Self-care is how we preserve and strengthen ourselves. As advocates, self-care is an investment in our collective vision of a more just, humane world. Here are some self-care tips for the holidays from Young Center social workers Tami Benchoam Rogers and Hannah Biskind:

1. Validate feelings. As Dr. Nicole LePera has observed, “people can only meet us where they’ve met themselves. And our families are no exception to this rule. Human beings are only capable of giving others what they’ve given themselves.” Holidays are an emotional time for everyone, whether those emotions are positive or negative. It is important to validate the emotions we are feeling. During the holidays you can remind yourself: “It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.” “My emotions are valid and it’s okay if people don’t understand them.” “Disagreements do not mean I am invalidated.”

2. Prioritize self-care. Investing time in self-care can help you process and let go of emotions as they come up. Activities that may allow space for self-care could include taking a 10-minute walk, napping, meditating, listening to music, journaling, releasing emotions through laughing or crying, and doing yoga or another physical activity.

3. Honor limits. Know when enough is enough. Care for yourself by saying “no.” If you know engaging in conversations around immigration, politics, racism, or other topics that require emotional work will further deplete you, honor this. Boundaries are important so that you can be fully present and ready to engage in these conversations when we are replenished.

4. Disengage from social media. Taking a break from social media increases the control you have over the amount of time you are exposed to content on issues you care most about, and which can ignite an emotional tornado of fatigue, sadness, and anger. Regardless of how invested you are in specific issues, it is very much okay to take a break.

5. Call on support systems. It can be helpful to reach out to the friends, families and allies you feel deeply connected to and whose company refills your cup, instead of further depleting you. It’s healthy to be silly, cry, or sit around not doing much of anything together. Connection sustains us.

6. Put a pin in productivity. We live in a world where are constantly running around from one commitment to another, answering emails on our phones on the train home after work, or trying to fit in just one more trip to the gym before the big holiday meal. Our productivity does not define us. Our worth does not change if we agree to one more commitment or offer to manage one more project. We are enough because we are, not because of how productive we are or what work we generate. Take a break. Take a nap. Take a deep inhale and a long exhale. Rest is important.