I won’t lie, if staying healthy was purely about hitting the gym, I would give up on life and myself. But thankfully and luckily for me, it is not. Leading a healthy life, for me, is a mix of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. And if I’m being honest, sometimes, it’s also about indulging in guilty pleasures that bring me joy (even if my bank account might profusely disagree).
I’ve realized that staying healthy is a choice I have to make daily. Especially getting older as a woman. Hmm. Nobody is coming to force me to take care of myself, and life isn’t slowing down for me to catch up. So, every day, I do little things intentionally to keep my body and mind in check.
First off, hydration is non-negotiable. I used to be that person who only drank water when my lips felt like the Sahara, but I'm a changed person now, lol. Now, I carry a water bottle like my life depends on it because, well, it does.
I also intentionally limit my screen time at night. No matter how tempting it is to scroll mindlessly, I remind myself that sleep is more important than TikTok rabbit holes.
After a long, draining day, my number one way to reset is silence. No loud music, no talking, like please don't talk to me. I just want to stare into the abyss like my good ol' friend, the grinch. I also love warm showers, scented candles, and soft body wash. Simple, but effective. It calms my soul.
Now, let's talk guilty pleasures. If money can’t buy happiness, then explain why I feel absolute joy when I buy perfumes. I will literally justify any fragrance purchase even when my account balance threatens to have nothing to do with me anymore. "Oh, I need a fresh, clean scent for casual days." "I need something sensual for date nights." "This one just smells like success." Before I know it, I’ve spent an unreasonable amount of money on scents that only my pillow and I will fully appreciate.
At th end of the day, after using one week to hate on my account balance, I conclude with, "if I perish, I perish. I'm gonna order shawarma"
lol.