Taraji P. Henson has one of those “how I get it done” day-in-the-life interviews with The Cut. You’ve heard me talk about how much I love those! I’m all about routines and schedules so I love to read about a celebrity’s typical day. Taraji doesn’t wake up as early as I do, she gets up at around 7, but she does sometimes go to bed as early as me. She sounds really grateful and upbeat about the people she has helping her and all the advantages she has at home, like a fully stocked home gym and a salon attached to her house where she makes her own wigs. The wisdom and advice she gives is quite good; I’ve read this interview about three times I love it so much. I especially like how she thinks about and deals with trolls on social media. Here’s some of that interview, with more at the source.
On a typical (pandemic) morning:
I’m usually up around 7, no later than 8 a.m, and of course, I wake up and give thanks for another day. I’m COVID-free, my family’s COVID-free, so I gotta give thanks for all of that. Then I make my water with sea moss and lime juice; it’s warm, and I drink that every morning. I substituted that for coffee, because coffee was a problem for me for so long. I started doing it long before the pandemic hit. About two years ago, Chakabars from Fruits N’ Rootz started sending me incredible packages, and he sent me sea moss. That was at the beginning of the craze when everyone was like Ooh! You need some sea moss! Sea moss! Sea moss! I drink it every morning.Her bedtime varies
Since the wintertime came in, it gets dark earlier, so I mean, shoot … there are some days I’m in bed by 8, and I’m not embarrassed to say that. What do you want? We’re sittin’ on our asses all day! And then there are other nights, like last night, when I couldn’t go to sleep. I was up until 2 a.m. And the thought is, Well, I don’t have to get up and go nowhere tomorrow, so … guess I’ll just stay up!On prioritizing:
It’s easy. I have people. [Laughs.] They orchestrate my schedule and send it to me, and I follow it. I have Zoom meetings and calls, but I’m a creative person, and right now, I can’t create my normal way with stage, or theater, or even film and TV. I can’t do any of it at the moment, but I have my own salon that’s next to my house. I come out here and create — nails, hairstyles, wigs, I color my hair … I done changed my hair color about three, four times. I’m just out here creating. I have to exercise that muscle in some kind of way.On dealing with criticism.
I come from the old school: A bitch say it to my face. Now, these kids, these people, these bullies, these thumb thugs, they just get real bold behind these screens. Most times, I don’t let it affect me, because I know what it is, but then, you know, I have a human moment where I have to clap back, and I think that’s okay. I think it’s okay to let people know, mmm, you can’t just come over here saying any little thing to me. But does it take away from my self-confidence? No, because I’m doing something right. You like to take time out of your day, to take your little thumb, and type this longwinded message, telling me about my life, that I love living? It’s sad. So when I think about it like that, I really do feel sorry for the aggressor. Because I know who I am.
She also discussed her acting method, which involves making sure she separates herself form her roles and not judging the people she plays. She had so many useful sayings for things that I couldn’t excerpt them all. She said you can’t sell yourself if you don’t believe in yourself first. Taraji doesn’t compare herself to anyone and called it a “death trap,” and this was my favorite line “What’s meant for you is yours, and what’s meant for someone else is theirs.” That’s a great way to think about life in general and I’m going to tell myself that. Oh and I appreciated how she’s not ashamed to go to bed whenever she wants. Some days I’m in bed at 7:30 because I get burnt out and it’s so comfy in there. Plus I have a TV in my room now and I’ll just go to bed and watch it. Like Taraji said it’s not like we’re doing much anyway.
Photos credit: Getty and via Instagram
Oh I wish! My youngest is just going to bed by 8, I have another hour of tasks followed by at least an hour but usually 2 hours of me time. Putting me in bed at 10 at the earliest but I would love a few nights a week going to bed at 8.
Thumb thugs- priceless and probably the best description of the trolls who hide behind their screens!
One of the greatest luxuries in my life as someone who lives alone is having an awesome night routine. I used to stay up watching TV on the couch until I was exhausted and had to drag myself to bed. Since the pandemic I’ve really worked to have a nice evening for myself — I take my meds, wash my face, and feed the cats at 9 p.m., and then hop in bed. I usually don’t go to sleep until 11, so I cherish this time to read or watch a movie. Maybe a bit grandma-ish of me, but I find it so nice.
I love her positivity!
I love going to bed at sunset in the summer time (northern hemisphere so that’s 6:30-8:30 sometimes later) and I positioned my bed so at that time of year it catches the sunset rays. It’s just so languid and indulgent.
I am gone most nights by 8:30, but I’m up at 4:30am so it’s reasonable, I think. It works for me and I don’t have to answer to anyone right now so I’m good.