Written by Nicole

Not because people are over the pandemic means that the pandemic is over. The repercussions of COVID-19 are already here, and I imagine it will last throughout the rest of the 2020s. Because of black women’s unique position in this constantly changing world, it is important for all black women, regardless of age, station, marital status, orientation, or belief system, to employ strategy in everything we do. It might not be “fair” that we as black women have to constantly think like this, but better to be unfair but prepared, rather than beguiled by rose colored glasses, lamenting over the coulda-shoulda-wouldas.

As such, in this age of strategizing, historic changes, and additional time for self-reflection, here are some things that every black woman should have in her strategy toolkit.

1)    Birth control + complementary apps

I have spoken many times on black women and our approach to motherhood. While not everyone may feel that the childfree lifestyle is one for them, the fact remains that while there certainly might not be a “perfect” time to have children, there certainly is a dead wrong one. This pandemic has impacted every single industry, and due to its far reach, I would say that now is not a great time to continue a family. As such, every black woman of childbearing age should routinely and regularly use at least two forms of birth control to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Additionally, there are a plethora of apps available for period tracking, to keep track of your ovulation, period symptoms, and so on, that leaves reproductive control at your fingertips.

2)    An actionable plan

When the world emerges as Earth 2.0: Post Coronapocalypse, there will no doubt be several gaps that will need to be filled. Take stock of what’s going on in the world and see where your skills can fit in the new landscape, and capitalize on it. One example is the advent of microschools – with traditional means of education out of session for the foreseeable future, that could be a niche worth tapping into.

3)    An older, wiser mentor

This tip is a little harder to get – with age comes wisdom in most cases, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Older generations of black women have a lot to answer for, just as my generation will have a lot to answer for in the future. If there is someone in your life that you look up to, consider ask them for their mentorship. Only a fool learns from her own mistakes –  a wise woman learns from the mistakes of others.

4)    A variety of hobbies

Side hustle culture has almost made it mandatory for people to only have hobbies that earn some income. And while that is a nice goal, the challenge of being “always hustling” is exhausting and quite frankly, unsustainable. In today’s go-go-go world, a hobby that you genuinely enjoy, whether it earns money or not, is great to simply unwind, relax, or learn something new. Ideally the hobby/hobbies you select are complementary to your lifestyle, and you can squeeze it in when time permits.

While COVID-19’s presence has derailed a lot of plans for a lot of people, it doesn’t mean that you should automatically call it quits. Take stock of the situation, get a plan in order, and try again tomorrow. The future you will thank you.

What do you think black women should have as their BFFs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This blog was written by me, Nicole, and my ideas are not necessarily reflective of Christelyn Karazin or other writers on this platform.