International Self-Care Day: The Kind of Rest Everyone Needs for Better Self-Care

International Self-Care Day is observed every year on 24 July. The day has a special month and date format that resembles 7/24, indicating that self-care should be practiced 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

The day highlights the importance of loving yourself and taking care of your health and mind. This year’s theme is “Resilience, Adaptability and Thriving in Adversity” – a global call to action to develop resilience in people, which can help individuals manage stress, cope with negative emotions and maintain physical and mental health.

Dr. Krishna Vir Singh, co-founder and CEO of Lisun- a mental health and emotional wellness platform, says, “International Self-Care Day serves as an important reminder that taking care of ourselves goes beyond just looking after our physical health. It also includes paying equal attention to our mental well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, many people struggle with sleep problems, finding happiness, managing anger, dealing with work-related stress, and mental conditions like depression and anxiety.” ”

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Dr. Gorav Gupta, Co-Founder, Amonides, agrees and says, “In recent years, we have seen a rapid rise in mental health issues in India, emphasizing the need to prioritize mental wellness along with physical health. Despite this growing concern, mental health is often neglected, as society places more emphasis on visible physical ailments. This discrepancy perpetuates the misconception that mental health issues are less important or not even worth mentioning.”

Dr. Krishna Veer says, “Recognizing and addressing these aspects of self-care is critical to living a fulfilling life. When we prioritize our mental health and take steps to manage stress and address emotional issues, we lay a strong foundation for our overall well-being.”

Dr Gorav comments, “As a result, individuals may hesitate to seek help or delay reaching out to mental health professionals for routine checkups, allowing potential issues to escalate silently. International Self-Care Day serves as an important platform to address this disparity and promote a more holistic approach to health.”

On International Self-Care Day, let us look at some ways to engage in self-care to improve relaxation by finding the kind each person needs.

physical comfort

Physical rest can be active or passive. Sleeping or taking a nap counts as passive rest, and engaging in activities like yoga or stretching that will improve the body’s flexibility and circulation is active rest.

mental comfort

When trying to sleep at night, some of us have difficulty falling asleep because we are unable to shut down the conversation of the day. Remind yourself to take breaks every couple of hours throughout the day, this will help you remember to slow down. You can also keep a notepad by your bed to write down any troubling thoughts.

sensory relaxation

Being in front of a screen all day and with so many conversations going on in the background can overwhelm one’s senses. One can combat this by closing their eyes for a minute in the middle of the day and unplugging electronics at the end of each day.

creative relaxation

Creative rest is a must for anyone who wants to brainstorm new ideas or come up with solutions. Creative relaxation means not only connecting with nature and gazing in awe, but also being able to appreciate art. This means inspiring your space by filling it with things that inspire you to be creative.

emotional relaxation

Some individuals struggle with saying no to their partners and putting themselves in positions they don’t want to be in. These individuals need to know and understand that they can take a break from saying yes every time and become a people pleaser.

When asked how they feel instead of pasting a fake smile and lying they can say what’s bothering them.

spiritual rest

Engage in activities like prayer, meditation etc. to connect beyond the mental and physical. One will feel a deep sense of love and belonging on making an effort to engage in such activities on a daily basis.

Dr. Krishna Veer concluded, “By taking care of ourselves holistically, we are better equipped to care for others and contribute positively to society. It enables us to show empathy, support others, and spread kindness in our communities.”

Dr. Gorav finally mentions that by raising awareness about the importance of mental health check-ups, we can inspire individuals to value their mental wellness as much as they value their physical health.

“Normalising regular visits to mental health professionals also promotes a proactive and preventive approach, where potential concerns can be identified early and effectively managed. By de-stigmatizing support-seeking, people are more likely to seek help without fear of judgement, which ultimately improves mental resilience and overall quality of life.”

If you feel overwhelmed or things are too much for you to handle then it is best to contact a professional.