Caring for yourself is an act of protest
We know. We know each day feels more outrageous than the last: Iran and the files and Minneapolis and detention centers and threatened elections and rising costs and growing unemployment and cut funding to food and health programs, and, and and… And as each day brings forth a new, fresh horror, that load of laundry is still waiting to be folded, and your child’s lunch still needs to be made, and you still need to schedule that dentist appointment, all while fighting your hardest to save democracy and the country you love.
But with months left until midterms and years until a new presidency, not to mention a movement that has hoisted it to power that will not go down without a fight, it’s important to remember this is a marathon, not a sprint.
We will need our energy, strength and reliance on each other to continue to show up and take back the freedom and civility being stolen from us. So it is more important than ever to practice self care, to be our best so we can give our best. Those in power want us too stressed or scared to keep fighting – and that’s why caring for ourselves is an act of protest.
When we practice self care, we are able to show up strong, assist in organizing our communities and support those around us. Taking time to indulge a little in that eye mask, or spending time to clear your mind and color, or curl up in a warm blanket with a book or movie for some much needed time away from the enraging news cycle is much needed.
Resting our bodies, calming our minds and addressing the emotional toll of daily stressors turns debilitating stress into the energy and resilience we will need to protect our democracy and the rights of all who live within it.
In this article, we’ve included some ideas for reducing stress and anxiety with products you can trust. Each product found at Little Blue Market has been thoroughly vetted to ensure it supports progressive values, democracy, equality and freedom, allowing your dollars to work for you even when you’re practicing some much needed self care.
Products and practices to help protect your peace
Clear Your Mind
Try journaling with The Everywhere Notebook. This handmade A5 notebook comes in 8 colors and can be personalized – choose a pen, charm, cord and grommet colors! Don’t let journaling intimidate you. Journaling doesn’t need to make sense or even be in complete sentences. Writing can help release anger, confusion or stress, or it can just help get out all those messy thoughts until you have the energy to make sense of them all. (And pssst…we’re not saying doing it with a Fuck the Patriarchy pen will solve all your problems, but we’re not not saying that.)
Set goals and reflect with The Positive Psychology Planner. If free form journaling isn’t for you, try organizing your thoughts with structured guidance. This planner is a 90-day tool to help you focus on wellbeing and happiness, through setting goals, reflection and the principles of positive psychology.
Get creative with mini 4×6 coloring cards. Getting your thoughts out is healthy, but so is allowing yourself moments to “turn it all off”. Sit down with your favorite markers or pencils, and make something pretty out of these funny coloring cards that say exactly what you’re already thinking. Bonus?They’re the perfect size to share with likeminded friends, and social connection alone is proven to lower stress and anxiety.
Allow Your Body to Relax and Slow Down
Have a quiet night with Lotus Blossom Bath Salts featuring soft lotus petals, known as a symbol for calm and renewal, and a Warm Hugs candle, with subtle scents of cardamom and cream to fill your home with warmth and love, making it feel like a big, warm, hug. By the end of your day, even life’s normal, small struggles can feel too heavy under the weight of current events. End your day by allowing yourself to relax. A calming night routine can lower cortisol levels, allow your body to begin producing melatonin for a good night’s sleep, and activate your parasympathetic nervous system to slow your heart rate and relax your mind and body.
Or a slow morning 6 Bean Espresso in a “I am sorry for what I said after I read the news” mug. But wait a bit on the news! Sleep is important and squeezing in a few more minutes can seem vital, but waking up with enough time to slowly, methodically start your morning sets the tone for your entire day. When we wake up in a rush or by immediately exposing ourselves to stress, we spike cortisol levels that can keep us more irritable all day. By starting our day quietly with even just 10-15 minutes to ourselves (without screens), we can stabilize our nervous system, allowing us to better handle challenges and stressors.
Pamper Yourself
Start a calming routine with Skinbuzz Cloud Bee Dream Mask, a mask as light and comforting as a cloud, yet expertly designed to heal, regenerate, hydrate, nourish, and combat the signs of aging by rejuvenating your skin at the cellular level. And follow it up with the Bloom Organic Intensive Repair Serum, a chemical free skincare product high in Vitamins A, C and E, plus essential fatty acids and pure rose essential oil, delivering a concentrated dose of antioxidants to help delay the effects of aging, assist in cell regeneration and promote an increase of collagen and elastin levels in the skin. “But why skincare,” you ask? Because developing small, positive nightly routines that you have control over, especially with gentle sensory input like a skincare routine, allow you to calm your nervous system and decompress after a busy day of fighting the patriarchy!
Make Your Home a Sanctuary
Create a safe space! In a world that can feel increasingly out of control, one of the most impactful steps we can take toward reducing stress is focusing on the things we can control, like making our home a place we feel comfortable and safe. Try curling up with this Sage Green Chunky Blanket, handmade to order, and your favorite book! Or purchasing some seedlings. Did you know that a study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2015 found that time interacting with indoor plants significantly reduces physiological and psychologic stress, as well as diastolic blood pressure?! By reminding ourselves how much we can control in our day-to-day lives, including filling the spaces we spend the most time with things that make us happy, we can reduce stress signals to the brain that make us feel powerless – because we’re not!
Self-Care is Anything That Helps You
Self care doesn’t need to be a grand gesture or expensive treat. Self care can just be about keeping up important relationships, making time for your favorite activities, or building new habits that balance the time you spend on activism and staying informed with the time you spend reenergizing.
- Stay Connected. Sometimes we need to escape for a three hour long coffee break with our best friend, and sometimes all our social battery allows is forwarding that funny meme to our even funnier-named group chat. But whether you’re feeling fully empowered by female rage or running on fumes, stay in touch with those who matter and allow others to support you when it all feels like too much. “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro Or a blue wave, if you will 😉
- Take Breaks. You matter and so does your sanity. Schedule a couple hours per day to turn off your phone or the news, or agree that politics are off the table during dinner time with your partner (pun intended), or make a family pact to use no electronics on Sundays. While it’s important to stay informed, it’s equally important to give your mind time to process and organize thoughts in order to prevent burnout and becoming desensitized.
- Don’t Give Up Your Happy Stuff. It’s ok to find moments of happiness during hard times. Keep disappearing into the world of your favorite book. Rewatch your favorite show for the 37th time. Decide now that it’s March that your Christmas lights just need to stay up until next year. Use whatever makes you happy as a way to refuel and face the next challenge ahead, rather than avoid it.
Resting is Not Quitting
Your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing aren’t a luxury; your resiliency depends on them. It’s easy to feel guilty about enjoying small pleasures and self care while worrying about threats to democracy, health, safety and other inalienable rights, but remember: our greatest resource in this fight is you. And with years left to go, it is more important than ever that we take good care of ourselves so that we can continue fighting for others.
And When You’re Rested, Keep Going!
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