5 minute read
Revisiting Self-Care the Radical Way
The history of self-care is something you may not know much about! The term has gained much momentum, especially during the lockdowns and isolation periods of the Coronavirus in 2020 and 2021. The origin of the term self-care has lost its meaning somewhere between the glamour of Instagram selfies paired with unrealistic self-care guidelines and quotes.
The ideology of self-care originated in the 1950s in the medical community for patients who were institutionalised and the elderly to help them cultivate a sense of self-worth as they struggled with autonomy. Around the 1960s The Black Panther Party, in the US, used the radical idea of self-care to fight against systemic racism, oppression, class inequality, and political injustice.
With the rise of the women’s movement and the civil rights movement, self-care became a political act. Self-care was viewed as claiming autonomy over their health - emotional, mental, and physical; as a political act against the failing health system to properly tend to their needs. The activist groups also realised that in order to sustain the longevity of their activism they needed to take care of their own members. They showed up by practicing community care by distributing food to those in need, creating health clinics, and building programs to educate and share information with others. These communitywide efforts, spearheaded by the Black Panthers and other activists, changed the narrative about caring for oneself.
Self-care is an act of preservation and not selfindulgence, it is an act of care and resistance against against the world which is constantly validating
busyness, overextension of capacities, and devaluitaking care of ourselves. The system isn’t set up for us to take a break. While individuals from the LGBTQIA community, religious minorities, indigenous communities as well as other marginalized sections of society are still struggling by mitigating basic accessibility to physical and mental healthcare. Despite this, there is an onus to have to look after themselves and survive because their being is not cared for, supported, or even protected by the systems. This is the time when the concept of selfcare is essentially useless; without community care, this is not something that you can survive alone.
The Covid 19 Pandemic is what brought us to our realisation that surviving is all the more devastating in isolation. We need to ask ourselves how we can better show up for each other when our government fails us. Now more than ever, it is important to consider ways we can honour the radical history of self-care. The origin of this term is built on the foundation of activism and representation. So here is something to consider when you inculcate the practices of Self- Care:
-Why is self-care important to you?
-What’s the first memory you have of practicing selfcare?
-What did your self- care practice look like when you first started?
-How do you feel when you take care of yourself?
-How do you want your relationship with self-care to grow in the future?
-How can you be a self-care advocate for someone else in your community?
This year, the World Health Organization has launched a campaign around the theme: ‘Making Mental Health and Well-being for All a Global Priority’.
In Angela Davis’ words: “Anyone who is interested in making changes in the world has to learn how to take care of herself, himself, themselves.”
Today, many still practice self-care as an act of resistance, and the internet has helped carve out more spaces for marginalized groups to practice community care by sharing their knowledge and supporting each other.
This is a reminder that caring for others is a form of caring for ourselves. Showing up for the others as they would show up for you. Practising self-care isn’t always easy as most of us are trying to navigate daily life challenges. We also tend to shame others for taking time off for themselves and most often feel guilty for taking that much-deserved rest.
Here are a few strategies to help you carve out time for yourself, in a way that can be tailored to your current life experiences:
1.Try to prioritize sleep as it can have a significant effect on how you feel both emotionally and physically.
2.Try to indulge in foods that are nutritious and good for your gut health.
3.Include some amount of movement in your routine, even if it is for 10 minutes.
4.Assess and draw boundaries whenever necessary, especially if you find yourself trying to make everyone happy. That could be taking a toll on you!
5.Step out into nature as it helps reduce stress, and lower blood pressure and fatigue.
6.Find quiet moments in your day to journal your thoughts and feelings.
7.Make it a priority to engage in activities of leisure regularly.
Your personal self-care practices have to extend towards community care, especially to those who are fighting with the Systems for their very survival. This can be through volunteering at clean-up drives, protests, climate change activism, advocating for mental health, being an ally for the LGBTQIA community, and so on.
The important question is: How are you advocating for self-care in your community?
There is no better time than now to put self-care at the top of your personal health agenda. If you’re experiencing burnout, fatigue, stress, and lack of motivation or interest please do not hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for support as that is just another way of Self- Care!
About the Author:
Richelle Brito Carvalho is Counselling Psychologist based in Mapusa. She is the founder of Wholistic Connect, an online counselling service. She also provides counselling services at Antarman, a psychosocial well-being centre, in Panjim She has done her M.Sc in Counselling Psychology from Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore.
If you are facing any psychological issues and wish to seek help, you may contact Richelle on:
WhatsApp: 9767969405
Email: wholistic.connect@gmail.com
Instagram: @wholistic.connect.counselling
