Dear Sunya,

 As we continue on our journey of prioritizing our time and self-care, let's focus on nurturing our roots this February. It's Black History Month, and we create and make history every day. Just like a tree needs strong roots to grow and thrive, we need to cultivate a strong foundation of self-care to support our overall well-being.

  In my business, I center the voices and needs of mature Black women, while welcoming and affirming all allied women on this self-care journey. So here is my challenge to you for the first quarter of 2025

 Ist Quarter challenge:

- Take 10 minutes each day to practice deep breathing exercises or meditation.

- Schedule a monthly self-care day, where you do nothing but relax and recharge.

- Write down three things you're grateful for each day before bed.

Strategies for Nurturing Our Roots

1. Grounding Techniques: Practice grounding techniques like walking barefoot, hugging/ sitting beneath a tree, connecting with your ancestors, or simply paying attention to your five senses to help you stay present and centered.
2. Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would a close friend. Be gentle with yourself and avoid self-criticism.
3. Boundary Setting: Establish clear boundaries with others to protect your time and energy. Learn to say "no" without feeling guilty or apologizing.
4. Nature Therapy: Spend time in nature to help reduce stress and improve your mood. Take a walk in a park, go for a hike, ride a bike, have lunch outside, or simply sit outside and soak up some sunshine.

Financial Self-Care Tip:
- Set aside a manageable amount each month for self-care expenses, such as massages, yoga or art classes, or spa days. Consider automating this transfer to make self-care a non-negotiable part of your budget.

Resources:

Each month, I'm challenging myself to curate a newsletter of value for you and to include a list of helpful recommended resources. Here is what I suggest for February:

- "The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America" by Tamara Winfrey Harris

- "Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less" by Tiffany Dufu

- "Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good" by adrienne maree brown

Our retreat begins next week: Jumpstart Your SOULjourn II February 21-27, 2025. We have two spaces remaining:

https://sfolayan.coachesconsole.com/jumpstart-your-souljourn-copy

 Let us know if you are interested in joining our waiting list for our second retreat in September 2025.

Stay Connected:

• Stay tuned for more self-care tips, strategies, and inspiration throughout the year. Share your self-care journey with me on social media using the hashtags #JumpstartYourSouljourn  #mytimeismymoney #strategizemyselfcare
• I love fruitful and creative collaborations! Let's have a virtual coffee chat to discuss the possibilities of working together. Utilize the link below:

https://sfolayan.coachesconsole.com/calendar/virtual--networking-coffee-chat

Follow me and subscribe to my YouTube channel Mind and Manna for pertinent information for women who are interested in improving their finances so they can level up to a more intentional life that includes freedom, rest, travel and ease. Chat with me there...and leave comments. 

Take care of yourselves and let's get started on that first quarter challenge! 

<3

Sunya Folayan