Self-Care as a Prerequisite for Collective Action
In the words of Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet Audre Lorde “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
What did Lorde mean by “caring for myself” and what can we learn from it? Queer, Muslim, Black writer, and activist, Blair Imani argues that Lorde’s conceptualization of self-care has been watered down. Imani says “self-care originally was about taking care of ourselves so we can show up for each other.” For Lorde and many Black activists, the notion of self-care has always been much bigger than the self – it has been an intentional effort to preserve, heal, and act in the face of systems of oppression.
As women of colour, existing in such patriarchal and capitalist systems can be brutal. For many of us, day to day life presents personal and professional challenges that leave us exhausted and burnt out. Recognizing this and taking steps to protect ourselves can lead to better collective action.
In this piece, we share our self-care practices and tips on what you can do to create a self-care routine of your own. Because self-care should not be taken lightly. It’s imperative to our activism, and we can’t show up for each other, without showing up for ourselves first.
Illustration by Liu Liu
Zahra’s Self-Care Routine
Here are the practices that help me protect my mind, body, and soul:
Showing up on my (prayer) mat
One thing that really helps me stay grounded is my morning prayer. I’m not always good at sticking to a morning routine, but showing up on my prayer mat, even for a few minutes, humbles me. In a world that is ego-driven, I find that a healthy dose of feeling small can be truly liberating. Turning to God is a reminder that there’s a much bigger world than me and that self-care is not always self-importance.
Turning to nature
Most days, I turn to nature for self-care. I love the solace it gives me. It reminds me of the beauty this world offers. In Japan, there’s a practice called shinrin-yoku which means bathing in the forest atmosphere and taking in the forest and everything it offers through our senses. When work becomes extra stressful, I do my best to pause and go somewhere with trees!
Connecting with my people
Like many other women of colour, I too have faced my set of challenges as a Muslim-Iranian woman. Turning to my people, my community, and other fellow women of colour has been a lifesaver. During the hardest times, it has reminded me of the beauty, strength, humour, and wisdom we hold. It’s turned angry days into action days, and it’s turned pain into deep healing.
Hanieh’s Self-Care Routine
Below are the practices I lean on to recharge and prevent burnout:
Daily pages
I am a writer, and therefore writing is a part of my work. That said, it’s also how I tune into my creativity and myself. A practice that I have maintained as part of my self-care routine has been journaling. Despite recommendations to do it in the morning, I have catered this to what works for me – writing in the evening and reflecting on the day allows me to unwind and relax, collect my thoughts, and sleep better.
Planning creative days
I enjoy spending a lot of time on my own, partly because I’m introverted, and partly because the world exhausts me. Creativity and mindfulness go hand in hand for me, and allow me to tap into a different part of myself. As an overthinker, gardening and photography are great ways to take a break from my thoughts, and instead use my hands to create.
Pampering myself
I’m a sucker for a good massage; nothing makes me feel as relaxed. I enjoy going to the spa and getting a manicure or pedicure. About once a month, I set aside a day where I take myself on a pampering date. This allows me to relax, reset, and feel really good about myself, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
3 Tips for Creating Your Self-care Routine
Reflect & Brainstorm – What makes you feel relaxed? Pampered? At peace? What makes you feel good, all the time? Most importantly, what helps you feel centered? A key part of finding a routine is to find what works for you. Spend some time reflecting on these questions, and begin to brainstorm how you can incorporate them into your life.
Keep it Simple – Start with selecting one behaviour that you want to include as part of your routine. Start doing it this week! Stay away from choosing things you hate to do, and keep it simple so it doesn’t feel like a chore. It doesn’t have to cost money; the whole point is to help you recharge and relax.
Evaluate & Be Flexible – After trying out your routine for a week, evaluate how it’s going. Take note of how you’re feeling and the positive benefits. What’s working? What’s not working? Remain flexible to any changes that you feel you need to make to ensure your routine fits better into your life. Tweak and adjust your approach as you go; embrace the trial and error!
Need some inspiration? Check out this article on what self-care looks like for other women of colour. If you’re looking to take this conversation on self-care further, join us on March 26th for our co-hosted event on self-care with RISE Women Co. Can’t wait to see you!
Coming up Next
In April, Muslims around the world will welcome the holy month of Ramadan. The practice of fasting and praying can sometimes be challenging while working, so in our next post, we discuss what allies can do to support those observing Ramadan.