In the coming weeks I will be spending time talking about creating sacred spaces in your home so I decided to kick it off with a friend who has an amazing home and design acumen. Jeanine Hayes is one of my favorite people in the product and interior design industry. She and I go way back to when I was designing products and she was still practicing law having met on the internet. Now she is a full time designer, curator, writer and even authored an amazing book on home decor titled REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul.
Name: Jeanine Hayes
Age:38
Occupation: Interior Designer, Editor in Chief and Author at AphroChic
How do you practice noirecare?
I’ve been focusing more on self-care as I get deeper into my thirties. I like to focus on living a healthy lifestyle both mentally and physically. For self-care I:
– limit how much news I watch. Psychologically it can be very damaging, especially to African Americans as we are bombarded daily with negative images and murders
– focus on friendships that are positive and encouraging. I’ve worked to root out those who bring me down and instead focus on friendships that are uplifting
– exercise regularly. I am a big-time app person and love my Nike training app. It’s free and the workouts are fun. I exercise three times a week with the app.
– go to yoga. During law school I taught yoga on the side as a way to de-stress. I’ve started going to yoga again, attending the Brooklyn Yoga School every Sunday. It’s so nice to find moments of peace and relaxation within the city.
– eat a high-iron diet. I had been misdiagnosed for over 13 years by doctors who told me I had asthma. I was constantly in the ER, on steroids and 6 different medications that I had to take daily. When I moved to Philadelphia my new doctor was African American and she wanted me to get tests to find out the source of my illness. I found out I did not have asthma. I was actually severely anemic and just needed more iron in my diet. Now, I focus every day on eating iron-rich foods. My morning hash is a mix of sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. In the afternoon I snack on nuts. And we always have plenty of spinach and root vegetable at home that help with iron. Now, it’s no more meds. Just nutritious eating.
How long have you been making time to practice your self care ritual?Every day. I find that to be successful as a business owner you have to focus on self-care. It’s imperative to your success. You have to know when to slow down, get exercise, eat well, listen to your body. The more you do those things, the better the week and your days will go.
How did you get started?
It all really started after learning I had been misdiagnosed. Years of steroids caused me to gain over 75 pounds over the years. Now I’m focused on staying healthy and losing weight in a natural way.
Our home is a safe space where we can heal and renew after long days of dealing with the outside world.
What kind of personality do you think could also benefit from this type of regimen?Anyone who is a business owner. It’s so important for us to find ways to work self-care into our daily routine.
Do you find it to be more important to have a regular routine in place now that you are an entrepreneur? how challenging is it to make sure you cater to yourself?
Yes. I wouldn’t make it through a week without this regimen. It helps turn cranky days into good ones when I take time out to exercise and eat well.
As someone who designs products for interior spaces and chronicles home spaces, how important is it that you create a sacred space?
My entire home is a sacred space. Every room has been designed with our comfort in mind. We think of home as a safe space as well. When you are Black, being out in the world can be frustrating. You can be constantly faced with micro-aggression and even overt racism. Our home is a safe space where we can heal and renew after long days of dealing with the outside world. 
What are some key elements for creating a sacred space that you think would work with any budget or home size?
Color – bring home shades that you love in your accessories like throw pillows and bedding. A smile- inducing shade will help you feel uplifted every time you enter your home.
Art – start collecting pieces that speak to your desire for peace and calm. Look to sites like Tappan, Uprise Art, and Saatchi Art for affordable pieces.
Pieces with meaning – family heirlooms, items with a cultural heritage will all add significant meaning to your environment. Add story-telling pieces to every room. Those that have a specific family story to them, or pieces you’ve found while traveling.
What do you want your niece, god daughters or any future daughters to learn from you in regards to making time for self care?
I definitely want my niece to see the importance of self-care. She already does yoga and is a very healthy eater. I hope that continues for her. Seeing her aunt and mother eating well and exercising will hopefully inspire her to do the same as she gets older.
Did you grow up witnessing your mother, aunties or any women in your life consistently taking time to do something just for them?
No. I didn’t. It was always about doing for everyone else. I took on that same burden as a young women and was always stressed and sick. My hair used to fall out, I would get digestion issues, skin issues all from stress. Now, in my thirties, I’ve found a more peaceful way to exist. I understand that if I don’t take care of myself first, there is no way that I can effectively help others.
Check out a few picts of Jeanine’s sacred space. Shot by Patrick Kline
