From spiritual health, to physical, mental, and social wellbeing, the concept is wide-reaching.
You may have heard the term tossed around with friends on Zoom or read about it on social media: ‘radical self care’. What does it mean, exactly? Is it something you should engage in? Or is it for the um, well, ‘unhinged’? Somewhat like attending a nature protest filled with yogic banshees, angry placards, and bath bombs that smell wonderful but fill the air with painful tear gas you can’t escape?
Thankfully, it is not. Some people feel the practice is a must. Others may have their doubts. Overall, radical self care has its roots in ‘me-time’ and age-old ideas of wellness. It’s about treating yourself with respect. The people who practice it are all about erasing their nightmares and no longer living them.
Here is a look at why radical self care is a new approach as well as an old friend, and how to engage in it so that it really works for you.
Where It Comes From
The idea of ‘wellness’, or taking care of yourself, is something that has been around for a long time. (In fact, its history is probably as long as humanity itself).
According to the Global Wellness Institute, modern ideas of wellness can be traced back to the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Their roots, however, lie in ancient practices. From meditation to homeopathic medicine and more, ancient Greek, Roman, and Asian civilizations (and others) all had their own forms of wellness.
Industrialization forced people into long, inhumane, working hours and it wasn’t until much later that taking time for yourself came into focus in a modern way for the masses. One could argue that as women gained a larger foothold outside the home in the work world, the desire to ‘heal oneself’ from stress grew. Between the demands of home life and a burgeoning career, for many, there was now little time left for, well, personal space.
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Many women (and men) today embody this conflict. The excess stress of life can affect us all but it is found most of all in marginalized groups, studies show. For example, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are actually up to three times more likely, compared with white women in the US, to die from pregnancy-related issues. Black women, specifically, who have a college degree or higher level of education, are more than five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than are their white counterparts. Why does this reality exist? Systemic racism plays a role, and this plays out in life situations that add considerably more stress to individuals. This can result in poorer mental and physical health outcomes in certain groups.
How It Works
So, in comes wellness. Radical wellness. In light of the extreme disparities that exist, places like Indiana State University (ISU) are now hosting workshops on how to reprogram yourself for a better life. According to ISU’s website, radical self-care is “the assertion that you have the responsibility to take care of yourself first before attempting to take care of others”. It’s the larger manifestation of putting on your own oxygen mask onboard an airplane in distress before tending to anyone else, (like your kids). The idea is that you need to remember to treat yourself well. You need to take time to relax and rejuvenate in order to be present for yourself and furthermore, others. You need to breathe. Everyday.
ISU states that radical self-care is all-encompassing. It involves keeping yourself physically fit, psychologically healthy, and reflective on what matters to you most. It also means challenging yourself to grow. It’s about caring for your body, mind, and spirit.
Where It Falls Short
Obviously, radical self care is not an easy thing to practice. It involves pushing other obligations aside, the pressures of society and private life, to say ‘I matter’. According to Suzanna Degges-White writing for Psychology Today.com, if you don’t take it seriously enough, it won’t work. If you mindlessly enjoy a bubble bath without ‘scrubbing yourself clean’ she states, you are never addressing ‘what is actually causing the stink’, (her words).
You need to go in deep. Degges-White believes you need to address your coping behaviours, as well as your social self in order to practice radical self-care. Foster the social relationships that do you good and leave the rest to the side. Set boundaries. Care for your physical, mental, spiritual, and creative self. If you do, you could end up leading yourself in the direction that allows you to thrive.
What to Do If You Don’t Like Hate Mindfulness
Of course, the idea of wellness isn’t for everyone. Do you loathe the vision of yourself sitting perfectly still with your eyes closed in a quiet room, in order to reset your mental space? Yes? Then don’t do it. Radical self care can be what you make it to be. What clears your head? What brings you closer to your soul? A long bike ride? Cooking? Researching old records? So, make time for that. That’s basically what it boils down to. That, plus mental, physical, and spiritual self-care.
So, yes, radical self care does make sense. It’s been around forever, and it now has a new name to fit our times. It’s not so radical at all, really. Check out this article on Huffpost.com for ideas on how to practice self care in the new now.
photo credits: PKpix/Shutterstock.com
