You've Been Radical for Everyone Else. Now Be Radical for YOURSELF!

Navigating Radical Self Care During These Trying Times

In times of political upheaval and endless headlines, self-care becomes more than a luxury—it’s a survival tool, a way to hold onto our sanity and soften the effects of a tense world. Embracing small, intentional rituals can ground us, renew us, and offer pockets of peace when everything else feels heavy.

One powerful self-care act is to escape the constant noise of information. We live in an age of constant updates, endless scrolling, and breaking news, where it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by the noise. Protecting our peace means stepping back from the information highway and reclaiming some silence. To take care of your mind, try setting boundaries around when you check the news—consider designating specific times each day for catching up and make the rest of the day a notification-free zone. Don’t hesitate to mute or step back from threads that feel like emotional quicksand. In the quiet space you create, engage in something that restores you: read a cozy novel, write down a few thoughts, or simply sit in stillness and breathe. This silence carved out intentionally, can become a mental refuge from the outside chaos.

We also care for ourselves by nurturing our physical selves, releasing stress from the muscles and bones that carry it. Caring for the body doesn’t need to be intense or time-consuming—a quick walk around the block, a few minutes of stretching, or even an impromptu solo dance can shake off the day’s weight and bring you back to life. Movement isn’t about hitting a target; it’s about freeing up energy and releasing tension in whatever way feels right. And equally important is rest—true rest, the kind that recharges us but that we so often sacrifice. For restful sleep, create a soothing evening routine: dim the lights, sip herbal tea, or put on calming music. Let sleep be your body’s time to renew, a sacred space where it can restore its energy for the day ahead.

Finally, creating small moments of meaning—sacred, intentional rituals—can ground us in ways that nourish our spirit. Spiritual care doesn’t have to be religious; it’s anything that connects us to our inner life and helps us feel whole. It could be lighting a candle, spending a few moments in nature, or even sitting quietly with a favorite piece of music. One simple, powerful ritual is the “gratitude pause.” Each day, take a moment to note three things you’re grateful for. This small shift in focus—from the heaviness of the world around us to the goodness within—can turn ordinary moments into sources of strength and resilience.

In embracing these practices—creating boundaries around media, finding a balance between movement and rest, and nurturing small moments of meaning—we carve out a self-care sanctuary that can sustain us. These simple rituals can help us show up each day with a sense of peace, ready to face a complex world with clarity and courage. Taking care of ourselves, fully and holistically, isn’t selfish; it’s essential. In nurturing our mind, body, and spirit, we build the resilience to live with purpose and hope, no matter what’s happening around us.

When pursuing radical self-care, it’s essential to prioritize habits that truly nurture and sustain you, especially in challenging times. Here are three key things to remember:

1. Self-Care is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
   Radical self-care means acknowledging that taking care of yourself is essential, not selfish or extravagant. When you put your well-being first, you build resilience, mental clarity, and emotional strength. Remember, caring for yourself gives you the energy to show up fully for others and the causes you care about.

2. Stay Consistent, Even in Small Ways
   Radical self-care isn’t about grand gestures but rather about small, consistent actions that support your whole self. Whether it’s dedicating a few minutes each day to rest, journaling, or moving your body, these habits build a foundation of well-being. Small daily rituals can be just as powerful as larger, less frequent ones.

3. Set Boundaries and Honor Them
   Radical self-care means protecting your peace and energy by setting boundaries with people, technology, and situations that drain you. Honor these boundaries as acts of self-respect, and remember that saying no to things that don’t serve you is saying yes to your own well-being.