We are officially in a polar vortex ladies and gentleman. Do you know what that means? It's perfectly okay for you to cancel your plans and curl up on the couch for an hour or five, because… It's cold damn it.
If you're caught up on all your faves and now you're looking for some new titles to add to your watch list, look no further. xoNecole has you covered. Here's everything that's new and black on Netflix this March:
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind - March 1
If you're getting ready to watch The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind make sure you have a box of tissues handy because this one is sure to be a tear-jerker. Following other great Netflix originals based in the Diaspora that have released this year like Lion Heart and Black Earth Rising, the film reflects the true story of how one young boy saved his entire village from famine.
Juanita - March 8
Alfre Woodard is giving us the How Stella Got Her Groove Back reboot we didn't know we needed. Juanita is a mother and grandmother who wants more out of her life and goes on a cross-country road trip to find it. On her journey she finds love, passion, and ultimately, herself. This comedy featuring Alfre in a steamy scene with Blair Underwood seems like the perfect way to end the week, and luckily, it drops this Friday.
Shadow - March 8
I had to watch the trailer a few times to truly understand the storyline, but that's probably just because the lead character is fine AF and I kept getting distracted by his muscles. After an ex-cop from Johannesburg suffers a loss, he discovers he can no longer feel pain and seeks justice and revenge. I'm normally not into action series, but I might peep this one because a man with an accent really gets me going. And his muscles.
Turn Up Charlie - March 15
Speaking of men with accents, Idris Elba's new Netflix comedy series featuring him as a DJ (and part-time nanny) might just be your new favorite TV show. As a now seemingly washed up entertainment professional, Charlie thinks he has one last shot at success when he gets a call from his famous best friend about a potential job offer. Unfortunately, it wasn't for his dope DJ skills, but to be the manny of his 11-year-old problem child. *Cue drama*
How To Get Away With Murder (Season 5) - March 30
Where is Laurel's Mom? Who's going to die next? Who is it that snatches Viola Davis' lacefront and how can I book an appointment?! Damn it Shonda! You never cease to keep us on the edge of our seats, and this season of HTGAWM is no exception! Over the years, we've fallen in love with the characters, and you can binge watch the next chapter of their mystery at the end of this month!
The Burial Of Kojo - March 31
The Burial of Kojo was acquired by Ava DuVernay's independent film studio ARRAY following the film's award-winning premiere at the Urban World Film Festival. When a Ghanaian man's brother traps him in a mine shaft and leaves him for dead, it's up to his little girl to save her father. Directed by Ghana-born, Brooklyn-based filmmaker, Samuel "Blitz" Bazawule, The Burial of Kojo tells a story of life, death, and brotherhood through the eyes of a gifted little girl.
Queer Eye (Season 3) - March 15
The Fab Five is BACK and even more fabulous than before (as if that were even possible). By the looks of the trailer, this season will be filled with a whole lot of tears and even more smiles. The eight-episode season will give us an in-depth look at the transformation of individuals from the inside-out on their road to overcoming negative body image and being comfortable in their own skin.
On My Block (Season 2) - Coming Soon
Netflix
Your favorite coming of age Netflix series is getting a season 2 sooner than you think! After its release, On My Block instantly became a smash hit and was renewed for a second season only a month after its premiere. The gag is, you don't even have to wait for its return, the squad is already two steps ahead of you. The show's official Instagram page has been dropping hints that the new episodes will drop before the end of March. If you haven't had an opportunity to watch, now is definitely the time to binge and catch up before our friends from Freeridge come back to play.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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RELATED
Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
____
Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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Featured image by FG Trade/Getty Images