What is Self Care, Really?
By: Ally Clinard
What does it really, truly mean to practice self care? This is a question I have battled with for so many years. Funnily enough, even after spending hundreds of dollars on the best skin care and stacks of self help books, I found myself still feeling really unfulfilled. Maybe this whole self care thing just wasn’t for me, or maybe it’s all just a myth. If you are anything like me, quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a true struggle for more reasons than just trying to exist during a global crisis. With the boom of social media influencers and the way that the industry has grown, I found myself comparing what my everyday life looked like versus what strangers online said their self care routine was. I would mindlessly scroll through video after video of girl’s sharing their fitness routines, yoga flows, favorite books for mindfulness, crystals that they hold for spiritual energy, or meditations that they follow religiously to achieve so-called mindfulness. These influencers always looked so put together, so on top of things, and so ahead of me with this whole not-just-existing-but-actually-living vibe. They really seemed to LOVE themselves by doing a 20-step skincare routine and 2 hour workout at the most expensive cult workout studios. Yeah, that’s great and all to share your pilates secrets or the proper way apply, but what they don’t tell you is how do you even start this self care journey?
As cynical as I sound, my underlying message is that self-care has become a monetized industry that is marketed to be only achievable through financial success. I would know, as I fell for this for years before really figuring out what self care actually is. Just a few months ago, I was listening to a podcast when I heard the most revolutionary message. It was an interview with a mental health professional who shared that “the greatest myth out there about self care is that you need money to attain it. Truth is, the best self care is free and it's more attainable than you think, you might already be practicing it.” These words stuck in my head and truly changed my outlook on life, and as exaggerated as that sounds, the core of life is the love and relationship you have with yourself.
Self care begins with practicing the affirmations you tell yourself. The amount you love yourself is not reliant on if you completed your skincare routine or not, it’s reliant on the words and actions you show yourself. Starting your day by telling yourself the words you need to hear, even if you don’t believe them yet, is the basis of taking care of your mind. From there, self care is following through with everyday actions that make you feel good and in touch with yourself. Personally, I realized my everyday self care actions were journaling in the morning and night, walking daily, listening to podcasts, and going on drives. These daily activities helped me learn about myself, feel more in touch with myself, and most importantly fall in love with being alone. Over time, I became my favorite company and practicing self care became a daily routine that made me feel as though I was at peace with whatever my day would throw at me. All of this is to say that committing to yourself is the first step in self care routines. There is no perfect routine, and even if it seems like your favorite Instagram influencer has it all figured out, you don’t need to swipe up on paid sponsorships to achieve a falsified reality that is only offered through money. In fact, a great first step is to come to the realization that comparison really is the thief of joy in life, and your life is yours for a reason. I truly feel like that mindset shift from comparison to individualism has saved my soul.
The theme of this all is that self care has become an industry, when in reality it is an individual practice. You don’t need to spend hundreds on a gym membership or Kardashian-level skincare, but rather invest in yourself and commitment to your own growth. A common misconception in life is the idea of reaching a finish line to finally be happy. In reality, you never will stop growing. It isn’t about perfection and achieving a perfect overall peace, it is about progress and growth.
Olivia Omega Coverage
By: Elise Werner
The Boulder chapter of The Women’s Network was joined by Olivia Omega to talk about building your own brand. Olivia Omega is a CU alum and was in the Leeds School of Business where she studied marketing. Omega’s senior internship, at an agency here in Boulder, led to the first ten years of her career. Those ten years had a profound impact on Omega, she took what she learned at the agency and applied it to helping other people build their own brand.
Whole heartedly Omega believes that everything has to start with strategy. She considered the agency to be where she was born and raised, and that included an early emphasis on strategy for Omega.
The first step in building a brand is creating the brand strategy. A brand strategy essentially answers a few questions but mainly focuses on answering the question of what the brand stands for. Omega explains the importance of brand strategies when it comes to two very popular shoe brands, Converse and Vans.
Due to the saturation in the shoe industry, to compete and succeed brands must position themselves in a strategic way that sets them apart. When it comes to Converse and Vans, they each have their own brand identities. Vans is known for being the original skater shoe and to have originated in Southern California. Converse, also known as Chuck Taylors to some, were East Coast based. Converse has deep roots in basketball.
