Self-care!

That seems to be a huge buzzword these days, especially in the age of Covid-19. But what does that word mean, and what does self-care look like? Many interpret self-care as simply taking care of their physical well-being, being active and healthy, and following daily grooming traditions such as showering, applying makeup, or perhaps styling one’s hair. Yet, self-care is deeper than catering to one’s physical needs and wants. It’s making sure that both mind and body are aligned. Self-care is taking the time to do something you enjoy, diving into your hobbies and interests.

In 2016, I launched The Mod Little Melanin– a fashion blog I developed as a creative outlet while in my first semester of graduate school. At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed with adjusting to the course load of my graduate program. During my undergraduate years, I was well known for my sense of fashion and often was asked to style my friends for events they were attending – so launching the blog was a no-brainer. My fashion blog served as the perfect outlet to do something that I loved while pursuing a career in the medical field.

At the time, my blog was just a fun little hobby. I would set up my tripod, snap photos of my outfits, and post them on my website and Instagram account. Six years ago, I never imagined that my little hobby would one day turn into a part-time career. I never would’ve guessed that I would have the opportunity to follow my dream of becoming a podiatrist, all while maintaining a career in the fashion industry. As a fashion content creator, I have worked with numerous brands such as CoverGirl, Milk Makeup, Affirm, and Shein, creating content with their products to showcase my love of fashion and beauty. I’ve been recognized as Fashion Bomb Daily’s Bombshell of the Week – a well-known fashion publication - for my sense of style, invited to New York Fashion Week as a model and blogger, and am a signed fashion model. And it all started because I needed a creative outlet to turn to when I was feeling overwhelmed with school.

So, what is self-care? Self-care is making time for yourself, your life, and what you love. It recognizes that your passion doesn’t have to lie in medicine solely but can still include hobbies and creative outlets you are passionate about. It means not losing yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed. In a demanding career such as medicine, it is crucial to remain true to your core values, passions, and needs. That means that self-care will look different for everyone. Maybe self-care is taking time to get back to golfing on the weekends, going on runs to train for a marathon, or getting back to dancing. Whatever you enjoy, make time for it! That is how you keep up with your self-care!

You can follow Chelsea Nicole Walker on her journey on social media on the following platforms:

www.Instagram/themodlittlemelanin

www.Facebook.com/Chelsea Nicole Walker

www.TikTok.com/themodlittlemelanin