From Chaos to Calm: Simple Self Care Practices
When was the last time you felt calm? When was the last time you connected with yourself? Our phones got our attention in a chokehold, and not in a cute, consensual way. Some of us wake up, grab the phone, and scroll before we even inhale. We check the news (which is violent and chaotic AH), social media, and that one group chat that’s lit at 6 a.m. We are so busy seeking external connection and validation that we forget about the most meaningful connection we have—the one with ourselves. This connection is giving peace, it’s giving joy, it’s giving Mary J. Blige dancing in thigh-high boots. And the best part? You don’t have to go far to access it.
Let’s lay a few ground rules. Turning inward is not an escape. It’s actually a way to get back in tune with your body. Turning inward is an invitation to rebuild self-trust. But to experience this kind of connection, we have to slow down and choose to notice. Choose to look inward. Following are a couple suggestions to get you one your way.
Check the Vibes
Your body is the first place connection happens. Breath, temperature, tension—that’s your body trying to tap you on the shoulder and let you know, “something’s going on in here.” Get curious about it. Ask: What sensations are showing up right now? How’s my breath? Where am I holding tension? Can I release it, or do I need to give it a little love? Like self love- not just opting for a massage.
Spill the Tea
You talk to everybody else—friends, coworkers, that one family member always calling to borrow some money—so why not talk to you? Sit with a notebook, or if you’re modern, pull up that voice memo app and get to it. This builds self-trust because you learn: you’ll actually show up for yourself. You’ll actually pick up your own call. Like Usher sang, “You don’t have to call, it’s ok girl,” cause you’ll be talking to yourself tonight.
Chill & Be Still
I don’t remember if it was my grandma, the Bible, or Erykah Badu, but somebody said “still waters run deep,” and they were right. Stillness can become an intimate ritual, a way of hearing your intuition—that deep knowing, the same one that told you to leave that situationship alone even though they “seemed different this time.” You can practice stillness anywhere— sit in silence for a few minutes, feel free to play something chill or background noise, or take a quiet walk with no phone in hand. The key is giving yourself space to just be. Moments of stillness help regulate your nervous system and remind your body what safety feels like.
Let’s practice
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take three slow breaths.
Feel your weight sinking—like you’ve finally sat down after a long day at work.
Ask yourself: “What part of me needs tending to in this moment?”
Notice what comes up. Stay with it.
Repeat to yourself: “I give myself permission to be present with myself.”
You’re welcome. And remember—you can return to this anytime, put it on repeat. Expand it and make it your own. I’m sending so much encouragement for your connection with yourself. You deserve peace. The world may be chaotic, but peace starts with you.
