We have been brought onto a rollercoaster of things from Covid-19 this year, subhanAllah. The economy plunged, many lost their jobs and we experienced the unthinkable – from a halt to social norms to mosques closure, to adapting to new ways of working and interacting. We were levelled to the realisation that we are, so vulnerable. To sickness, to death, to loss of wealth, to mental and emotional turmoil. 

What kept you together during such a stressful, uncertain and overwhelming time?

What lessons can you bring forth to the coming year? In particular, what have you learnt about caring for yourself amidst a challenging period?

There are many things that can help but one that I would like to highlight is the importance of self-care and how it can bring about or return solace in our lives.

Self-care has been defined as, “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being” (Dorociak, Rupert, Bryant & Zahniser E, 2017). It spans over several areas such as physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual.

While some people support the idea, some might also think that it is selfish. In my opinion, self-care is necessary in helping one be their best selves for the people in their lives and the work they do. Paying attention to how we relate to these different aspects will also help us live our best lives and find peace in our day-to-day.

Generally, what happens when we don’t take care of ourselves? If we take into consideration the different aspects of self-care, it may look like this: 

“We may fall sick as we neglect our physical health, have unhelpful and unhealthy thinking patterns, experience burnout, bury our fears and worries inside, not reaching out to family or friends, and we may delay or even abandon our prayers.”

From the above, I think we will all agree that we would rather not be in such a situation and that self-care is important, but if we look closer, what is our deeper motivation?

Generally, what happens when we don’t take care of ourselves? If we take into consideration the different aspects of self-care, it may look like this: 

We may fall sick as we neglect our physical health, have unhelpful and unhealthy thinking patterns, experience burnout, bury our fear

Personally, I try to remind myself that Allah swt, Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim has created me from His Love and Mercy. Allah also mentions in verse 4 of Surah at-Tin that “Indeed, we created humans in the best form.”

Thus, remembering that I am created in the best of forms, with a healthy body and mind, is a manifestation of His Love and Mercy, and that having been granted Iman in my heart too is a very precious blessing to be grateful for. And how I can show that gratitude is by being responsible over myself by working towards a holistic state of well-being. This will then In Sha Allah bring about a state of inner peace amidst any external events. 

Self-care starts with us tending to our most basic physical needs, like getting enough rest, drinking sufficient water, having balanced meals, avoiding unhealthy food, exercising etc. It may seem like a no-brainer but in times like these, it can be easy for us to lose touch with these important things.

In terms of emotion, it is key that we find ways to be more in touch with our emotions, process and express them in healthy ways. This is so as bottling them up can be harmful to our physical and mental health. The effect of the pandemic also saw a rise in calls to mental health helplines and this shows that for some people, it is necessary to seek professional help. Otherwise, we can try to practice journaling, regularly checking in with how we are feeling, or channelling the emotional energy into activities like cooking or sports. Our ability to recognise and process our emotions will be crucial in improving our mental health and inner state.

As for the intellectual aspect, one way is by making time to seek knowledge. Over the months we have shifted from attending physical classes at mosques and such to online lectures. While the atmosphere is not the same, we have learnt to adapt to the change. By continuing to make time to learn, we are not simply learning new things but more importantly it’s also spiritually benefitting as it nourishes our minds and souls with the light that sacred knowledge brings insyaAllah.

The social perspective includes maintaining connection and seeking support. When we feel hesitant to seek help with anything for that matter, it’s important to remember that it is not a sign of weakness. We are all social beings, and we always need one another. Back during circuit breaker when social norms of having gatherings with friends at public places were halted, a lot of us remained connected and sought support through sending simple texts to check-in, Zoom calls, or sending surprise food deliveries. This is something we can continue to do to ensure we are always connected and that we have a support system to rely on.

As Muslims, the spiritual aspect is probably the most important aspect of self-care as engaging in the remembrance of Allah swt and Rasulullah saw bring much peace to the heart. We can do this through reading the Quran, reciting the selawat, contemplating on ourselves and being in nature. This then allows us to purify our hearts and souls and it also serves to strengthen the most important relationship in our lives- with Allah swt. It is also worthy to note that when we incorporate intentions to seek His pleasure in all that we do, through taking care of ourselves through the various aspects, this will all count to nourish and boost our spiritual state.

From my personal practice and observation, intentionally practicing self-care nurtures my relationship with myself and when I have a secure base within myself, that will be the best state from which I can give and show up for other areas in my life. To add, knowing the above doesn’t mean that I will always remember to do them, or that I should do them perfectly. It will probably not look the same to that of others and that is okay. Yours will be unique to you. Our self-care practices might evolve, as we do. Most importantly, may we always strive to return to it, as a way of remembering ourselves and being grateful to our Most Merciful Creator.