By Tracy Chiles McGhee
Spring arrives with budding blooms amidst chaos and confusion. As Black women, we’re so often expected to be strong, fight-ready, and positioned on the frontlines at all times. But right now, the greatest resistance might be to lean into self-care like never before. To unplug for as long and as often as we need. To choose ourselves and our well-being.
Writer and activist Audre Lorde is a forever reminder: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Tending to our own garden is how we sustain our growth. So if you’re ready to blossom, here’s a list of gentle, grounding ways to de-stress this season and claim your peace.
- Touch Grass (Literally) Whether it’s a barefoot moment in your backyard, a solo walk in the park, or a weekend hike with your girls, make time to reconnect with nature. We have always had a sacred relationship with the earth, the sky, and water. Tap into that ancestral knowing that you are majority water and as authorToni Morrsoin reminds us, “All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.”
- Unplug to Replenish Give yourself a break from the scrolling, comparing, and debilitating noise to focus on you and to reimagine everything. Replace those negative energies and robotic activities with journaling, dancing in your kitchen to Missy Elliott or Doechi or vibing on your couch to Angie Stone or Cleo Sol. Taking time to listen to your heartbeat against silence and in stillness as you express simple gratitude is a wonder in itself.
- Breathe and Stretch Even 10 minutes of deep breathing and mindful movement can calm your nervous system, ease anxiety, and release tension. Explore Chelsea Loves Yoga and Michele Blu Yoga, which center wellness and joy in a culturally affirming flow that feels right. Benefits include better sleep, improved mood, and a deeper connection to your body and breath. No pressure to be perfect, just show up for you.
4. Curate Your Spring Reading Sanctuary Put down your phone and pick up books that pour into your soul or transport you to another time and place. Some Spring recommendations include Firstborn Girls by Bernice L. McFadden, Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray, or Happy Landby Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Find a nook and turn the page.
5. Share a Meal at Home Delicious, nourishing food is a balm. Whether it’s a brunch, potluck, or a simple dinner with your bestie, sister circle, or family, gather around the table with a focused agenda:t joy, laughter, and connection. Plan a theme to add a little razzle dazzle to the menu and make your time together an unforgettable experience.
- Tend to Your Temple This isn’t about the gym grind. Think joy movement: a dance class, a long stroll, or a 10-minute stretch to your favorite R&B slow jam. Move in ways that celebrate, not punish, your body.
- Practice Mini Moments of Mindfulness Sip your tea slowly. Watch the sunrise. Take a deep breath between tasks. Read a poem. These tiny pauses are radical in a world that constantly demands our labor and attention.
This Spring, give yourself permission to rest, reconnect, and receive. The world may still be in turmoil, but find your peace in that impenetrable space within. Now that’s revolutionary.
Tracy Chiles McGhee is a multi-genre writer and the Constituency Engagement Manager for Unerased | Black Women Speak.
