Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.
-Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light: Essays
It’s week three of Amplify Your Involvement — and this week is all about you. We know that focusing on the needs of those around us feels critical right now. But, it’s also incredibly important to make sure that we’re taking care of ourselves. Think about it like this: if you’re struggling, you can’t most effectively support others in the struggle. You’re just as valuable as those that you’re helping — remember to treat yourself as such.
We’ve collected some resources that highlight techniques for taking care of yourself, from surface-level quick fixes to ongoing, long-term work. So, try to take a moment and a deep breath, and then carry on to the below questions.
1. What have you done in the past day, hour, or minute to check-in with how you’re feeling? Here’s a great guide on the internal, self-care stuffs that each and every one of us can do right now, on our own.
2. Are you at your limit? As Anita discussed in a Facebook live discussion during the first week of Amplify Your Involvement, activist burnout is real. Please read this piece or this one, and make sure that you not only know your limits – but also tend to them.
3. Can you recognize what your needs are and when? This interactive site will walk you through the process of acknowledging how you’re feeling and how to respond accordingly. As a step-by-step game, everyone who plays wins.
4. Did you think we’d forget to include some additional readings? We’d be remiss if we didn’t take the opportunity to recommend some educational reads this week, as we did for Action 1: Safety and Action 2: Resources. For more on self-care, check out this article, “4 Self-Care Resources for Days When the World is Terrible”. And, if you’re interested in learning more about Audre Lorde’s words and their powerful potential, check out this piece from our friends at Bitch.
Watch the below video to hear Anita and Carolyn speak a bit more about the importance of self-care, and its many forms.
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