Written by Eleanor Wynne, graphic by Maggie Svoboda

Social media has always been rife with self-care tactics that promote an ideal of luxury — “treating yourself” to a fresh set of nails or splurging on a haul of the season’s hottest trends.  But self-care isn’t just an item you check off in your bullet journal to get you one step closer to being “that girl.”  The origins of self-care find their roots in activism — particularly in work done by the Black Panthers throughout the Civil Rights Movement.

The terminology of “self-care” originated in the 1950s in the medical community. Its main focus was to encourage patients who were institutionalized or elderly to keep their sense of independence.  For these patients, the meaning of self-care was cut-and-dry: maintaining an exercise routine, taking time each day to shower, and practicing basic self-grooming.

Beginning with the Black Power movement in the ’60s and ‘70s, the definition of self-care was amended to cover not only caring for yourself as part of a medical regimen, but also carving out time in your daily life to look after your body and mind.  

Self-care began as a medical practice and it resurfaced, in part, as a response to the systematic racism experienced by patients in the healthcare system.  A major tenant of the Black Panther Party’s platform was providing free health clinics to service Black community members who would have otherwise suffered maltreatment and neglect.  

Renowned activist and Black Panther Angela Davis advocated for the importance of self-care after taking up yoga and mindfulness as a means of surviving prison.  Similarly, trailblazing poet, activist, and Civil Rights leader Audre Lorde famously championed self-care in the midst of an (ultimately fatal) 14-year battle with cancer, calling it both “self-preservation” and “an act of political warfare.”  

These prolific women helped to style a framework for the self-care philosophy.  They recognized that being kind to your body (eating well, getting enough sleep, and being mindful) is a necessity if you want to bring your full self into your life, your passions, and to the people you love.  It was these adages for honoring the self, specifically formulated for Black women and people of color, that went on to inform the self-care and wellness movement that now dominates the 21st century.     

Once the concept of self-care started becoming more mainstream through the ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, up until now, it lost many of its ties to the Black Panther Party.  In the wake of that loss, it gained a new association with consumerism. As of 2020, the self-care industry is worth an estimated $450 billion.  

We’ve seen brands capitalize on people’s desire to feel luxurious and cared for,  so it should come as no surprise to see an influx of TikToks and Instagram infographics boiling self-care down into a couple of slides or a 30-second video touting comfy sweatpants and a discounted jade roller as the Hail Mary of self-love.  Although a relaxing bubble bath and face mask combo is the go-to for good reason, it only scratches the surface of what caring for yourself can look like. 

So, what does self-care look like? 

Self-care, particularly as a college student, can be a difficult thing to pin down.  From classes, to clubs, to work, to socializing, it can often feel like time is warping around you.  Not to mention being away from home and trying to hold yourself together as you split and grow into new versions of yourself — it’s a lot to handle.  

But know this: you are not alone. 

Regardless of whether or not you’re involved in activist efforts, the importance of taking care of your mental health can’t be understated.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself trapped in the following cycle: stay up all night doing schoolwork frantically trying to meet my deadlines; wake up the next morning running late; spend the day staving off brain fog and getting nothing done, only to repeat the cycle all over again once the clock strikes midnight.  

Doing something nice for myself like a face mask can be helpful, but it doesn’t mean much if I have piles of unfinished assignments or only ate one meal that day.  

So: return to the advice of the masters.  I like to take time to check in with myself — which, for me, often looks like unplugging and allowing myself to sit with my thoughts.  Small things, like making lists when I’m overwhelmed, setting aside time to laugh with my friends, and listening to myself when I’m unmotivated and unfulfilled help me to stay present.  Truthfully though, self-care is a lofty undertaking, and it’s hard work.  

Ultimately, I don’t think that self-care can be outlined in a 5-step plan, or mapped out neatly with a set finish line.  It can’t be rushed or purchased.  It is firmly rooted in ethics that demand a love of self that intuitively leads to a love of others.   

A look back at the activists who originally championed the self-care movement serves as a reminder that self-care, at its core, is not about consumerism — it’s about valuing yourself at a fundamental level, as you stand, without the presence of a product to reaffirm your existence.