Black women have been sharing their “soft life” routines across social media, encouraging each other to drop the superhero capes they often wear and lead a less stressful life.
This “soft life” era has become a sort of movement that could be life-saving!
According to the CDC, Black women’s life expectancy is three years shorter than white women, and stress could be a significant factor. Chronic stress is ongoing and, over time, has detrimental effects and could lead to heart disease, anxiety, or depression.
Our women deserve to live long, happy lives!
While preventing ALL stress is impossible, there are ways to manage strenuous times better. Meditation, prayer, regular exercise, social media breaks, setting boundaries, adequate rest, and eating well can help manage stress.
Poet Audre Lorde famously said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” And that’s what living a “soft life” is all about!
We can’t let white supremacy and its many branches stress and ultimately kill us. Self-preservation is crucial. When we properly take care of ourselves, we can care for each other.
Black women don’t have to play superheroes for everyone. They’re allowed to live a calm life where rest and wellness are prioritized. When we take care of ourselves, we’re helping better our entire communities too!