3 Ways Black Women Can Reclaim Their Relaxation
- Kayla Smernoff
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 1
The unrealistic expectations placed on Black women to heal themselves while also holding their families and communities together create a difficult tension between self-care and resistance.
How do you take care of yourself when you are also expected to take care of everything else?
There are external pressures many assume we can resolve, alongside internal demands that make it difficult to slow down, heal, and rest. As political and economic instability deepens across the country, Black women are bearing an outsized share of the strain. Recent reports showing declines in Black women’s employment have raised concerns not only about those directly affected, but about the broader economic impact as well.
In times of rapid change, when rest is framed as a luxury we cannot afford, looking to the past becomes essential. The denial of rest is tied to America’s legacy of violence, extraction, and consumerism, systems that have consistently valued productivity over human dignity.
Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry says Black women should “subvert the narrative of productivity at all costs and embrace rest as a healing spiritual practice,” challenging the distorted legacy of hard work that has long defined our worth.
In a culture that wages war on rest, finding rhythm, pause, and restoration is not optional. It is essential for survival and grounding.
For Black women seeking to practice self-care in meaningful ways, here are three starting points.
Find community.
One of the most isolating effects of difficult seasons is the belief that we are alone. More often than not, others are navigating similar struggles. Seek out people who are also committed to rest, healing, and care, and allow shared experiences to lighten the load.
Go beyond “self-preservation.”
In her book of essays “A Burst of Life” Audre Lorde wrote, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Constant urgency makes calm impossible. Instead of always reacting, be intentional about protecting your peace. Caring for yourself is non-negotiable and must be part of your daily and weekly rhythm.
Find a balance.
Sereatha Brooks Blackwell, a mother and teacher based in Seattle, said political chaos “doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges in our country,” instead “we must refuse to let it take away our ability to take care of ourselves.” Checking out from the realities of the world is impossible, but taking moments to disconnect are essential.
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