Self-care doesn’t always have to involve candles, face masks, or spending money on something I probably don’t need. Sometimes, it’s simply going to bed early or taking a noon nap because my body has clearly submitted a formal complaint. Sleep is underrated, and I’d probably win gold if sleeping were an Olympic sport. Some days, the most productive thing I can do is stop, stretch, and go to sleep.

I value having some time entirely to myself. No phone. No laptop. No messages. No social media. In fact, staying away from social media and the news has become part of my self-care routine. Sometimes I also need to distance myself from people who see the world differently than I do. No hard feelings. Just me, somewhere quiet, doing absolutely nothing. I might go for a walk, sit outside, journal, stare into space, or let my mind drift. We live in a world where every free moment can be filled with noise, so I’ve started to appreciate the luxury of being unreachable.

Also, I drink a lot of water these days. I mean, summer never played fair, and between Nigerian, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque heat, I honestly don’t know which one I want to stay away from most. At this point, water is basically part of my personality.

I’m out, good night. 😴💤💤