Wellness Beyond Self-Care

For years, self-care was often reduced to spa appointments, candles and face masks. There is nothing wrong with enjoying those things, but wellness is much bigger than a beauty routine. In 2026, the conversation around wellness increasingly includes mental health, physical activity, rest, community and learning how to recognize when you need support.

That conversation is particularly important for Black women because the cultural expectation to be strong can sometimes make asking for help feel like weakness. New research from Virginia Tech examined Black women’s experiences with physical activity and mental health through the concept of the “Superwoman Schema.” The study explored how cultural expectations
around strength can influence health behaviors and wellbeing. (PubMed)

Another 2026 study involving researchers from Rutgers University and The New School examined young Black women’s attitudes toward mental health care and the challenge of finding time to prioritize themselves. (PubMed)
Those findings point to a larger truth: wellness is not simply about looking good. It is about having the space and support to actually feel good.

Sometimes wellness means exercising.
Sometimes it means therapy.
Sometimes it means sleeping instead of answering another email.
Sometimes it means setting boundaries with people who constantly drain you.
And sometimes it means asking a professional for help.
The goal should not be to become a woman who can handle everything.
The goal should be becoming a woman who knows when she doesn’t have to handle everything alone.

Sources:
PubMed — 2026 Black Women and Physical/Mental Health Research
PubMed — Young Black Women and Mental Health Care