In Honor of AAPI Month: 3 Ways We Learned Self-Care from Our Moms
May is a lot of things at once.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and also AAPI Heritage Month. In Korea, “Family Month” is another name for May.
Given the breezy spring weather and warm sun rays, May seems to be a celebratory month for many cultures. We dedicated our previous blog post to mental awareness, so this one’s for AAPI Heritage.
Our particular focus is AAPI women in business. Asian women are among the most quietly relentless workers we know. You’d probably agree — noting how Asian restaurants are usually the only places open on Christmas (this is regardless of religion — a lot of these restaurants are run by Christian-Asian owners who are also diligent, hardworking immigrants).
Hard-working seems to be rooted in AAPI culture.
We grew up watching our Asian moms start their days at the break of dawn, fix breakfast for every member of the family, get ready for their own full-time jobs, excel at work, and come home to become our moms again. (Oh and here’s whom I mean by “we” — hi, we’re the founders of AROOM.)
I remember one night when my mom came home smelling of light alcohol after a “회식” (hoe-sik: team dinner at companies). “회식” in Korea is notorious for its heavy drinking and hazing yet something you can’t avoid if you want to build a strong career.
She seemed… confused, yet fiercely composed. Maybe it was the emotional whiplash of juggling so many roles — but there was no doubt she was trying to excel at every single one. Now that I’m almost her age, it’s insane to me how she juggled the multi-dimensional roles of being a mom, a team leader, and a lead designer simultaneously. Filling just one of these shoes is hard enough.
With so much on your plate, self-care becomes the first thing to go. Because you have so many other priorities, “you” often become the lowest of them — but I hope this is a reminder to put yourself first above anything.
Here are 3 monthly rituals for recharging:
1. Fresh Nails, Fresh Me
There’s something about freshly done nails — it’s like putting on armor, except it’s delicate and personal. It’s a small gesture, but it reminds you that you still belong to yourself.
- Nail care is a ritual you can look forward to — one that doesn't require a ton of time, but gives back more than you'd expect.
- It’s also a moment of stillness: Sitting down, zoning out, and letting someone else take care of you.
If you’re ever in Seoul, take a visit to SuNail. I personally love clean, simple nails with unique designs, plus they’re budget friendly. SuNail ticks all these criteria.
@su.nail_
2. Monthly Massage Day
One thing about Korea (and most of Asia) is that we have out-of-this-world quality massages at an affordable price point.
Massages never felt like something I could access regularly in the States — they always felt like a luxury. Yet in Korea, there are local shops you can visit at competitive prices. If you want a more luxurious experience, places like Yakson House (“약손명가”) are worth the visit.
3. City Run
At some point in your late 20s or 30s, it seems like you either start running… or quit your job. I ended up doing both.
Running clears more than just your skin — it clears your head. It’s one of the rare moments where your phone isn’t in your hand, your body leads the way, and your thoughts are free to wander.
Some great places to run in Seoul:
- Seokchon Lake (석촌호수):A little over 3.2km for a single run around the lake. Flat run with a well-paved trail. Famous for cherry blossoms in spring.
- Around Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁):Could get crowded on weekends, but peaceful during weekdays. Mostly flat. A beautiful mix of traditional architecture and urban energy, with cute cafes nearby to cool down afterward.
Around Keyongbok Palace (Seochon-area)
Celebrating AAPI Month and our hard-working moms, families, and friends, I hope this is a reminder to always prioritize yourself over anything else.
Likewise, we created AROOM as a gentle reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t a reward — it’s a right. Our soon-to-launch skincare line was made for women like us: Always working, always giving, and finally, choosing to nourish ourselves too.
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