Some people will say that self-care in times of tragedy and grief is gratuitous. Unnecessary. Selfish. Not helpful. A way to tune out the tragedy and avoid taking action.
I disagree.
This is exactly the time we need self-care.
It is in times of tragedy and grief that we need our self-care tools even more.
Let’s be super clear that the self-care tools I’m talking about are not the conventional self-care practices that most people immediately think of as self-care.
I’m not talking about giving yourself extra facials or taking more bubble baths or scheduling an emergency pedicure.
I’m talking about listening to yourself and getting your needs met.
Eat foods that make your body feel good.
Take rest when you need it.
Move your body so your energy doesn’t stagnate.
Reach out to a friend to talk.
Clean your sheets.
Go outside in the sunshine or the rain.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Take a break from your screens.
Listen to music.
Dance in your kitchen.
Take a moonlit walk.
Cuddle with people you love.
Go to bed early.
Take care of yourself so you have the strength and resilience to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Self-care in times of tragedy and grief is necessary.
Taking care of yourself allows you to replenish your own stores of support so you can navigate your emotions skillfully and consciously.
Here’s another way to look at it:
Not everyone has the ability to take care of themselves. When you are able to take care of you, even on a foundational level, you are more equipped to help those in need. Use your privilege and take care of yourself so you have a greater capacity to stand up, speak up, and fight for others.
Lots of people say that self-care is a luxury and as such isn’t important in the scheme of things.
As far as I am concerned, those people don’t actually understand what self-care is.
Self-care is the practice of taking care of yourself, pure and simple.
When you take care of yourself, even in very basic and un-fancy ways, you give yourself a profound gift. This is a gift that helps you keep showing up during tragedy and moving through grief.
Don’t ditch your self-care during times of tragedy and grief. Use those self-care practices as a source of strength, stability, and support to get through the most difficult times.
Need a little self-care support? Take my quick quiz and discover your self-care style so you know exactly how to take care of yourself when you need it the most.
