Our most popular blog post of all time is this one from 2013, featuring 7 self-care tips for leaders in social justice work.
When I say “most popular of all time,” I mean it has been viewed 11,136 times, and has been shared on social media over 4,000 times.
(To compare, our next most popular post has been viewed 4,329 times.)
I know why it’s our most popular post: because it’s about self-care and I share it every time there’s a tragedy.
And there’s been a lot of tragedy the last few years.
So much so that last week, I was faced with a problem I did not think I’d ever encounter in my work.
I’d shared those same self-care tips so many times, it almost felt ridiculous to share them again.
Not that they wouldn’t be useful or good for people. As Rockwood’s communications manager, I’m proud this blog has been able to help others during troubling times.
But maybe 7 tips is not enough.
So here are all the self-care resources I’ve come across in my work and in my life. Some of them may have similar themes or recommendations, and some may be more helpful to you than others. I’m bringing these together not to create the end-all and be-all of self-care resources, but rather to provide a variety of options for those of you who might be in need.
Perhaps more importantly, there’s no one way to practice self-care. What matters most is that we practice it when we need it.
- “17 Poems To Read When The World Is Too Much,” from Buzzfeed
- “Self Care For People of Color After Psychological Trauma,” from JustJasmineBlog
- “Expedition Photography,” by Richard Sidey (for an inspirational nature pick-me-up)
- “Caring For Yourself Is A Radical Act: Self-Care Guide For Youth Working In Community,” from ArtReach
- “10 Things Worth Trying During Times Of Stress, Trauma, Or Crisis,” from Upworthy
- “Everything is Awful and I’m Not Okay: Questions to Ask Before Giving Up,” from eponis.tumblr.com
- “13 Soothing Books To Read When Everything Hurts,” from Buzzfeed
- “Today Is Not Over Yet,” by Alexandra Franzen
- “How To Calm Your Brain During Conflict,” from Hubspot (this one’s good if Facebook fights are taking up a lot of your time)
- “How To Hold Space For Yourself First,” by Heather Plett
- “11 Black Queer And Trans Women Discuss Self-Care,” from Elixher
- “21 Tumblr Posts That Have Your Back When You’re Feeling Low,” from Buzzfeed (lots of great, different tips in here)
- “Self-Care For Activists,” by Ann Marie Brok
- “Self Care List: How To Take Care Of Your Self While Learning About Oppression (With Unaware People),” by Fabian Romero
- “Self-Care for Activists: Sustaining Your Most Valuable Resource,” from New Tactics in Human Rights
- “Dealing with Activist Burn-Out and Self-Care,” from Know Your IX
- “45 Simple Self-Care Practices for a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul,” from TinyBuddha
- “The Importance Of Self-Care” playlist, from TEDTalks
- “Why Self Care Is So Important,” from Lifehacker (if you find it hard to make time for it when others are in need)
- “Activist Burnout Is Real – And You Probably Need to Read These 4 Ways to Manage It,” from Everyday Feminism
- “The Self-Care Starter Kit,” from University of Buffalo’s School of Social Work
Recommendations From Readers
Maryse from The Icarus Project shared these awesome resources:
- Just Healing Resource Site (Black-, Indigenous-, and POC-centered resources)
- Trainings and publications from the Icarus Project, including “Madness & Oppression: Paths to Personal Transformation and Collective Liberation“.
If you have a self-care resource or tip you’d like to recommend, please email me and I will add it to the list.