And so the first brand that Omega positioned was Lay’s potato chips. The strategy behind the Lay’s campaign was to position Lay’s as wholesome. The idea here is that Lay’s are made of potatoes and potatoes come from the ground. In comparison to other snack brands that may use more unnatural ingredients. To position potato chips as wholesome required Omega to utilize emotional benefits. Emotional benefits position the brand to make consumers feel a connection with the brand.
Just like Lay’s potato chips, each person has their own brand. The beauty in this world is that each one of us is unique and diverse. Enter another one of Omega’s passions, diversity and inclusion. Omega believes that just like a brand being built for a client, each person has the opportunity to position themselves in a way that makes them stand out. Omega says that in doing this, as women, it is important how you talk about yourself. Talk about what makes you you, but don’t talk about yourself as though you are competing against other women. Omega acknowledges that it is often difficult for women to brag about themselves. After all Omega reminded us that no one on this planet can be you, we all have different DNA.
The first step that Omega recommended to building a personal brand was to understand your heart. By heart she means what is at your core as a person, what you value, and the feelings that impact the decisions you make. Omega encouraged us to ask ourselves “what are the five things that I know for sure?” and to be consistent in communicating that. All of these factors contribute to the overarching personality of a brand.
Once you have an understanding of what is at your core you can move forward into marketing the way that your brain works. Omega helps people come up with strategies and the proper messaging to get a certain result. Once a strategy is put in place then, she can explain the next steps that an individual or brand should take.
As always there was time for questions from members and when asked about her thoughts on the term “entrepreneur”, Omega felt although being an entrepreneur gives individuals the freedom to piece together what they want to do. She emphasized that the term needs to be understood as a more broad definition. Entrepreneurship has evolved so much that in 2021 it cannot be defined as easily as in the past.
Candidly, when the concept of imposter syndrome came up in a question, Omega told us that everyone is just trying to figure it out too. She explained that things change so often, such as technology and social media, it can be difficult to keep up with. But maintaining the idea that the ability to flex and do multiple things is not only important but so normal. Then people pivot again and find out what they like as they go through life. At the end of the day, Omega believes that consistency is so important when it comes to building your own personal brand.
Go Local For Earth Day!
By : Madeleine Ross
In Celebration of Earth Day, it’s a great idea to get involved in some eco-friendly activities. And where better than to start right in Boulder? Check out the list below to find what green initiative is right for you.
If you have somewhat of a green thumb, The Boulder Pollinator Garden Project is right up your alley. This project aims to support pollinator populations in the area, which are incredibly important for plant and ecosystem health. Best of all, you can support yourself from your own backyard. They have plenty of tips on how to adjust your garden for pollinator success, such as providing nesting sites for bees, as well as planting annual flowers and native plants. Participating in this project will keep you busy as a bee!
If your passions lie closer to the kitchen, Boulder Food Rescue is a great place to pitch in. This organization collects foods that are close to expiration or overstocked and redistributes them to recipient sites. The volunteers of this program can choose to deliver goods via bike trailer, helping reduce CO2 emissions as well as food waste. Helping out with Boulder Food Rescue is a great way to get your peddle on while delivering nutritious food to those who need it most.
If you want to pursue your arts and crafts-related dreams in a sustainable way, Art Parts is the perfect place to start. Art Parts is a non-profit art reuse center that focuses on zero- waste. For discounted prices, you can find practically any art supply you need, while helping out the earth; Now that paints a pretty picture! They also have plenty of volunteer opportunities, from in-shop assistance, to collecting old bike parts.
No matter how you spend your Earth Day, we hope it’s a happy one, and you don’t forget to give a tree a good hug!
“How the Societal Norm of Women in the House Affects Women in the Workplace Today”
By : Ciera Starkweather
It is no secret that throughout history women have had a long and difficult struggle with being able to receive the same rights and treatment as men. While we as a society have made immense advances in this area, in the era of the Me Too Movement, the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and the media exposure of the glass ceiling, there is still much to be done. One of these areas in which more progress needs to be made is the issue of women's treatment in the workplace. While a lot of people might claim that everyone is treated equally at work, it is simply not true. Ignorance and denial of the differences are no excuse for the continued practices and treatment of working women.
