Beyoncé Opens Up About Her Self-Care Journey and Rejecting Diet Culture
"It’s a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere!" the superstar said.
Beyoncé has opened up about how she takes care of her body and her mind, ahead of her 40th birthday.
The superstar opened up about the evolution of her self-care journey during her decades-long career in her September cover interview for Harper's BAZAAR. She mentioned that in the past she has focused more on her career and creative projects, including her management and production company Parkwood Entertainment and her fashion line IVY PARK, than her own self-care.
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"I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn’t realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being. I have not always made myself a priority," she said.
The Lemonade singer was also honest about the demands of touring and performing, and how they've affected her health.
"I’ve personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life. Years of wear and tear on my muscles from dancing in heels. The stress on my hair and skin, from sprays and dyes to the heat of a curling iron and wearing heavy makeup while sweating on stage."
She continued, "I’ve picked up many secrets and techniques over the years to look my best for every show. But I know that to give the best of me, I have to take care of myself and listen to my body."
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The pop star also spoke on her past relationship with diet culture, and how she focused on her body when she evaluated whether or not she was healthy. Her fans have seen her dedicated pre-tour diets, with the most recent peek seen in her Homecoming concert film. After describing her diet, which demanded "no bread, no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no alcohol," she said she would never push herself that far again.
"In the past, I spent too much time on diets, with the misconception that self-care meant exercising and being overly conscious of my body. My health, the way I feel when I wake up in the morning, my peace of mind, the number of times I smile, what I’m feeding my mind and my body—those are the things that I’ve been focusing on."
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She continued, "Mental health is self-care too. I’m learning to break the cycle of poor health and neglect, focusing my energy on my body and taking note of the subtle signs that it gives me. Your body tells you everything you need to know, but I’ve had to learn to listen. It’s a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere!"
The superstar also hinted that there's more to come from her soon, on both the music side and regarding her self-care rituals. Queen Bey may share more about her health and wellness routines in her upcoming 40th year.
This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US