Be Well.

These yoga pants are just for show. I’m not a yoga, meditate, find your zen kinda person. Some people enjoy a spa day, some people go to therapy, and others like to throw China in an alleyway to relieve this thing called stress. This month is National Wellness Month and no matter how many times we hear the words “self-care”, I think a lot of us equate it to another task list item. Isn’t self-care the same as being a feminist? It should just be?

My self-care regiment consists of getting my nails done every three weeks and an acupuncture appointment anywhere I can fit it in. The truth is, self-care is expensive. Insurance doesn’t cover self care so we need to be creative on how we deal with the stresses of our lives while being healthy in mind and body.

Richmond has many a place to go to practice caring for oneself, from spas to yoga studios to therapists, we’ve got it covered in the self-care arena. What helps you take care of you? Here are a few tips to help you on your journey to being a healthier, better you that aren’t always conventional.

Try drinking more water. This is a hard one for me, but I downloaded an app that reminds me every hour to intake some H2O goodness.

Invest in a pet. Animals are great ways to ease anxiety and overall wellness .

Give your phone a curfew. Set your phone for a few hours before bedtime and disconnect from it. This one is hard, says the TikTok til midnight viewer.

Find at least one thing that brings you utter joy. Aren’t you tired of always doing what everyone else does or wants? Take some time and do one thing for you. Whether it’s a solo fishing trip or redecorating your office, the important thing is to do it by yourself.

Go get a physical. Yes, it will conjure up nostalgic feelings of high school sports, but practicing preventive self-care is beneficial to your health and peace of mind.

I don’t meditate well, but I do pincushion really well. Acupuncture has done wonders for my anxiety and for me, is a very relaxing way for me to zen out. Some people prefer other methods like floating or actual meditation and that is fully valid to help separate your mind from the stresses of the world.

Dance. In my opinion, the best medicine on Earth is to shake that booty. It’s good for your physically and allows you to release energy.

Stop investing so much time in being in more than one place. I am highly guilty of this. Sure, it’s important to meet with friends, colleagues, and clients, but maybe limit those days to two days a week instead of a whole week of meet ups. Try doing a weekly friend roundup with one place, one time, come if you can situation. This way everyone becomes part of the conversation and you aren’t running all over town.

See stuff. Take a day and expose yourself to something beautiful. A poem, a piece of music, a special meal, whatever it may be—enjoy it.

Take a Walk. It really is a great way to clear your head, reconnect with a family member, or listen to a podcast without interruption.

Write Something. Anything. Take a moment to jot down some thoughts. Getting them out can alleviate a lot of stress and use a pen!

Redesign a Room. Take one room in your house and dream up a mood board for it and then redecorate. You’ll create a whole different energy to breathe in!

Say No. If you are anything like me, saying “no” is one of the hardest things to muster. Sometimes we just don’t have the bandwidth and that’s ok. The world isn’t going to burn.

Find something physical you enjoy. Whether it’s shooting hoops or taking a row class, find something physical you enjoy instead of forcing yourself into a burpee hell. As long as you are moving!

Go on a solo day trip. Just you, yourself, and me. There doesn’t even need to be a destination. You can just go driving for an hour on a back road, stopping at spots you that call to you.