4 Things to Do Besides Shave Your Legs

By Blossom Onunekwu

It’s 2018. We know America’s beauty standards are complete B.S. We know women were pressured by male hair-removal industries to start shaving their armpits. We know that there’s a pink tax that makes female beauty products cost more but have less product.

With that info, you can choose to either buy the male versions of your favorite razors and shaving creams, because the main difference is you’ll actually get what you paid for.

Or you can quit while you’re ahead and do more meaningful things with your time. Such as:

A lot of people think you need a business to start developing your brand. But as long as you’re in the work force, you are your brand.

Get some professional photos done. Pimp out your LinkedIn. Add professors, past employers, and family friends. Make business cards for yourself. Once you know what you want to do with your life, you should make sure you are working towards that goal in every light. Like Nike is known for “Just do it,” you need to be known for being that beautiful, talented, aspiring photographer, nurse practitioner, journalist, etc.

2. Go for a walk.

I often find myself getting so busy with life, I barely have time to think and reflect. Meeting after meeting, assignment after assignment. For a long time, it seemed like I just didn’t have time for anything that gave me a brief break from the never-ending to-do list we call life.

So then I made time. And I walked out.

Take out your planner and find the least tedious day of the week and put a fat smiley face on it. On that day, grab your favorite and most comfortable running shoes. Plug in some headphones. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb”. Find a well-lit path. And just walk. You won’t have to think about work because you made sure you scheduled in this walk on an easygoing day. It’s just you and the therapeutic effects of breathing in mother nature. Instead of prioritizing your schedule, you scheduled in your priorities.

3. Learn/perfect a new skill.

The time you save from shaving is enough time to start learning or perfecting a skill. Graphic design, writing, photography, knitting, teaching, and even public speaking. There is just so much we can do with our lives now with social media. We have both free knowledge on how to teach ourselves and a platform to show off these skills with the internet. Why not invest some time into increasing your net worth?

Plus, America ain’t cheap. We’ve got student debt, insurance, rent, and mortgages. If you really think you’re going to enjoy America on ONE source of income, you’ve got a lot of googling to do 😉.

You can apply for another job. Get a raise. Or you can sell your skills and freelance. Sell your crafts on Etsy. Create courses on Udemy. Let your friends and family know you’ve picked up photography and offer your services. You won’t get paid off the bat every time you skip a shave session. But you will become more exposed to self-teaching, and you might even make a living off it through entrepreneurship.

4. Take yourself out to eat.

My brother and I used to cringe at people who we saw at restaurants eating by themselves. But queens, time (and hunger), waits for NO ONE. There is nothing wrong with taking yourself out to that restaurant you’ve never been to. Schedule a date with yourself. If you’re anxious about eating alone, bring a book. I, for one, inhale my food, so sticking to podcasts or audiobooks work better for me.

Beauty standards, shmooty standards. If you’re tired of the shaving, plucking, waxing, and the money-wasting, try doing something more valuable with your time. Shave off the stress and invest time into looking clean and polished on the inside.

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