Are You a Grunge Creator/Investor? The Dirty Little Secret About Making Money While Forgetting Yourself
By QueenB.Divine | Notice This... Self-Care, Self-Love & The Reality of Digital Living
Notice this. Are you a grunge investor? Before you get offended and start checking your armpits, hear me out. I'm asking because I've been there, done that, probably worn the same comfortable clothes for longer than I care to admit, and lived to tell the story. I call it being a grunger. It's not an official financial term, and I'm certainly not suggesting you need to look like you walked out of a shampoo commercial to invest in Bitcoin. I'm talking about something that can sneak up on anyone who works, creates, trades, researches, or spends an extraordinary amount of time sitting in front of a computer. You become so invested in what you're building that you forget about the person doing the building. And believe me, that person needs maintenance too.
But before we get into that, how are you doing? Seriously. How's life treating you? How's your mindset? Are you making money, losing money, watching the crypto market do its usual emotional gymnastics, or simply trying to figure out what the heck you're supposed to be doing with all this technology? I hope you're taking care of yourself somewhere in between. Because one thing I've learned about the internet is that it doesn't give a damn whether you've brushed your teeth, stretched your legs, eaten breakfast, or washed your face. It wants your attention. Your clicks. Your curiosity. Your time. And if you're not careful, you'll give it everything, including the energy you were supposed to save for yourself.
Think about that for a moment. We spend so much time worrying about what we consume physically. Are we getting enough vitamins? Minerals? Protein? Are we eating the right foods? Yet we can sit down at a computer first thing in the morning and consume hours of financial predictions, social media opinions, breaking news, and strangers telling us how to become millionaires before Friday. Good grief. By the time you've finished scrolling, your brain has attended six emergencies, witnessed three market crashes that haven't happened yet, and apparently missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Meanwhile, your body is sitting there wondering whether anyone plans on giving it a glass of water.
I've learned quite a bit about this through my own journey as a creator working from home and someone learning about investing. Computers are extraordinary tools. I love what they allow us to do. We can learn about places we've never visited, communicate with people halfway around the world, build businesses, research investments, and create opportunities that weren't available to previous generations. That's incredible when you think about it. But these wonderful machines have a way of making time disappear. One minute you're sitting down with your morning coffee to check something quickly, and the next thing you know, three hours have passed, your coffee is cold, your back is stiff, and you're wondering why you haven't accomplished anything on your original to-do list.
And this is where my little grunge-investor discovery began. One morning, while sitting quietly and thinking about life, I realized something about myself. I had become so comfortable working around the computer that I was occasionally neglecting some of the simplest things I used to do without thinking. My hygiene. Not because I didn't care, but because I wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't physically exerting myself. I was just sitting there. So naturally, my mind came up with this brilliant little excuse: Well, I haven't done anything, so how dirty could I possibly be? Oh, the things we tell ourselves. Apparently, sitting in yesterday's pajamas while researching tomorrow's financial opportunities was beginning to feel like a perfectly acceptable business strategy.
Here's the problem. When you repeatedly put your work ahead of your basic needs, those little habits can quietly become your lifestyle. You might still be productive. You might even be successful. But are you actually taking care of yourself? Are you investing in your health with the same enthusiasm you put into researching your next financial opportunity? Because you can have the most beautiful investment portfolio in the world, but if your knees are screaming, your eyes are exhausted, and your body hasn't moved since breakfast, something is out of balance. And I'm not talking about your bank account.
I decided to return to some of the old-fashioned habits my mother taught me. You know, those little things that seemed annoying when we were children but suddenly start making a whole lot of sense when we get older. Before I sit down at the computer, I get out of bed and take a moment to let my body wake up. I don't jump straight into checking my phone or wondering what Bitcoin did while I was sleeping. I sit for a few seconds, put my feet on the floor, and allow myself to adjust to being upright. Nothing fancy. No expensive equipment. No inspirational soundtrack. Just me, my feet, and the realization that another day has arrived.
Then I head into the bathroom and wash my face. Sometimes I use water and a little witch hazel, something I've personally incorporated into my routine over the years. Witch hazel is a plant-derived astringent found in many skincare products, although it isn't suitable for everyone's skin and some formulations can cause irritation or dryness. I'm not recommending you run out and buy it. I'm simply sharing what I do. What matters to me is the ritual. My mother used to say there's an energy behind everything we do, and I've always carried that thought with me. When I wash my face in the morning, I like to imagine I'm washing away yesterday's nonsense. The disappointments, the frustrations, the worries, and whatever other crap decided to follow me into bed the night before. Does washing my face magically solve my problems? Of course not. But it reminds me that yesterday doesn't have to dictate how I show up today.
