While you may not be able to have as many in person gatherings at this time, you should not forget about the other ways to be social.  Continue to call and text your family, friends, coworkers, and other significant people.  Consider using Google Hangout, Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, GroupMe and other tools to communicate and even video chat.  This is likely an ideal time to reach out to that person who you’ve been having trouble making time for or that person who you haven’t caught up with in so long.

Bonus Tip:  Schedule time for socializing just like you would any other work-related or important meeting.  You may find that other tasks or priorities can easily fill up your time, so make socializing from afar a top priority by scheduling it into your day and week.  

Whenever life changes rapidly, i.e. during a global pandemic, you may notice that you lose track of your schedules and routines.  Developing and maintaining routine is healthy because it helps to ward off uncertainty, anxiety, boredom, or even depressive moods.  Schedules and routines keep us engaged in the moment, and helps us to anticipate what is needed and how to prioritize tasks.  

Therefore, I highly recommend that you determine what your new schedule and routine will look like.  It's possible that this will be different than what you’re used to because you may now be working from home or spending much less time outside of work or home.  Therefore, take the time you need to ensure that your new schedule and routine is reasonable, realistic, and adaptable to future changes that may come. 

Bonus Tip:  When you figure out the schedule and routine that will work for you, make it visual and tangible!  The schedule and routine you create will be much more effective if you write it down, print it out, post it, or put it up somewhere.  Make sure that your schedule is visible for you to see so that you are more likely to stay on track. 

You may have wondered if it's okay to talk to yourself.  I want to let you know that it is absolutely okay to talk to yourself and it's something I recommend.  Healthy self-talk is necessary during moments of crisis or challenging situations because your thoughts will likely feel more negative, fearful, or tense during those times.  

One thing you must know is that healthy self-talk takes practice and something you should work on every single day.  It's normal for this practice to feel awkward or forced at first, but the more you practice, the better and more natural it will feel.  

Additionally, I want you to understand that positive self-talk is not always healthy self-talk.  Therefore, as you practice self-talk, remember that it does not always need to be overly positive (which can sometimes feel invalidating).  The goal is to practice healthy self-talk, self-talk that will support your mental and emotional well-being without invalidating your current reality or feelings.  

Bonus Tip:  If you are having trouble knowing what counts as healthy self-talk, try the following:  

Remind yourself of what is going well in your life.
Remind yourself that current challenges will not last forever.
Ask yourself to recall a happy memory.
Tell yourself you are doing a good job.
Think of someone who inspires you.
Remind yourself of something you are proud of. 

​For many Black women, motherhood means learning how to navigate and balance both our passion for being mothers along with our passions for our work and careers.  With Black women continuing to be the most educated group in the United States and so many of us being caretakers for children, it's no wonder that we may struggle to find resources and spaces that meet our unique needs.

Being a mother has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I love spending time with my son.  Watching him grow and learn has been amazing! Being a psychologist is the other most rewarding part of my life and it’s hard to imagine who I’d be without being able to help others.  Being a working mother has allowed me to have so much compassion and empathy for the unique struggles of other mothers who passionately work and care for their children.  We need support, guidance, validation, and the occasional “I see you sis!” 

Here are a few strong Black women who are dedicated to creating space for Black working mothers. 

​Jasmine Chanelle is a mama who is passionate about inspiring millennial moms to have it all.  “I teach female entrepreneurs how to craft meaningful brand stories to attract their dream clients. I help my clients find their authentic voice and develop strategic tactics to share their brand across digital platforms.”

Jasmine is incredible at highlighting “what it takes to be a boss in the boardroom and at home.”  She is popular on Instagram, YouTube, and has recently launched the Mom2Mogul course for working mothers who are ready to devote to their online businesses full-time. 

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​We see you, sis!