While theists often focus on their relationship with gods and connected spirits, non-theists focus on our relationship with others and the impact of our connected actions. But we must not neglect our own well-being and the need to care for ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Self-care may sound selfish, as it puts oneself before others and allows us to rest in a society obsessed with productivity. But not holding space for ourselves can lead to burnout, diminish our ability to help others, and cause many health complications. Prioritizing time to reflect and address our own needs empowers us to handle life’s many challenges. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare,” wrote Audre Lorde in her 1988 essay collection A Burst of Light.
Each year, Self-Care Month begins June 24 and ends with Self-Care Day on July 24. According to the World Health Organization, “this symbolic day was chosen because self-care can be practiced ‘24 hours a day/7 days a week.’” The 2024 celebration marked the 5th anniversary of WHO’s first global guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being, “paving the way to link communities, primary care and health systems.” Self-care actions are lifestyle choices we practice to lead healthier lives, such as regular physical activity, healthy diets, social engagement, rest, managing stress, avoiding unhealthy activities (like smoking and drinking), and talking about mental health problems. Self-care interventions are evidence-based tools to further support our health like medicines, monitoring devices, and tests. Both are essential for health promotion, disease prevention, and handling illness.
Self-care is fundamental to humanism. Our ability to effectively live meaningful lives, advocate for our values, and support our communities begins with nurturing ourselves. We only have one life to live and one body during that time, so we must care for it to enable us to do all the things we want and need to accomplish. Some emphasize that self-care is important because it helps us help others, but Greta Christina argues it’s essential in and of itself. She wrote about Humanism and Work/Life Balance in the November/December 2015 Humanist magazine:
Work/life balance isn’t about giving ourselves just enough medicinal self-care to grease the engines of our activism and ambition. It isn’t just about watering the tree so it will bear fruit that other people can eat. It’s about watering the tree so the tree can live. As humanists we want to be driven by compassion, but the targets of our compassion should include ourselves.
Prioritizing our own well-being can also set a good example for others and encourage more people to be empathetic to their own and others’ self-care needs. Respecting people’s capacities and boundaries improves relationships and supports community-building. Developing a culture of self-care makes it easier to communicate when we’re struggling, ask for assistance before problems grow to dangerous levels, and find solutions that help us better engage with others. An ongoing practice of self-care strengthens our collective capacity to create a more compassionate and equitable society together.
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