Recharge today to reimagine tomorrow
Written by jon jon MOORE
I've found that when folks quote the late Black feminist poet and educator Audre Lorde's poignant statement on self-care, they do so partially, leaving out the most important part.
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence," Lorde wrote in 1988 while battling cancer. "It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
Lorde's body was at war with her. In order to fight for a world free of apartheid, domestic violence, and misogyny – a few of the ills she dedicated her life to defeating – she recognized that self-care could not take a backseat.
We care for ourselves not only to reap the individual benefits (when I get eight hours of sleep, my skin looks amazing!) but also to show up maximally for the people and causes we care about. Our team can help you communicate your message to anyone – it’s true – but if you don’t listen to you when you need a break, friend, we’re all at a disadvantage.
Every battle for bold transformation requires imagination, and imagination requires rest. And as I age, I’m starting to think that unplugging and recharging becomes more important with every passing year.
The impact of bearing witness to violence, suffering and inequity in my work and around the world doesn’t go away when my screen does. Since all that upheaval and uncertainty isn’t tamping down anytime soon, taking breaks from doomscrolling and AI-fueled news feeds is no longer an option for me: it’s a need.
I must create spaces during my day and throughout the year to process difficult emotions, gain needful perspective and reconnect to the things I care about most.
But it’s hard! And it’s especially hard to do it alone. Here are a few easy ways to start this summer.
welcome relaxation buddies
Rest doesn’t require isolation, nor does it require strict metrics of accountability. If you find it hard to put the phone down, consider creating a low-stakes group chat with peers, family members or even social media acquaintances. I have one on Twitter and one on WhatsApp.
Research shows that frequent interactions with people whom we have weak ties to actually improve our well-being. Just as reading complicated material or participating in really deep conversations can drain us emotionally, casual conversations can bring us energy!
diversify your downtime and get analog
Not every brain wants to binge-watch episodes of Ru Paul’s Drag Race (at least not every day), and that’s OK! Sometimes the best way to tune in to our bodies is to get offline and get physical. As Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less reminds us, restorative rest comes in all shapes and sizes.
If you’re not feeling TV or social media on the couch, you can head outside for a morning jog or leisurely stroll: research shows walking can increase your creativity! And if you’re feeling really adventurous, plan a weekend camping trip to retrieve some wonder.
Not the outdoorsy type? Pick up an adult coloring book – or just take your kids’, we won’t tell – and lose yourself for an hour. Dust off that neglected musical instrument (we know, those return policies are just! so! mean!) and spend an hour or two making noise. Prefer the quiet? Get a puzzle. If all else fails, give yourself permission to head to bed an hour early.
Avoid ranking these based on what sounds or feels the most productive, and don’t bite off more than you can chew in the moment to “challenge” yourself. For example, if you’re reading this and thinking about completing a 5,000-piece puzzle, but haven’t even seen a puzzle since you were 10, don’t. Start with 500 or 1,000. You deserve ease!
cultivate micro-habits
Learning how to ride a motorcycle and taking a trip to the Grand Canyon are great but…not every much-needed break needs to be an epic adventure. In fact, sprinkling bite-sized self-care rituals throughout your day can work wonders long-term. These tiny habits are all about bringing positive emotions into your routine to ground you and build your foundation for better, healthier habits, and consistency here is key!
During a workout or walk, take a few minutes to practice box breathing: inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four, then repeat. This technique activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel more relaxed.
Eye strain got you stressed? Try the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, shift your gaze approximately 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You could even set a recurring phone reminder to "look at something green" as a cue to momentarily disconnect with whatever’s going on in your screen and touch base with the real.
If you keep it up, these micro-moments can contribute to a greater sense of equilibrium over time, even when you’re tossed back into the fray.
It feels right to end this message with one more nugget of wisdom from Audre Lorde, this one from her 1983 essay addressed to educators, “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppression."
"I am trying to become the strongest person I can become to live the life I have been given and to help effect change toward a liveable future for this earth and for my children."
Whether you're sketching in that leather-bound nature journal you dug up, unplugging for an evening of reality TV mess, or just taking five deep breaths between meetings, believe that every moment you recharge is one tiny opportunity to reimagine your work and your world.
