INTERNATIONAL SELF CARE DAY

Every year on July 24th, International Self Care Day promotes self-care as a vital foundation of health. It’s also a day for people around the world to prioritize self-care and make it a part of their lifestyle.

When you take care of yourself to stay well, you are practicing self-care. Staying well includes taking care of your whole self: physically, mentally, and emotionally. For some, self-care also includes taking care of themselves spiritually. So what exactly does self-care look like? It could be as simple as having some quiet time each day. Others might have coffee with a friend at least once a week.

Other examples of self-care include:

• Having a regular sleep routine
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Keeping a reflective journal
• Practicing gratitude
• Getting a massage
• Listening to relaxing music
• Reading a good book
• Learning to say no
• Asking for help when necessary

There are other areas of self-care that some focus on as well. For example, financial self-care involves paying bills on time and putting money into savings. Monitoring time on social media and decluttering your home are included in environmental self-care.

No matter what kind of self-care one practices, one is bound to reap benefits. Having a healthier mind and body are the two primary benefits. Other benefits of self-care include feeling less stressed and being less overwhelmed. Self-care is especially important for caregivers. It’s easy for a caregiver to pour all of their time and energy into another person. Doing so eventually takes its toll. As the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.”

HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalSelfCareDay

On this day, self-care activities are held throughout the world. Countries that have participated in the past include Australia, Canada, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea, Tanzania, the United States, and Vietnam. Self-care activities include poster design competitions, concerts, public lectures, and sponsored public walks. To participate:

• Come up with a list of ways to practice self-care throughout the remainder of the year.
• ]If you know a full-time caregiver, offer to take them out for coffee.
• Learn more about the many benefits of self-care.
• Read a book to help guide you on your self-care journey, such as The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, The Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser, or Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown.
• Take time to listen to a self-care podcast like “Beyond the To-Do List” or “The Chasing Joy Podcast.”