For model and activist Adwoa Aboah, self-care goes beyond just a list of products. “I think definitely as a Black woman, my relationship with wellness and self-care feels very sacred…there’s this idea of self-worth and self-respect that goes into taking care of yourself, however that may look like,” she says. It’s also something that’s at the top of her to-do list. “When I carve out time for myself, it’s not even [just] a priority, it’s a necessity. I have to look after myself because I recognize all the hard work it’s taken for me to get up in the morning and feel good about myself,” she adds. “I just really, really respect myself and I know what I need to do in order to keep that. For me, it’s knowing myself better than I ever have.” Below, Aboah shares the wellness rituals and habits she incorporates into her daily life to remain centered.
A Consistent Morning Routine
Aboah’s morning routine is necessary for clearing her headspace and physical space. “My morning ritual consists of me snoozing my alarm…making the bed…going to the gym, getting coffee…I like to set up my space for the day…[and] getting everything together.
“Fragrance [is a part] of my morning routine where I’m doing something that I know will make me feel a little bit better. Some [people] might feel like it’s quite trivial, but sometimes it is the outfit that we put on in the morning or the scent we spray on ourselves that make us feel better.”
Binge Watching a Television Series
One of Aboah’s best ways to relax? Catching up on a TV show. “Everybody tries to act like they don’t watch television,” she says. “I like journaling as well but let’s all be honest, we all love binge watching a good box set.”
For Aboah, reading more books instead of constantly scrolling through social media is something that clears her mind. “There’s a lot of books I think people should read but Girl, Woman, Other is an all-time favorite.” Some of her other favorites include Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
Prioritizing Herself
“I don’t think I probably made [myself] enough of a priority before. And so whether it’s taking a trip by myself or saying no to a job or staying in on an evening and watching TV or going out dancing with friends or going for dinner with my mom and dad, speaking to my sister on the phone, these are all different ways and all different things I do in order to make myself feel like my best self.”
Journaling is extremely therapeutic for Adwoa; it’s a place where she can completely be herself, say what’s on her mind, and process her thoughts, emotions, and feelings in a judgement-free space.