Every year, the world celebrates International Self-care Day on July 24. It is a worldwide campaign held as a reminder of the benefits of self-care experienced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On this day, people across the globe are encouraged to celebrate the importance of self-care and to reflect on the role each person plays in their own health.
Bringing awareness around the choices individuals can make to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health through simple, everyday actions. From staying active and eating well to managing stress and seeking medical care when needed, self-care empowers people to take control of their health. The day also highlights the broader role self-care plays in reducing the burden on healthcare systems and improving quality of life worldwide.
We want to take this opportunity to sum up five ways you can take care of yourself on self-care day - or any other day.
Exercise
One great way to let off some steam and shake off some of the stress of the day is to exercise. Try to include one activity in your day whether it's a walk, run or cycle around your block. No amount of activity is insignificant. One thing the pandemic taught us is there is no need to go to a gym to workout. From the comfort of your home, you have access to tons of free online workout videos. You can also come up with your own routine - whichever is more comfortable and most suitable to your needs.
Eat Well
It's one thing to slap together a sandwich for lunch and another to dedicate an entire hour for your nutrition. If you're working, try to take your entire lunch hour to prepare something wholesome. Consider all your food groups for the day and fuel up with the right mix of fruits, vegetables and proteins. Or, if you don't have the time, whip up a smoothie!
Disconnect from Technology
One great way to take care of yourself - especially if you work from home- is to cut back on screen time. Whether it's by turning off the push notifications on your phone after a certain hour or opting for a book rather than a TV show, lessening time on screen is a great way to treat yourself.
Connect with a Loved One
Calling a loved one may be a great way to boost the œfeel-good chemicals in your system. Humans thrive on connection, so take the time to make one meaningful connection on self-care day. Scroll through your contacts and choose someone you haven't gotten in touch with for some time. At the point, you will be making more than yourself happy.
Consider Your Present and Your Future
If you're working, we'd like to take this opportunity to encourage you to consider what employee benefits offerings are available to you. If you're suffering from stress, consider the mental health avenues that may be offered as part of your group benefits package. If you haven't researched your company's group retirement options, this is a good time to think about your future. If you're an employer, on the other hand, NFP can help you design a well-tailored group benefits or group retirement plan to keep your employees satisfied and secure in the present and well into the future.