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Saweetie had a jam-packed 2024—between hit records, tour stops, and red carpets, a day off often felt like a distant dream for the “Is It the Way” rap hitmaker, who is currently performing in select cities on the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, and who just released her “I Want You This Christmas” music video. But don’t be fooled: When she does get some time to herself, Saweetie has no problem turning off her phone and embracing the moment. Her ideal downtime includes anything from a meditative hike or painting session to spending time with her family and a homemade meal.
For our new series, A Day Off With…, SELF spoke with the queen of the “Icy Gang,” who took us through her perfect 24 hours off. Here she is in her own words.
My day off starts the night prior because my mind goes at a hundred miles per hour.
I drink Nighty Night tea because if I don’t, my body will automatically pop up in the morning. So, I like to take advantage of really being able to sleep in. I am definitely setting my room to 65 to 67 degrees, drinking the tea. Maybe I’m lighting a soy candle or putting on my little astral projection vibey lights.
I have to sleep with a nightlight. If I’m sleeping by myself, I have some type of light. I’ll go to sleep, and then I’ll wake up whenever. When I wake up, I’ll Postmates an egg sandwich from Eggslut, one of my favorite meals.
This last month, on my days off, I binge-watched Peaky Blinders.
I feel like I’m a Shelby myself. [Laughs.] It’s so good. I actually tried to start it another time, but I don’t think I was prepared to watch it. It’s a show that you have to have the time to watch because there are just so many great details. It’s not a show that you can just put on and catch it when you catch it. You have to really pay attention. There’s so much language without language—body language and subtle foreshadowing moments.
When I was renting rooms off Craigslist before I blew up, I had two comfort movies that would make my room feel homey. Because as you can imagine when you’re trying to make it, sometimes it doesn't feel like you're home. At night, I would put on Zootopia, or I’d put on Coraline. Or I would watch a Disney movie from the ’50s or ’60s—the earlier ones, like a Bambi or a Cinderella or a Snow White, or just something with that vintage feel, that feels like my childhood.
Or I like to read.
I just got done reading the memoir Molly’s Game by Molly Bloom. I love a good heroine story. I watched the movie several times. And when the movie’s good, I typically read the book right after. I really love her story. She’s a great writer—the language was so colorful and she really painted a picture, so shout out to her for persevering and overcoming her challenges. We love a woman who rises above everything, the rising phoenix.
If I’m up for it on a day off, I’ll paint.
Paint just gets really messy so you have to set up for it. At least I do, because I don’t like to get paint everywhere. I have to put out a big sheet, I have to line out all my color palettes. And then afterward you have to clean up. I made the mistake of letting my brushes soak too long [last time], so hopefully they’re still good, but it’s a whole process. But I’ll paint if I’m up for it. That’s if I’m by myself.
I really love to hike; it’s very relaxing.
It’s very calming and I feel like I get to recharge. I’m a big sports girly. I was a tomboy for a really long time. My football team is the San Francisco 49ers. Of course I was born into that since my grandfather played. Since I was a kid, my dad has been a big Lakers fan. And because I’m from Sacramento in the Bay, I love the Kings and the Warriors as well—so I have three basketball teams. And then for baseball, I love the Dodgers, because LA is my second home; I’ve been out here for over a decade now. LA has just become a second place of community that has taken care of me. And the Dodgers always show me so much love, so I’ve grown to love them back. And you know what? Honestly, I’ve got to get into hockey. I’ve been invited to a couple of games.
If I want to spend time with people, I’ll go see my family.
I love when my family cooks for me; it’s priceless. So I’ll go visit one of my family members who will cook for me, and we’ll just binge-watch TV shows. I want whoever’s cooking for me to make some version of pasta. When my cousins cook for me, they cook a special pesto pasta with the tomato skin. When my uncle cooks for me, he makes his special seafood Cajun pasta. Those are the two types of pastas I’d like to eat on my day off. Not together, though. Not together—I’m not that greedy. [Laughs.]
If I’m really tired, I am pulling up in a hoodie, some oversized sweats that are thick, and some thick, thick socks.
Thick pants, thick sweatshirt. And then I’m tying up my hoodie so that I can feel like I’m in a cocoon. But if I have energy and we’re stepping out, I’m always dressing up. I don’t care who I’m around. I’ll even dress up to just be at home. I’ve always been that way, even as a little girl. Maybe because my Venus is a Taurus—I’m an astrology girl. I love the act of just getting ready and feeling beautiful even if nobody sees it.
I know that beauty is commercialized, but beauty is art. When you’re beating your face, you’re painting your face, you’re mixing colors, you’re discovering new ways to sculpt your look. And when you’re putting an outfit together, you're figuring out palettes and patterns and what fabrics go together. So it’s just art. It’s really just an art day with yourself.
I’ve come to realize that when I have a day off, I should take the day, and I don’t feel bad about it.
Because in the past, I would feel so guilty. And I’m just like, where is this guilt coming from? I’m making it up in my head. Now, my team knows I have a day off, and I don’t feel bad if I’m not posting. I don’t feel bad if I’m not strategizing. I really turn my work brain off, and I allow myself to just be and relax. I think that’s important for all the hustlers, all the go-getters, and all the people who are constantly on the move. When you take that day off, turn your brain off so when it’s time to go back to work, you feel re-energized.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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- Here’s What That ‘Little Treat’ Can—and Can’t—Do For You
- Why I Send My Kids on ‘Sibling Dates’
- What Does It Mean to Really, Truly Rest?
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