July 24th is celebrated as International Self-Care Day, emphasizing the importance of self-care for our health and well-being. This day serves as a reminder to prioritize self-care and incorporate it into our daily routines to enhance long-term health.
Self-Care involves maintaining one’s physical, mental, emotional, and occasionally spiritual well-being. The International Self-Care Foundation established International Self-Care Day in 2011 to raise awareness about Self-Care as an essential aspect of good health.
“Quality Self-Care is linked to improved mental health, with benefits like enhanced self-esteem and self-worth, increased optimism, a positive outlook on life, and lower levels of anxiety and depression.” Says Dr. Monica Vermani, clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma, stress, mood and anxiety disorders.
According to her, there are 5 steps to enhance Self-Care. They are:
1- Make quality a priority in your life. Quality food, rest, and time to connect with friends, family, and ourselves feeds, repairs, and restores the body, mind, and spirit.
2- Pay attention to your thoughts. Challenge negative self-talk, fears, and feelings of inadequacy.
3- Be as nice to yourself as you are to others.
4- Start saying no to requests to help others when you don’t have the time to take care of your own need.
5- Stay connected to yourself. Engage in an activity or experience that brings you joy, no matter how briefly. Do something that brings joy and love and keeps you connected to yourself.
