love yourself, love the planet this [valentines] day.

how selfcare can help save the world.

in this modern age self-care can often be an excuse for over-consumption. want to feel relaxed? buy a candle. want to feel nourished? buy a new moisturiser. want to feel loved? buy a new pair of shoes. however, self-care is more than just about stuff, true self-care is an act of love that allows you time to nurture yourself, so that you can be of service to others and the world around you, more than anything, taking care of yourself is antidote to burn out. we live in a time where burnout rates are higher than ever, we need to be able to put on our oxygen masks on first, before we can look after others.

so, how can we make self-care less about consumption and more about restoration?

here are some free activities that can kick start you self-care routine that is good for the planet and great for your bank account:

• yoga time or light exercise time

• run/walk along the beach

• catch the train to a new destination and spend a morning or afternoon being a tourist

• go for a swim in a gorgeous outdoor pool

• sit in a bar and have a drink by yourself

• scour a weekend market for some secondhand finds

• go for a long hike and listen to an audiobook or podcast

• go to an art gallery and wander aimlessly

none of these things cost a lot of money, nor do they take up a lot of time, but I guarantee if you regularly schedule in some self-care your body and soul will be grateful for it. In this way we can all be gentle activists. a gentle activist is one that is kind towards others and to themselves. this gentle approach to life allows us to be more in tune with our body’s needs and also more in tune with the natural world. remember, sustainability to be sustainable for you.

we live in a world of overwhelm - the seas are filled with plastic, people are battling pandemics, we are all seeing the effects of climate change. to combat this overwhelm we need time for rest, introspection and restoration, so we can tackle a new day and fight for the causes we believe in.

loving yourself allows you to love the planet, they are both inextricably linked to one another.

a deeper connection to your inner tools of resilience and perseverance can only occur if we give ourselves time to pampered and loved. loving yourself is not just a mere act of self-indulgence, it is a way for us to reconnect to the things that matter most. it is in these moments of silence and recuperation can we build up strength to fight another day. being an activist doesn’t just mean large acts of rebellion, they can also mean small acts of change. every effort, no matter how small, can make a big cumulative difference.

this valentine’s day, shower yourself with some self-love. connect back to nature, discover your inner strength and allow yourself to indulge in mother nature’s outdoor bounty. love yourself so that your cup overflows, and you can pour freely into others.

anita vandyke is a qualified rocket scientist and medical doctor (bachelor of engineering – aeronautical space and doctor of medicine) and, most importantly, mother to vivian. she was born in guangzhou, china, raised in australia, and currently splits her time between sydney and san francisco. her first book, a zero waste life: in thirty days, won gold at the nautilus book awards in 2019 and has been translated to seven languages. anita writes about motherhood, zero waste living and minimalism on instagram, at @rocket_science, or at anitavandyke.com.