How Activists Organize Self Care and Collective Care?

• Activists feel guilty for taking a break and selfish. They also feel this pressure from the network.

• Our notion of what is self-care makes us think its a certain group of things: yoga, meditation, shopping, etc This is enforced by social media, which has made it a multi-million industry.

• Many of us now think we can't afford it. However, we need to unpack what it means to self-care. Its individual prefernces and related to pleasure. In this context, women and LGTBQ groups have been denied pleasure. So what does this mean for us?

• Self-care can be just be hanging out with friends, spending time alone, really whatever brings you pleasure.

• Most of us have a hard time practicing self-care. It's not relatable to everyone, because everyone comes from different cultural contexts. Also, as activists don't know how to ask for help.

• Friend means different things to different people. When I need help in physical space is very difficult.

• Now it has become "activities" because required be some funders.

• We all use different words and concepts, and thats fine. What we are talking about is what we are doing for our physical and mental health.

• Some teams give people mental health days if they need it. Others, encourage social get togethers on a weekly basis.

• In some places Global South, self-care is seen as something that the elite does. Also, some activists say they don't have time because there is so much suffering.

• Creating structure is soo important.

• Elevate the mood, be silly with each other, dance, find ways to do things regularly!! Great

• Drawing boundaries is the most important step when it comes to self-care. It takes a lot to say no or detach yourself from the work or committee, especially when you're a young activist and there is so much power play in the community.

• There is always a constant crisis in our spaces. But we need to step back and understand the speed we are running from one event after another. This distracts us from feeling the feelings in the moment. We distract ourselves from feeling. Stepping back and slowing down is soo needed.

• Not feeling ever or over a period or for a long period of time is what leads to burn out. We also feel we are not deserving of time off, good things, etc.

• There is policing that happens in regards to emotions. You can or can’t be happy, etc. You have to be or not be sad.

• "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”
 Audre Lorde When you make self-care as part of practice, you better balance and have more control of
 the work.

• Self-care gives you resilience to fight long-term.

• Question is: are you needed, or do you like feeling to be needed. When you say no, it allows others to step in and help. By saying no, you give space to others to step in.

• Being more open to randomness and not trying to control or fix everything is important.

• Disability justice movement. Maybe activism is just being slower at your computer.

• Some activists say that certain funders are keeping rigid timelines, and not being flexible with the current time.

• Some folks watch humor, podcasts, share selfies, etc.

• Non-linear emotions is really important to recognize and to see that self-care is different for each person. So allowing for that space and recognition to happen.

• Not checking email after a certain hour in the day.

• Some folks do calls virtually every week to share. Others go camping. Idea is to have fun together. Others have limited working hours.

• It is important for leadership to practice what they preach!

• Creating structure is sooo important.

• Be silly, laugh, create levity.

• Some folks see each other more because of the pandemic.