I know most of you clicked this link thinking "these aren't men" or "this is different." Whichever came to your mind first, it's perfectly natural. Well, this time around, I am approaching our final self-care blog with a "natural" designation. We were all born from a woman, and most if not all of us know how women are strong in times that men aren't. Whether "she" is your mother, friend, counter-part, spiritual partner, sister, wife, or girlfriend each of us have a "woman" in our lives that we call and depend upon. It is with this inspiration that I only felt it befitting to close out our self-care series with our beginning- a woman. Women fulfill many capacities and roles interchangeably with men in society. Many of the burdens that men experience,women do as well; however, it is the response to these burdens that separate us.

Self-care has many aspects that may differ or mirror as it relates to the man and the woman. In my social media queries, I used the hashtag "melanin" and ran across a page @beautifullymade_82 on Instagram. It was here that I discovered an inspirational page specifically for women of color. She offers advice relative to health, beauty, and fashion. It was her page that was affirmation of this blog post. I called on some hardworking women I knew including the creator of beautifullymade- Myisha Hayes. You can use the following link to access her page: https://www.instagram.com/beautifullymade_82/?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=3j8tvgoiqnf5

Name: Erica L. Woods

What field are you in? Medical Laboratory Science-Microbiology

How many hours a week do you work? I usually work 40+ hours a week

What is the stress level of your career?

The stress level of my career is usually mild

What does your workload include?

My workload includes working up various cultures, relaying results to nurses and physicians, critical thinking, heading up or assisting in various projects in the department, helping as needed in other areas in the department, and training new employees and students.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill?

Outside of my career, I participate in various community service projects including mentoring young girls.

How would you define self-care?

I would define self-care as taking action to maintain your overall health....physically, mentally/physiologically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. It’s taking care of yourself in all aspects of life.

How do you implement self-care in your life?

To implement self-care, sometimes I like to unplug from the world for a few hours so I can have time to myself without any interruptions. I usually use that time to read or do some meditation and reflecting. Even little things such as treating yourself to a massage or pedicure can be a form of self care. Also, I try to stray away from negative things or negative people to help with peace of mind. If I can be honest, sometimes you have take breaks from certain people and situations to help assist with self-care. In general for me, it’s all about de-stressing.

How did you recognize that you needed an outlet?

I recognized that I needed an outlet when I found myself coming home from work tired all the time. I wasn’t getting much sleep and I literally didn’t feel like doing anything. I always felt like I was stressing over everything. Once you can recognize that you need an outlet then you will be able to form healthy self care practices.

Name: Parker Forté

What field are you in? Clinical Psychology

How many hours a week do you work? I work full-time anywhere from 40-45 hours per week; however, that’s not all my weeks entail of. I am also a full-time mother and personal therapist to my friends.

What is the stress level of your career? My career is extremely stressful, I like to say I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Counseling for a living can be rough when you listen to so many negative complaints and trauma stories for eight hours out of your day. My spiritual ears can only take so much. Throw in research psychology, where I measure the effects of trial medications for psych studies and literally watch subjects enter psychosis, hallucinate and become delusional my weeks can be very overwhelming.

What does your workload include? Day to day I complete assessments where I diagnose clients/subjects, rate the severity of symptoms, and calculate statistics for big brand medicinal companies. I also provide individual counseling sessions as needed.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? Life as I know it means aiding others with unpacking their baggage, professionally and socially, and coming home to love and provide the daily necessities for my children, while leaving my issues at the door. My role of being a good mother and friend never take a backseat.

How would you define self-care? Self-care to me is putting yourself first without an apology or explanation.

How do you implement self-care in your life? For the past two years I have kept a bullet journal. It is a combination of a daily itinerary and diary. Everyday I write down three goals that I want to accomplish as well as things I am grateful for experiencing throughout the day. It can be something as simple as documenting speaking to a friend I haven’t spoken to in years or a stranger complimenting me. At the end of the year, I love to reflect on how my year went by reviewing the journal. I am also incorporating a “Eat-Pray-Love” weekend into my schedule. It is exactly what it reads. Once a month, I will choose a weekend to host a themed event where I gather my girls and we EAT with no regrets and drink the things we LOVE, laugh, and catch up, and create a PRAYER request we would like the group to pray for each other specifically in the upcoming month.

How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? When I began going gray, lol, no seriously...I started graying at 30 after a horrible relationship. I considered myself way to young to have so many gray strings. It was after that relationship I started putting myself first with no apologies!

Name: Myisha Hayes

What field are you in? Medical field- Clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy

How many hours a week do you work? 38-48 hrs.

What is the stress level of your career? Moderate

What does your workload include? Evaluating an average of 30 patients a week, developing a plan of care, performing therapy treatments, providing patient/family education, multidisciplinary communicating and discharge planning.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill? Praise team ministry at church, founder of girls mentoring program, Metropolitan Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

How would you define self-care? Making yourself a priority. Taking time out to detach from responsibilities and tune into you.

How do you implement self-care in your life? I often commute to work with no music. I close my eyes and take 5 deep breaths when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I try to have a spa day once a month.

How did you recognize that you needed an outlet? I found myself becoming very anxious often and getting stressed quicker. Also I'm an emotional eater so it was the weight gain.

Name: Shanae Austin

What field are you in? Education

How many hours a week do you work? 40-50

What is the stress level of your career? Very high stress which causes burnout early in one's career.

What does your work load include?

My workload includes classroom management of several attitudes and behaviors; daily management and updating of google classroom website; preparation of lessons; prep and set up of labs; conducting inventory and ordering of lab/lesson supplies; creating assessments and analyzing the data from previous assessments; grading assignments and assessments for over 150+ students; teaching six classes a day which is like doing six presentations or performances a day; answering multiple emails daily; attending multiple online and face to face training's throughout the year; before school/after school required tutoring; attending meetings 3-4 times a week; and attending after school events. Contrary to possible belief this is what a secondary teacher really does! Other roles within the district, but outside of the classroom include Emergency First Responder, new teacher mentor, management of the school's Independent Research Project, and management of the school's Science Department.

Outside of your career, are there any other roles that you fulfill?

Co-Founder of a girls mentoring program, and Children's Hospital volunteer. I'm a part-time student. I also work PRN at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Science Center as a Standardized Patient for the medical students.

How would you define self-care?

I would define self-care as staying in tune with yourself, and putting your needs before the needs of others.

How do you implement self-care in your life?

I implement self-care in my life by taking responsibility of my own health. Each day I continuously work on myself intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. This in not easy, but I do strive to work on my self daily. My self-care activities include the following: relaxing, working out, prioritizing my commitments, learning to say no, spending time with God, spending time with family/friends, getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and treating myself to my favorite beauty maintenance activities.

How did you recognize you needed an outlet?

By recognizing that I did not have a work-life balance. I have experienced and at times continue to experience extreme physical and mental exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed and stressed, lack of sleep, and not having time to do the things that I enjoy.