

My friends and family rarely call and ask what I'm up to these days.
That's because they know one of two things, either I'm in route to work or I'm just getting off of work and heading to the next gig. I'm met with gasps if they hear that I have an actual off day. There's no denying that I'm a workaholic. I work a little over 60 hours a week. This originated when I wanted to pay off all of my debt: student loans, car note, credit cards. Once I reached that goal, I didn't stop working the long hours. Why?
The truth was that I was scared to stop.
Financial stability and maturity is a good thing. It comes with the territory of adulting, but not everyone was taught how to save for a rainy day and retirement. Luckily, I was. Once I was debt free, I was scared to spend large amounts of money. Yes, I was conscious of every dollar that went out of my account, but I was reluctant to casually reward myself. Before I knew it, I was operating in terms of merely saving everything just in case something happened.
I was afraid not to hustle.
Always being on the hustle is glorified. People brag about not getting sleep. But let's be honest, not getting adequate sleep only leads to exhaustion and poor health. There's a thing called balance and many of us lack it. Even more, how do we balance a healthy ratio to hustling and making the most of our time to enjoy life?
For me, I had to get to the root of the problem. As a single woman, all bills are solely on me. There is no splitting the rent, cable bill, utilities, etc. The talks of social security being scarcely available when it's time for me to retire frightened me. A backup plan was mandatory. It was my goal to not have to live paycheck to paycheck if I didn't have to. And the recent government shutdown only increased that anxiety. But my proactive thinking slowly snowballed into reactive thinking. Would any number in my bank account be enough for me to feel comfortable?
Slowly but Surely, I've Learned the Following:
1. Make a financial plan. Pay attention to what you make, what you spend, and what you plan to save for the future. Creating an excel sheet of your expenses can help with this. Learn to live below your means not at nor above them.
2. Make healthy career choices. Most of us have taken jobs that we wouldn't have considered to be our dream job, but we had to pay the bills. It probably didn't pay nearly what we are worth, hence hustling doing several jobs to make up for it. When looking for employment, look for something fulfilling as well as something that can financially sustain you. Don't be afraid to negotiate salary when you know what you can offer.
3. Don't compare your hustle. There will always be someone that has more than you. You can let it be an inspiration for you to work harder at your financial goal, but stay in your own lane. Just because they sell bundles doesn't mean you need to as well.
4. Be realistic. Yes, you will want to go on vacation or enjoy time with friends, family, and your significant other. It's important to save, but put money aside for leisure activities.
5. Educate yourself. There are ways to make money in your sleep. Educate yourself on stocks and investments. Seek out financial planning books and workshops at your local library or online.
As I continue to hustle, I am learning to balance my time more effectively. Valuing myself and my well-being comes before the hustle now.
There are days and even weeks to hustle hard, but at some point you must enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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How To Move From Ambitious To Audacious In 2019 – Read More
Is Hustle Culture Toxic? – Read More
I Spent An Hour On My Side Hustle Every Day For A Month – Read More
Relationship Goals Or Financial Goals? That Is The Question – Read More
CB Nicole is a millennial whose passion to live a God-led life has inspired her to use her life lessons and messes to inspire others. Each unpredictable day makes for a new unpredictable journey that she's ready to conquer.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Synthetic Braiding Hair & Chemicals: What To Know & What To Do Next
When I was younger, one of my favorite hairstyles was cornrows. I would get them long (as long as mom would allow me to get) with beads on the end. To get the length I wanted, I would add synthetic braiding hair.
Just like many other Black women I know, going to the hair store with my mom or other family members to grab a pack of kanekalon braiding hair was the norm. As I grew up and advanced, so did the hair industry.
Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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Feature image by AzmanL/ Getty Images