Activism and “Self-Care”
By Hira Imam on Dec 5, 2023
Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels
Activism is a form of self-care.
I bet you didn’t expect to find those words. I will say it again. Activism is a form of self-care.
When there is injustice in the world - when people are oppressed and harmed in the world - our anger ignites. That anger is a call to action. It is a call to end the harm that is unfolding. To care for our anger is to respond to what our anger is asking of us - and so it’s calling us to be engaged in our activism, whatever that looks like to us in our lives and for the people we want to support.
Activism is valid and healthy way for us to move through this world and work on the changes we want.
It is a way for us to process our anger which supports our emotional well-being.
It can connect us to others that share the same values that we do.
It is also a way for us to live our values.
It creates hope for the despair that we may feel when navigating such a difficult world.
But it is exhausting work. When we hold realities of colonialism, racism, sexism, systemic barriers, oppression* - we are holding a tremendous weight of the injustice that exists. It awakens a range of emotions in us. In order to care for others in the world we need to also take care of ourselves. Because we cannot pour from an empty cup. You cannot lift someone else up if your arms are weak. Which means we need to prioritize our needs while we do this work.
Self-Care
Self-Care looks different for everyone but in this blog I’ll create a vague image of what it might look like. There may be guilt that comes up when you consider caring for yourself especially when there is devastation in the world. That guilt might come with the awareness of the privilege we have to take care of ourselves. This privilege is very real and we need to take advantage of it so that we can show up at our best when we decide to show up for others (whether in our daily lives or our activism).
Image by Iqbal Nuril Anwar from Pixabay
Physical Self-Care
Sleep: Sleep can be quite difficult when devastation is so apparent to us so I will share some ways to support restful sleep
- No screen time 30 mins before bed
- Sleep routine: consistent routine (changing in pyjamas, brushing our teeth, taking a shower, stretching)
- Listening to a sleep cast, bed time stories for sleep, sleep podcast, sleep meditation
Eating and drinking: food is fuel, it is energy and you need that energy for the work that you are doing. I understand that we may forget to eat or not feel hungry, here are some ways to support yourself through this
- Setting a reminder or alarm on your phone
- Having food in your bag or desk
- Having access to healthy snack foods
- Drinking your fuel (smoothies)
Movement: our bodies both expel energy and gain energy through movement. We want to make sure that we are spending some time moving our bodies. This isn’t necessarily about working out or a major cardio activity (although it can be!), it’s about ensuring you have some movement for that energy
- Taking a quick walk
- Taking the stairs when you can
- Stretching your body
- Running on the spot
- Playing with your kids
- Cooking (it means standing and being in motion)
- Getting out of bed
Hygiene: maintaining our hygiene is an important part of our care that support our physical and emotional wellbeing. Take that shower, brush those teeth. You have the privilege of doing so - do it for the people that may not have the privilege, so you can continue with your good work
Emotional Self-Care:
Connection: we need to be connected with people. That is where activism stems from - from that common humanity and that sense of connection. We need to have meaningful connection with people who resonate with our values
- Being with like minded people: people who feel the way you do and do similar work
- Being with people who love you: family and friends who care about you, spending time with them even if that is just sitting together in silence or sharing a hug in the pain
Crying: tears are an expression of our pain and a way to process our pain. We want to honour our mourning and grief for what has been lost. It is important to make sure we are balancing this by seeking connection with people who understand or people who care about us.
Saying No: it’s important to understand when your time is full and you need some space for you, and/or you and your family
Photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash
Religious/Spiritual Self-Care (if that’s a part of your life)
Engaging in practices that are meaningful to you or a part of your routine. I know it’s hard to think of being a part of our regular routine - but once again, in order to have enough energy and the right kind of energy we need to do things to care for ourselves
- Meditation
- Salah
- Prayer
- Yoga
- Engaging in community practices
- Collective prayers, events, healing circles
- Going to your Masjid, Gurudwara, Mandir, Imam Bargah, Synagogue, Church, and/or Temple
These are some parts of your life where you can consider your self-care and your needs. There is no “one size fits all” so take the time to consider what works for you. It is very important for you to care for yourself, especially, when you want to care for the world.
Photo by Kelly from Pexels
Tags: Activis*, Protest*, Self-Care, Burn* out, Mental Health, Health, Wellbeing, Balance, Justice, Human Rights, Advocac*, Oppress*, Colonialis*, Racism, Sexism, Women, Muslim, Indigenous, Black, Person of Colour, Palestin*, BIPOC, Anger, Sad, Depress*, Anxiety