Women's History Month is a celebration of women's (often-overlooked) contributions to history, society and culture, and it has been observed every March in the United States since 1987.
The United Nations supported International Women’s Day since 1975 and when adopting its declaration of this observance, United Nations General Assembly stated the reasons for the decision as: “To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”
The world needs YOU, and me, and all women across the globe to stand together, empower one another, and support each other; because when we do that, the world altogether is a better, stronger, kinder, more equal, developed and beautiful place to live in.
On that note, here are a few practices to feel empowered on a daily basis:
Be Mindful of Your Posture.
Good posture not only prevents aches, spinal deformities (from prolonged bad posture) and reduces stress on the ligaments, but it also contributes to demeanor, self-confidence, and that beautiful feeling of empowerment as well. Try this right now, wherever you are: straighten your spine, lift your chin up, pull the shoulders back, take one deep breath in… and smile :)
Get Your Finances in Order.
This is a touchy subject for many of us, but one that carries a lot of weight financially, as well as mentally and emotionally. In order to feel more empowered, you simply must be on top of your finances. Running away from them won't make anything better. In fact (as you know) it's the opposite. No matter how they may look like, get everything organized and know what’s what. That feeling of KNOWING is within itself, highly empowering.
Say "NO" More Often.
2023 is the year of getting in the habit of saying “NO” more often, to the things and circumstances and people that don’t bring joy or "value" into your life.
While at first blush that may sound a tad “selfish”, just remember that only 20% of your day will actually produce 80% of your results, so your time is precious and it belongs to YOU. This year is the year of becoming more selective and exclusive with whom you lend your time and energy to. And talking about energy, that energy has emotional currency and spending it recklessly will only drain you mentally, physically and emotionally.
Go For a Walk (daily if possible).
Not only is this great for maintaining a healthy body weight, but walking helps prevent and manage various conditions including heart disease and blood pressure.
Oxygen is essential in maintaining healthy brain function, and it’s important to know that the brain uses about three times more oxygen for healthy neuron function than muscles do. Simply put, going outside and getting fresh air, can also improve your brain function.
Make Sleep a Priority.
I think we all know by now how vital sleep is for bodily functions, the brain, skin, etc. And 3 major tips that help us maximize the number of hours and quality of sleep are:
- Start dimming the lights in your home & electronics, 2 hours before going to bed. The lower lights will signal the brain to start producing melatonin, a hormone that helps control sleep and wake cycles, and that melatonin will be carried by the circulatory system from the brain to all the areas of the body. That’s the signal that it’s time for sleep to come. Sticking to a regimented wind-down/go-to-bed schedule, will make a world of difference.
- Turn on the red screen feature on your smartphone (since the blue light signals your brain to remain alert).
- Set a lower room temperature. Temperatures that are too hot or too cold, will interfere with your sleep and it’s generally accepted that between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 - 21 °C) is the optimal temperature to sleep in.
Learn Something New as Often As Possible.
The reason we’re promoting this, is not only because life is always better and more interesting with new experiences in play, but also because it's a critical element to keeping your brain healthy.
Learn a new language, sign up for a dance class or a creative writing workshop. Learn some painting or photography techniques. Take a cooking class, play an instrument or take up knitting. Whatever that may be, you’ll feel really empowered by adding something new to your portfolio of skills.
Additionally, the mental work of learning something new could also slow the signs of aging and even delay the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
Surround Yourself With More Empowering People.
Choose to spend more time with the people that are in large part, positive. The people who have quality character traits, those who hustle, the people who uplift you, those who choose to do more and be more.
And the same can be said about severing ties with those who aren’t able to bring those kinds of levels of energy into your life… the naysayers, the gossipers, and negativists. Your life will be better without them in it!
Get Regular Exercise.
Even a quick 10-minute dancing session in the morning, or 30 minutes yoga on the weekend will go a long way. Small amounts of exercise add up and they will make a BIG difference.
Take Care of Yourself.
Whether you’re wearing your VREA eye masks one morning this week, taking a bath, journaling or drinking more tea, the practice of self-care holds a lot of weight in the way you feel.
Our Eye Goals eye masks will be the most perfect addition to your life journey.
They're formulated to perfection, highly nourishing and hydrating, they're approximately 25% bigger than what you may be used to when it comes to eye masks, they're biodegradable and they will help protect your eye area from the harmful effects of blue light and air pollution.