Fresh from judging another season of "The Voice Australia" and releasing a 3-song EP "The Kelly Rowland Edition" in May, Kelly Rowland says a little indulgence in self-care is a necessity.
In addition to her career as an acclaimed singer and being the mother to 4-year-old Titan Jewell Weatherspoon, Rowland is also major proponent of embracing a healthy and active lifestyle.
Her new partnership with Honey Nut Cheerios supporting its Happy Hearts initiative focuses on promoting more health and happiness in one's life -- topics she says are important to her for personal reasons.
"For someone like me, who actually lost my mom to heart disease, I just want to make sure I do my part and do my due diligence to tell everybody ... it's simple, let's just live a happy, healthy lifestyle and take care of ourselves more," she told "Good Morning America."
"It doesn't have to be a chore ... taking care of your heart, taking care of your body," she continued.
(MORE: Take it from Kelly Rowland: Don't succumb to stereotypes)Check out the top self-care tips Rowland shared in honor of International Self-Care Day.
Embrace therapy and meditation
Earlier this month, Rowland shared a post about July being Minority Mental Health Month.
In a video posted to her social channels, the singer spoke about debunking the stigmas attached to therapy and meditation and encouraged her followers to do a mental health check-in with themselves.
From my heart to yours. đź–¤ pic.twitter.com/U14N8gEDbJ
— KELENDRIA ROWLAND (@KELLYROWLAND) July 17, 2019
Rowland said her embrace of meditation was something that happened gradually.
"I was very, very slow to meditation," she shared. "Now I don't want a day to go by without meditating."
"I grew up in Church, and meditating always sounded like it was attached to another religion or a higher power," she continued.
She said due to this perception, she had hesitations about the practice.
"When I finally sat down with my meditation coach and she spoke to me about it, I was like 'Oh, I get it.' It's not about anything else but self awareness and actually calming your mind down," she said.
(MORE: Happy International Self-Care Day! Here are 5 ways to practice self-care for free)Rowland says it's important to adopt methods to help you deal with stress.
"We watch the news, we undergo a lot of stress every day," she said. "You don't even realize how many stressors actually get you, and that affects your whole being -- it's already enough that we're dealing with ... existing, that you want to make sure that you're actually taking the proper steps to take care of yourself mentally."
Along with therapy and meditation, she also suggested checking out different meditation apps on your phone. She uses one before she goes to sleep that "talks about visioning things better and making them come to fruition."
Don't be afraid to prioritize yourself at times
Being a mother to a young son, Rowland is used to dealing with some craziness.
"He definitely keeps me on my toes, especially now," she said. "He's getting way too smart. He's way smarter than I am."
It doesn't have to be a chore ... taking care of your heart, taking care of your body.
She said that along with caring for others, you should also focus on supporting yourself.
"You just want to make sure that you're pouring into yourself," she said. "With women, we pour into everything else because that's just who we are."
"We're extremely amazing creatures, but we have to learn how to balance it all out -- because everything else will beat us to the nurturing that we need," she continued. "We'll give it out to everyone else, but we actually need to harness some of that and keep it to ourselves."
Take time to indulge in some great food and pampering
The singer said she loves indulging in simple pleasures like facials, pedicures and even just watching a movie for self-care.
"I love to eat good food on a cheat day," she said. "That makes me happy, especially with other friends and it's a nice big dinner. That's self care to me, although it includes other people."
"I can pretty much eat a whole bunch of food by myself too," she added. "Your favorite meal by yourself is the best. Nothing better than jerk chicken and rice and beans by yourself with plantains."
She also advised "getting out more with family or friends, even by yourself and just having fun, taking some time off for yourself" to feel great.
"Take some time out for your heart's sake," she also advised. "We get one."