Not only are women 21 percent less likely to get a promotion, also 119 countries in the world have never had a female leader or head of state. Many people would like to claim that this is due to women needing to take more time off for family, or not being able to work as hard as their male counterparts, but this theory has been largely disproved. Maybe in previous generations, these theories could be considered to account for some of the gaps, but with today's upcoming force of empowered and ambitious women, coupled with the growing statistics of upcoming generations either not planning to have children at all or having them later in life, the theories no longer hold much weight.
It is a simple societal belief that explains much of the misogyny inherent in the workplace. It is often not that everyone involved is themselves a misogynist, but rather that they were raised in a society that is. Constantly being inundated with examples of how women should be, how they should act, dress, speak and behave all set an unfair standard for ambitious women in the workplace. Women are simply not expected to raise their voices, as then they are seen as too emotional while a man would be passionate. They are unable to be too authoritative as that would make them “ bitchy” or “bossy” while a man would be applauded for his drive and managerial skills. Society, and especially the workplace expect women to be just palatable enough for them where they don't offend their idea of what a woman should be as formed by their experiences in the world. Women are held to an impossible standard and are left un-promoted, underpaid, and under appreciated due to invisible barriers created by society, and enforced by bosses that confine them to the classic ideals of what a woman is supposed to be. It is no wonder that men are so often advantaged in the workplace, they have a lot less to work to do at work than their female coworkers.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Fitness Culture
By: Madeleine Ross
As social media has become an integral part of many of our lives, its content is more often than not tailored to our interests. I consume a lot of content related to fitness, as I enjoy having an active lifestyle. I’ve gotten some great advice from the fitness accounts I follow, whether it’s a technique correction or a new workout routine. Even so, there is an undeniable dark side to this fitness culture. While we have important conversations about social media’s impact on body image, understanding the impact of ‘fitness influencers’ or communities is crucial.
While social media has intensified, the pressure to appear a certain way is certainly not the root of the cause. From the brightly clad jazzercise instructors of the ’80s to the Kardashian prototype of today, the “ideal” fit body has had a strong presence in the public eye throughout the past few decades. While these bodies we see all over our social media feeds or on magazine covers may seem like the peak of health, the truth is that there is no one healthy body type. Behind the tiny waist and perfect abs of your favorite influencer are years of training, regimented eating, and genetic luck. Comparing ourselves to someone whose job is to look “in shape” is incredibly mentally taxing. Not only this, but many influencers or coaches who sell their own brand of workouts, special diets, or appetite suppressants, are dishonest in their promotions. Oftentimes, they’ve achieved their bodies through cosmetic surgeries, or simply photoshopped their images to uphold a standard.
A growing concern for fitness culture on social media is the vast audience it is reaching. While TikTok was originally designed to be an app for children, Tiktok videos related to fitness often promote unhealthy behaviors. Trends on TikTok such as “What I eat in a day” videos, in which users post videos of all of their meals, may have started innocently enough. However, over time this trend has become filled with users posting dangerously low-calorie diets under the guise of “clean eating”. This sort of content tends to reach young, female audiences which is troubling, as they are especially vulnerable in terms of developing disordered eating habits.
Our societal focus on bodily perfection has melded fitness into an image, rather than a focus on health and mental wellbeing. Distancing our workouts from physical aspirations and focusing instead on loving our bodies for what they do, may be the best, most sustainable choice.
In case you missed the virtual Spring Networking Trip
By: Elise Werner
On April 2nd, The Women’s Network held an amazing spring networking trip. We were graciously joined by our first three panelists from NBC News Meet the Press to start off the day. Allison Sandza, Emily Gold, and Justice Gilpin-Green are all producers for NBC News Meet the Press. After we got to talk to Mollie West Duffy, head of Organizational Development at Rally Communications. Lastly, we finished the day with Bailey Gannett, Communications Manager at Stoplight, and Jenn Junod, who is currently the Sales Enablement Manager at Stoplight.
There are not enough words to describe how insightful each and every panelist was. Similar to members of The Women’s Network, our panelists came from a diversity of industries and backgrounds. One of the commonalities between all of the panelists was their experiences as women in their industries. Whether it is in a classroom or a corporate meeting, it is evident that women still may not feel fully confident in sharing their ideas. Now more than ever, it is important to support other women so that women can feel just as comfortable as their male counterparts. Our panelists from NBC Meet the Press specifically touched on how the majority of their team is made up of women. All of our panelists were more than happy to answer any questions and gave some really great advice. It is an incredible opportunity to connect with industry professionals and get to hear how they got to their current role.