I rinse my mouth, take care of my morning bathroom business, and then head out for my coffee. Yes, coffee comes before brushing my teeth in my little routine. Before anyone starts sending me dental hygiene lectures, I do brush my teeth afterward. And for anyone wondering whether brushing before or after coffee is better, dental guidance generally recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and waiting a while after acidic drinks before brushing. The important thing is that you actually do it. Your teeth don't care how successful your latest investment was. Plaque doesn't accept cryptocurrency.
After my coffee, I stretch. And when I say stretch, I'm not suggesting you need to bend yourself into a pretzel or suddenly become a yoga instructor. I'm talking about moving your body enough to remind it that you're alive. Roll your shoulders. Move your neck gently. Stretch your legs. Stand up. Walk around. Because going from lying in bed for eight hours to sitting in a chair for another eight isn't exactly the physical adventure your body was designed for. And if you've ever stood up after staring at a computer for hours and heard your knees make a sound resembling someone opening a bag of potato chips, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Now, here's something else I want to share, because not every morning comes with the energy or enthusiasm to jump into a beautiful hot shower. Sometimes you don't feel like it. Sometimes you're tired, overwhelmed, distracted, or just plain not in the mood. And I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Life happens. But I learned a little trick many years ago when my husband and I backpacked from Belize to Guatemala. What an experience that was. We traveled, explored, and discovered that modern conveniences aren't always available when you're moving around with a backpack. Sometimes a proper shower simply wasn't an option.
That's when we learned what I call a star shower. Imagine having a bucket of clean water, some soap, and enough determination to freshen yourself up without a luxurious bathroom. You wash the important areas of your body, particularly those spots that need regular attention. Think armpits, groin, feet, and anywhere else that needs a little extra care. Five points, like a star. Nothing glamorous about it, but it works as a quick freshen-up when a full shower isn't available. Of course, it's not a permanent substitute for regular bathing, but it's a practical reminder that taking care of yourself doesn't always require a fancy routine or expensive products.
Even today, when I'm not feeling my best and don't particularly want to shower right away, I still make an effort to clean myself. I prefer showering before bedtime because I love getting into bed feeling fresh. There's something wonderful about washing off the day and slipping between clean sheets. It's almost like telling the world, You know what? Whatever nonsense you had planned for me today, you're not bringing it into my bed tonight.
And speaking of hygiene, can we talk about the little things we sometimes overlook when we're glued to our computers? Our hands, for example. We use them constantly. Typing, scrolling, clicking, cooking, cleaning, and touching everything from our phones to our keyboards. Yet how often do we actually stop and take care of them? Wash your hands. Check your nails. Moisturize when your skin needs it. You don't need the most expensive lotion on the shelf. A gentle product that works for your skin is perfectly fine. And while we're at it, clean your keyboard and phone regularly. Those things travel through more parts of your daily life than some of your closest friends.
My mother also had another rule that I'm going to share because apparently someone needs to say it. Change your underwear every day. There. I said it. I don't care if you've been sitting at home all day, haven't left the house, or believe that your clothing has somehow remained untouched by the laws of biology. Fresh underwear matters. Personal hygiene isn't only about whether somebody else can smell you. It's about taking care of yourself when nobody is watching. That's the part of self-care we don't talk about enough. We make beautiful posts about loving ourselves, lighting candles, and drinking herbal tea, but sometimes self-love is standing in front of the bathroom sink and doing the basic things your body needs.
Now, you might be wondering, can working from home really affect your mental health and personal hygiene? Absolutely, it can. Not everyone experiences it, but when your home becomes your workplace, the boundaries between work and personal life can disappear. You don't have to get dressed for the office. You don't have to commute. Nobody is waiting for you to show up at a particular place looking presentable. And while that freedom is wonderful, it can also make it easier to abandon routines that once kept your days structured. Add financial pressure, deadlines, constant notifications, or the emotional ups and downs of investing, and suddenly your personal needs can start slipping down the priority list.
And why is it so difficult to stop scrolling or checking investments? Part of the answer is that digital platforms provide a constant stream of new information. There's always another headline, another opinion, another market movement, another opportunity, and another person claiming to know exactly what's going to happen next. Financial markets can be especially captivating because uncertainty keeps us curious. We want to know whether we're making the right decisions. We want reassurance. We want to catch the next big opportunity before everybody else does. But constantly checking prices doesn't necessarily make you a better investor. Sometimes it simply makes you an exhausted person who knows the price of everything and has forgotten the value of a peaceful morning.
