Rejuvenate Your Activism: Caring for the Self and Planetary Health

After a year riddled with significant change, we have collectively faced challenges and hardships brought on in unprecedented circumstances. Globally, we were tested by novel disease, increased population inequity, and community divergence that separated neighbors physically, and ideologically, allowing politics and bias to put a wedge between community members and larger societies. Adding a national election to the mix, the overlap of these varied tribulations has affected the mental well-being of Americans in a deeply negative way.

Recent studies have found that, among American adults, over 47,000,000 individuals are suffering from mental health disorders; additionally, the estimated number of adults with serious suicidal ideation is over 10,700,000. This would be an increase of over 460,000 individuals as compared to the data set from the previous year.

Given this significant change in our health and way of life, taking time for our rest and personal care is important to keep moving towards the future we hope to create.

All activism requires resilience and perseverance, two qualities that can benefit from addressing the self and working to improve mentality and physicality. However, in focusing on the self, it can be easy to get distracted or discouraged by mainstream self-care techniques that are grounded in overconsumption, waste, or even worker exploitation (i.e fast-fashion purchases, food waste, or compulsive “retail therapy”).

However, to all my fellow activists and earth-loving humans alike, don’t allow yourself to skip well-deserved rest just because popular culture suggests you need to consume in order to pamper the body and spirit. Below, a few suggestions for sustainable alternatives to common self-care routines that may offer inspiration to relax while maintaining mindfulness of both individual and planetary vitality.