It is also extremely important, especially as women, to remember that we are all human. In recent years, it has become increasingly easier to look at someone’s life as an outsider and make assumptions without any proper knowledge of the situation. Thus, conversations to unglorify hustle culture have become more important. To combat hustle culture, it is vital to remember that we are all human. Our panelists were authentic and honest which made for thought-provoking discussions and allowed us to relate. To be able to connect in this way was truly such a special experience, regardless of where we are at in our lives and careers.
A Modern Woman CEOs Guide to Mental Health
By: Ally Clinard
In the modern day workforce, ‘the grind’ is an applauded concept where the more you work, the more praise you earn. This is an absurd idea that has now become normalized within our society. We are conditioned to identify with our careers, despite how there is an entire other life outside of the workforce. Even more so, mental health does not function well on a level where there is only time for work and sleep. As we evolve within society, it is imperative that we prioritize mental health at the same level as one's physical health.
As numbers of women CEOs rise, it is important to discuss the relationship between being a CEO and also struggling with mental health. It must be normalized that women can excel in professional leadership roles while simultaneously working on their relationship with their mind.
There are four main energy wells that coincide with business and mental health: the body, emotions, mind, and spirit. Theoretically, each energy wellspring must be replenished as it diminishes in order for a professional job to be done well. Sam Abrahart, CEO of the clothing and lifestyle brand The Mayfair Group, recognizes these energy wells in a way that benefits her and her team. She spoke on the podcast, MOOD, about how being a CEO diminishes the help she has received when her mental health is lacking and how she experienced less patience regarding this with her title. As Abrahart poured herself into her brand, her mental health started to tank. With being a CEO, she recalls feeling guilty about taking time to focus on her mind, yet when she didn’t take care of herself she wasn’t able to perform at a level that her company needed her to.
Eventually, Abrahart was pushed over the edge and was left picking up the pieces of a broken mind. Through this, she was able to come out on the other side and build her business and position even better. She focused a large piece of her leadership on making sure her employees' energy wells were filled and their mental health restored. Beyond her company’s internal environment, Abrahart has made it her mission to normalize mental health struggles and be incredibly outspoken when it comes to women CEOs needing to take care of themselves.
Women belong in positions of power and the rising rate of women CEOs will only grow, but with this the need for normalizing mental health struggles within the business world will grow as well. As we work towards forming a society that recognizes you can be powerful and struggling at the same time, a positive change surrounding ‘the grind’ will occur. Truth is, ‘the grind’ applies to how well one takes care of themselves so they can perform at a skillful leadership level. Yes, you can be a woman CEO and yes, you can still struggle with your mental health.
“The New Era of Social Media and Sex Workers”
By: Ciera Starkweather
In today’s era of social media, it seems that sex work has not only become less stigmatized but also widely accepted as a legitimate career. Only Fans, sugar baby websites, Instagram influencers, and high-class escorts are a new class of working women that deserve just as much respect as anyone in a traditional profession. While not all of the professions I named necessarily involve sex work, many revolve around selling one’s image, and mainly that image of a desirable woman. Only Fans in particular has gained traction on Instagram and other social networks as a place for women to build a fanbase who will pay for images of them, dressed or undressed.
Recently an infamous celebrity faced society's wrath and backlash when she started selling exorbitantly priced images on her Only Fans account. Leaving the sex work community baffled and upset since their main source of income became drastically undercut by her site. Instead of being villainized for their gender in their work, these women have turned the concept on its head by instead becoming celebrated and paid for things that in earlier eras could get you fired or disregarded.
In a world where being a woman can make life in the workplace incredibly difficult, many of these professionals have taken unorthodox approaches to circumvent the issue. The de-stigmatization of sex workers in today’s culture allows individuals to become their own bosses, and market their sexuality in a positive manner. For some of these women, the work is just to make money for another endeavor, like graduate school or paying off debts, but for others, it's their entire career and livelihood.
Adapting a Growth Mindset With Lauren Harris
By : Elise Werner
On February 4th, in the last chapter meeting, The Women’s Network was excited to host Lauren Harris to discuss growth mindset. Harris is currently the training and development director for the University of Colorado Boulder.
