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This week, we’re talking about the importance of self-care when things feel like they’re only getting rougher and rougher.

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Things aren't great -- so treat yourself

by Liam Nolan

Things are pretty dire right now, and I probably don’t have to explain why I’m feeling that way. There are a lot of legal changes and executive orders taking place in the US that are harrowing, especially when combined with devastating wildfires and other catastrophic events.

While we’ve previously talked about the various things that you can do to help, including mutual aid, you really should make sure that you’re taking care of yourself as well.

There’s a temptation when facing potentially catastrophic events to feel like you’re not doing enough, and in doing so, burn yourself out. However, the more burned out you are, the less able you are to help others. You can’t, as they say, pour from an empty cup.

What self-care looks depends on you. Figure out which activities you most enjoy doing and help you to feel rested. For me, that generally means reading a book or playing video games. I chose a picture from Dandadan for the main image for this because that’s the show I’ve been enjoying in recent days.

At times, it can feel like engaging with media is a waste, especially when there’s so much stuff you could be doing otherwise. However, the joy of media — and one of the reasons that people are so passionate about it — is that it’s able to bring happiness and relief.

When the weather isn’t bad, I like to go on walks, or even grab my binoculars to go bird watching. Those things often allow me to step outside of myself and get relief from the constant anxiety and nagging feelings that I’m having. Recently, I’ve also gotten more into meditation, and I find that helps me to really calm and slow my mind down. Not everyone is able to do those things. That’s totally fine. There’s no one right way to do self-care.

Try not to feel bad about doing those things, though I know it can be hard. Acknowledge that taking care of yourself is going to help you be more effective and useful to others down the line. Also, don’t beat yourself up if you do feel bad. Acknowledge the feeling and consider it.

As I said at the start of this, things are pretty dire right now, and so friends, take care of yourselves.

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