designed specifically to help Black women revitalize their outlook on life, improve their mental health, eliminate stress, and self-advocate.

Between micro- and macro-aggressions at school, at work, and everywhere in between, it’s tough to prioritize physical and mental wellness as a Black woman, especially with a constant news cycle highlighting Black trauma. Now, with The Self-Care for Black Women you’ll find more than 150 exercises that will help you radically choose to put yourself first. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up in the middle of the day, you’re working through feelings of burnout, or you need to process a microaggression, this book has everything you need to feel more at peace.

You’ll find prompts like:
-Map out your feelings about a microaggression
-Make a list of your safe spaces
-Detail out an entire day dedicated to your self-care
-And more!

It’s time to put yourself first and prioritize your self-care once and for all—and this book is here to help you do just that.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781507217313
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	01/11/2022
Series:	Self Care for Black Women
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	31,159
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Oludara Adeeyo is a mental health therapist and author of Self-Care for Black Women and Affirmations for Black Women: A Journal. She is passionate about helping people, especially Black women, improve their overall wellness. Before becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Oludara worked as a writer and editor. She has been an associate web editor at Cosmopolitan and the managing editor at XXL. Oludara lives in Los Angeles, California.

Table of Contents

Introduction 10

Why Black Women Must Practice Self-Care 12

Part 1 Mind 21

Take a Deep Breath 22

Release Feelings of Guilt Around Self-Love 24

Write in a Journal 25

Ignore Your Phone in the Morning 26

Challenge Your Negative Self-Talk 27

Stop Pursuing Perfectionism 28

Vent to a Friend Who Validates You 29

Do a Grounding Exercise 30

Mourn Your Losses 31

Heal Your Inner Child 32

Embrace Being Black and Sensitive 34

Stop Policing Your Speech 35

Set Boundaries with Yourself 36

Process Racism Encounters with a Safe Person 37

Create Boundaries at Work 38

Watch Others Protest on Social Media 40

Read Something for Fun 41

Check In with Your Thoughts 42

Resist Being the Token Black Girl 43

Find a Black Woman Therapist 44

Create a Vision Board 46

Cut Off Emotionally Immature People 47

Take a Break from Your Healing 48

Let Go of Impostor Syndrome 49

Accept That Multiple Truths Can Coexist 50

Do Nothing for Twenty Minutes 51

Mind Your Business 52

Embrace Your Bad Days 53

Stop Educating People on Racism 54

Say No 55

Take a Break from Social Media 56

Activate Your Anger 57

Validate Yourself after Experiencing Misogynoir 58

Start Your Day with Silence 59

Identify Coping Skills 60

Follow Self-Help Instagram Accounts 61

Watch a '90s Black TV Show 62

Stop Making Yourself Smaller 63

Practice Accepting Compliments 64

Ignore Race-Related News 65

Have a Really Good Cry 66

Limit Interactions with Well-Meaning White People 67

Write Out Affirmations 68

Don't Become Someone's Emotional Dumping Ground 69

Use Guided Meditations 70

Listen to a Podcast 71

Stop Watching Black Trauma Entertainment 72

Simplify Your Goals 73

Focus On the Present Workday 74

Rewatch Your Favorite Movie or TV Show 75

Part 2 Body 77

Participate in a Protest 78

Find a Black Doctor 79

Tap Deeper Into Your Femininity 80

Oil Your Scalp 81

Create Art 82

Stretch Before Bed 83

Go on a Long Walk 84

Cook Your Favorite Meal 85

Take a Bubble Bath 86

Wear Your Natural Hair 87

Reclaim Ownership over Your Body 88

Find an Enjoyable Exercise 90

Take a Nap 91

Advocate for Your Health 92

Customize Your Supplement Plan 93

Drink More Water 94

Spend Time in the Sun 95

Eat More Plants 96

Set an Alarm for Bed 98

Pay Attention to Your Periods 99

Wear Sunscreen 100

Order Takeout 101

Make-Your Bed 102

Buy New Clothes 103

Consume Less Sugar 104

Plan Your Vacation Days 105

Clean Your Home 106

Listen to Your Body 107

Create a Nighttime Skincare Routine 108

Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase 109

Practice Yoga 110

Resist Burnout 112

Go to the Hair Salon 113

Go Swimming 114

Get a Massage 115

Floss Your Teeth 116

Check Your Breasts 117

Stand Up at Your Desk 118

Simplify Wash Day 119

Use a Humidifier 120

Buy Cute Pajamas 121

Communicate Your Needs 122

Get Your Hair Braided 123

Lotion Your Whole Body 124

Try Fasting 125

Treat Yourself to a Manicure and Pedicure 126

Plan a Self-Care Day 127

Adjust Your Caffeine Consumption 128

Hug Someone 129

Part 3 Soul 131

Learn Your Family's History 132

Create a Morning Playlist 133

Listen to Your Intuition 134

Relax with Aromatherapy 136

Visit Your Ancestors' Land 137

Schedule a Friend Date 138

Stop Being a "Ride or Die" 139

Find a Mentor in Your Industry 140

Date Yourself 142

Plan a Girls Trip 143

Buy an Indoor Plant 144

Release Limiting Friendships 145

Change Your Environment 146

Visit the Beach 147

Develop an Abundance Mindset 148

Watch Something Funny 149

Create a Financial Plan 150

Travel Solo 151

Support Black-Owned Businesses 152

Build a Healthy Sisterhood 153

Reconnect to Your Higher Power 154

Make a Gratitude Jar 156

Celebrate the Black Women in Your Life 157

Show Yourself Compassion 158

Stop Dating People Who Fetishize Black Women 159

Leave an Unfulfilling Job 160

Join a Book Club 161

Find Your Joy 162

Write Down Your Ambitions 163

Connect with Black Women Online 164

Heal Your Mother Wound 165

Find a Fun Hobby 166

Explore Black Art 167

Write a Letter to Yourself 168

Phone a Friend 169

Ask for Help 170

Go Volunteer 171

Learn a New Language 172

Read a Spiritual Book 173

Practice Radical Honesty with Yourself 174

Practice Being Nonjudgmental 175

Become a Mentor 176

Check In with Your Spirit 177

Learn to Forgive Yourself 178

Let Go of Your Personal Timeline 179

Correct Your Name's Mispronunciation 180

Choose to Let Love In 181

Stop Ranting on Social Media 182

Sing Your Favorite Song 183

Light a Scented Candle 184

Play with a Puppy 185

Acknowledgments 186

Index 189

Editorial Reviews

The perfect guide to reaffirming self-care and self-love as a daily practice!”

—Off the Shelf

"This is a great introduction to self-care and mental health practices."

—Boston Globe

“Beautifully written.”

—Hilary’s New York Lifestyle Blog

"A practical guide with actionable tips on how to practice self-care for the mind, body, and soul."

—Afropunk

From the Publisher