Let's Chill.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. ”
October 10 is Mental Health Awareness Day. It is just as important to be mentally fit as it is to be physically fit. The needle is moving within the African-American community where we are embracing therapy, meditation, yoga - practices that help alleviate depression, stress and anxiety.
Shutting down and staying in tune with yourself is one way to manage the thoughts, doubts, fears and worry that is bound to pop up in our head from time to time.
This is one day that we want to take heed to, so here are a few of our favorite ways to relax to begin that check-in process:
Curl up with a good book. We are both bookworms. Getting lost in a good book often becomes our way to escape from the world around us and put ourselves in the shoes of others. We also are still fans of hard copies of book. Walking into a local Barnes and Noble or neighborhood bookstore brings an immediate feeling of calm. Add a cute cafe where we can enjoy a great cup of coffee and we are purely blissful.
Chasing sunsets. Shawnie is a LA native and grew up within arms reach of a beach. She shares memories of hopping in a car after work and school and rushing to the beach to catch a glimpse of the day’s last sun rays. Today, she finds herself at the beach, sitting in her car, listening to soft jazz music or her favorite podcasts playing. It’s calming, watching the waves and birds, doing a little people watching and just zoning out. This usually leads to the best nap ever.
Sweating it out. Obviously, this whole blog was birthed out of our love for fitness. Yes, working out is also a tool to relax and unwind for us too. While we love our heavy and sweaty weight lifting sessions, when needing to relax we typically choose a different route. Heading to yoga, taking a run, booking a boxing class, or clipping in for a spin class are forms that help us release some tension and clear our heads.
Solo time. While relaxing is typically about slowing down, one of CaCera’s favorite ways to relax is with a little adventure. She loves to discover the gems around her. Whether in her city, or on vacation, she likes to lace up her shoes and build a list of things to check out. Finding little gems about town and ending up off the beaten path brings about excitement and renewed creativity.
Take a load off. With all we put our bodies through, neither of us does enough to recover. Booking a massage is one way we can treat ourselves and our bodies to at least 60-minutes of relaxation both deserve. Everything stops for just a moment. Typically our phones are far away and turned off. It’s a reward for us and a way to say “thank you” to our bodies.
Girls Night In. Laughter is medicine for the soul and good friends are good for your health. Girls Night doesn’t always have to be out and about. We love to get together with a few girlfriends, throw on Netflix, order some food, and just have a good time.
What is your favorite way to relax? We want to hear from you, so leave us a comment below!
Love,
CaCera & Shawnie