Eight self-care tips for women fighting injustice

One of the things that I have come to understand deeply is that the world we live in is not fair, especially for women, immigrants, minority groups, or anyone who feels that they have lost some control over their life. I have witnessed the added pressures of life on the shoulders of newly arrived refugee women whose fate are shaped by the immigration systems that often are complicated or change as soon as one learns the basics of the first set of rules. I have spoken to women who feel stuck in a never-ending process of paperwork and back and forth. And there are those whose lives are completely bound to that of their husbands. The loss of control is even greater in these cases.  

Finding peace and happiness in small daily acts can contribute to a better mental health and overall well-being of a person. Here are a few small steps that can be taken daily that might help take out some of that stress:  

Start your day with something that you like to do – whether it is listening to your favorite music, or making a hearty breakfast, or exercising – all of which can set the mood for the day.

Make sure to find time throughout the day to just take a few deep breaths. It is astonishing how often we forget to do this when we are under pressure or intense stress.

If you have children, play with them and let their joy and carelessness rub off on you. We all need to play and spend time being silly. Playing with kids or pets (if you have them) can be a wonderful experience to take your mind off of things.

Imagine your future. Visualize the details of a better future and your daily life in it. Don’t let the past steal from you the ability to dream.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Especially with the increase utilization of social media, it has become a common practice to believe that others are living a better life than you. Remember that people rarely post their bad days on social media.

If you can, read as much as you can get your hands on. Our perspectives change when we read and reading can take us to new worlds, allowing us a small window of escape. If you are unable to read, radio and TV shows can do the same. In addition to being entertaining, it can add to your knowledge and broaden your view of the world.

When facing abuse or injustice of any kind, isolation can exasperate our pain and make us feel like we’re stuck in a lonely life without support. Spend time with quality friends to remedy that. There’s immense power in sisterhood and a real friendship. When we come together to share our stories and experiences, we give ourselves the opportunity to heal.

Most of all, be kind to yourself. Especially as women, we forget how much stress we put on our shoulders because of the society and constant misogyny we face. It is important to let go of self-criticism sometimes and celebrate ourselves.