Harris explained the importance of understanding what a “fixed mindset” is. Every single one of us has some type of fixed mindset. It is simply a product of the way our brains are designed and the way we have been raised. To better understand the significance of this, Harris shared a Ted Talk that put everything into perspective. Harris told members to try to notice a repeating theme in the video.
Failure.
The way an individual approaches failure speaks volumes about their mindset. People who possess a fixed mindset tend to focus on being judged and have a negative reaction when they are forced to exert effort. When encountering setbacks or an instance of failure, people with a fixed mindset may lose interest or even withdraw completely.
Then, there are those who find a way when presented with a setback. Rather than a fixed mindset, they have a growth mindset. A growth mindset allows individuals to focus on the process rather than the result. It is easy to only focus on other people’s successes but we are not privy to all of the failures they endured throughout the process. The good news is that we have the ability to change our mindsets. Mindsets are not on/off switches rather they are dimmer switches.
Harris then demonstrated that changing our mindset to a growth mindset required a few steps, all of which included being brutally honest with oneself. ANTS, automatic negative thoughts, are vital to adapting a growth mindset. Of course, we are our own worst critics. The person that we tend to treat the worst is ourselves and no one judges us more than ourselves.
The goal is recognizing these thoughts and owning them. Rather than telling yourself, you can’t do it, tell yourself you can’t do it yet and you are going to keep trying. By switching the inner monologue you are also changing your mindset. Harris points out that it is in this moment that you are beginning to exhibit a growth mindset. In the face of failure and setbacks, you keep going because you know that this is a part of growth.
To better understand our own mindsets, Harris presented the Mindset Continuum. This tool includes the following eight categories; world view, challenges, encountering difficulty and obstacles, effort, feedback and criticism, success of others, making mistakes, offered help and support. In each category there is a description of how each mindset would act. By seeing which mindset you fall into, you are able to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
When adapting a growth mindset it is essential to be open to the uncertainties of life. Harris shared that she was a theatre major and that it is okay to question the future. Especially amid the pandemic, there is so much uncertainty in every aspect of life. Harris’s best advice is to stay open to the future because an opportunity could arise that you never envisioned for yourself but happens to be a perfect fit. As Nelson Mandela said, “I never lose. I either live or learn”.
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner Within Black History Month
By: Jayden Goodman
Monday, February 1st was the first day of Black History Month. It runs all the way through the month of February and ends on March 1st. Before President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, it started as “Negro History Week” which started in 1926 by an African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher, Carter G. Woodson. Black History month is February as it goes along with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. A number of people are celebrated and recognized throughout this month, one that has caught my eye is Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner.
Kenner comes from a family of inventors. She was born on May 17, 1912 and passed on January 13, 2006. Kenner wasn’t a kind of girl that invented one thing and was satisfied. In her lifetime, she received five patents through the years 1956 and 1987. Her patents were: a carrier attachment for an invalid walker (1959), a bathroom tissue holder (1982), and a back washer mounted on a shower wall and bathtub (1987). Most of these inventions were in her 40s, but she started when she was nearly six and tried to invent a self-oiling door hinge.
Even though it looks like Kenner had it well off and was very successful, she had a lot of obstacles to overcome. She attended Howard University but unfortunately had to drop out after a year and a half for financial reasons. Giving up wasn’t an option, so she took any jobs she could get. Inventing on the side, she got her first patent in 1957 for her most famous invention, the sanitary belt. This was exciting, yet she couldn’t afford the patent. The Sonn-Nap-Pack Company heard of her invention in 1957 and contacted her trying to market her invention, however when they discovered that she was Black, they declined.
Kenner wasn’t rewarded or given formal recognition for her work, but her intentions helped pave the way for more inventions and Black women inventors. Kenner still holds the record for the greatest number of patents awarded to a Black woman by the U.S. government. We have gotten so far, but not far enough. Each day outside Black History month should also be a day for learning for and advocating for change.
I believe that it is important to focus on Black women during this month. We know a lot about male inventors and don’t know the names of the female inventors. Now you could look at Kizzmekia Corbett PhD. who worked directly to create and produce the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. We need to start saying the names of women of all races and get their names heard. We the people have the power to change history as were still learning about the past. Black History month is about educating and understanding.