I've come to believe that the best investment strategy has to include the person making the investment. Not just financially, but physically, mentally, and emotionally. What's the point of working so hard to build wealth if you aren't making time to enjoy your life? What's the point of creating financial freedom if you've become a prisoner to your computer screen? And what good is a successful business if you're too exhausted to appreciate what you've accomplished? These are questions worth asking, especially when the internet keeps convincing us that productivity is the only measure of success.
Maybe you're an entrepreneur trying to launch something. Maybe you're learning about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, just like I am. Maybe you're creating content, building a website, writing blogs, or working remotely to pay your bills. Whatever you're doing, don't forget that your body is participating in this journey too. It needs nourishment. It needs movement. It needs sleep. It needs attention. And sometimes it needs you to close the damn laptop and go outside.
I've also learned that taking care of yourself can influence how you show up in relationships. Think about it. Maybe one day you'll meet that wonderful person who shares your interests, your dreams, your creativity, or even your passion for investing. Wouldn't it be nice to enter that relationship with healthy habits and a sense of responsibility for your own well-being? Not because you have to be perfect. Nobody is. But because relationships work better when we're willing to participate in our own care rather than expecting another person to manage every part of our lives. That's an investment worth making, too.
And while we're talking about investments, learn how to make yourself a decent meal. Seriously. You don't need to become a five-star chef. Learn a few quick recipes that you actually enjoy. Keep some nutritious food around. Drink your water. Take your breaks. If you can spend three hours researching whether a digital coin might increase in value, surely you can spare fifteen minutes to prepare something better than a handful of crackers and another cup of coffee. I'm speaking from experience here. Sometimes we need to hear our own advice.
There's another question I think deserves attention: Is self-care really an investment, or is it just another expensive trend? Personally, I believe some of the most valuable forms of self-care cost very little. Washing your face. Brushing your teeth. Stretching. Getting enough sleep. Eating a proper meal. Taking a walk. Setting boundaries around screen time. These aren't glamorous activities, and they certainly don't make for the most exciting social media advertisements. But they are practical ways of looking after the person you depend on every single day. You.
And that's why I created my $1.99 Digital Survival Series. Someone once asked me why I chose that price. Why not charge more for the lessons and experiences I've collected over the years? Well, because I want these little resources to be accessible. I've lived, learned, made mistakes, started over, and gathered insights that I believe are worth sharing. I don't want to give everything away, because creating something meaningful takes time and energy. But I also don't want the price to become another obstacle for someone who's simply trying to improve their life.
The $1.99 price also carries a little personal symbolism for me. I see the number one as representing new beginnings, and the two nines as a reminder of completion, transformation, and giving birth to another version of ourselves. That's my own spiritual interpretation, of course, but it's meaningful to me. And sometimes meaning is what gives a project its heart. The series is my way of sharing practical ideas, experiences, and little survival lessons for people navigating this increasingly digital world without losing themselves along the way.
So here's what I want you to take away from all this. You can love technology without allowing it to consume your life. You can build wealth without neglecting your health. You can be a creator, an investor, an entrepreneur, or somebody simply trying to figure things out without becoming what I affectionately call a grunger. And even if you recognize a little grunge in yourself today, that's okay. Take the opportunity to do something about it. Wash your face. Change your clothes. Brush your teeth. Stretch those legs. Make yourself something good to eat. Take a moment to look in the mirror and remember that you're worth caring for, whether anybody else sees you today or not.
Because self-love isn't always about feeling beautiful. Sometimes it's about making sure you don't abandon yourself while you're busy building a beautiful future. And self-care isn't always about doing something extraordinary. Sometimes it's the ordinary things we do consistently that remind us we matter.
Before you head back to your computer, I want to ask you something. Have you ever become so focused on working, investing, creating, or scrolling that you completely forgot to take care of yourself? Have you ever looked up from your screen and realized the entire day disappeared? If you have, you're certainly not alone, and I'd love to hear your experience.
Tell me in the comments: What's the first thing you neglect when you get too busy—your meals, your sleep, your exercise, or your personal care? Let's have a real conversation about it. And if you enjoy these honest, sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable conversations about investing in yourself while navigating the digital world, follow QueenB.Divine, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and explore my $1.99 Digital Survival Series for more practical insights from life's experiences.
Remember, you are your most valuable investment. Take care of the body, the mind, and the spirit that's carrying you toward everything you're trying to achieve.
Self-love and self-care will get you there.
With love, laughter, and a little common sense — QueenB.Divine
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