On Thursday 24th July, we celebrate International Self-Care Day: A Gentle Reminder to Prioritise YOU!
July 24th marks International Self-Care Day – a global initiative dedicated to reminding us of the profound importance of taking care of our own wellbeing. In a world that often demands so much of our time and energy, it’s easy to push our own needs to the bottom of the to-do list. But International Self-Care Day serves as a powerful annual prompt: self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling life.
Why July 24th? The date itself is symbolic, chosen to highlight that self-care is a practice that should be embraced ’24 hours a day, 7 days a week’. It’s not about grand gestures or expensive spa days (though those are lovely too!). It’s about consistently integrating small, intentional actions into our daily routines that nurture our physical, mental, and emotional health.
A Brief History: International Self-Care Day was initiated in 2011 by the International Self-Care Foundation (ISF), a UK-based organisation dedicated to championing the significance of self-care in both health policy and everyday life. Since then, it has grown into a widely recognised day, inspiring individuals and organisations across the globe to advocate for and practice self-care.
The Power of Prioritising Yourself
- Improved Mental Health: Self-care practices can significantly reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Taking time to unwind, reflect, or engage in enjoyable activities can boost mood and promote emotional regulation.
- Enhanced Physical Health: From getting adequate sleep and nourishing your body with healthy food to engaging in regular physical activity, self-care directly contributes to your physical wellbeing, boosting your immune system and overall vitality.
- Increased Productivity and Resilience: When you’re well-rested, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced, you’re better equipped to handle challenges, make decisions, and perform at your best, both in your personal and professional life.
- Stronger Relationships: By tending to your own needs, you’re more able to show up fully and authentically for others, fostering healthier and more supportive relationships.
- Preventing Burnout: In our fast-paced society, burnout is a real threat. Self-care serves as a crucial preventive measure, enabling you to recharge and avoid depletion.
Self-Care Starts with Helping Yourself
So many of us suffer from medical conditions throughout our lives. From severe allergies to cardiovascular conditions, our ages and personal wellbeing can affect the stringency of how we manage our medical conditions. By helping ourselves to manage our medical information, we give ourselves a better chance of quick and accurate treatment should an emergency arise.
One way to manage our health information and help ourselves is through the World Medical Card. WMC is a comprehensive system that combines a physical medical ID card with a secure app and an online health profile. Its core purpose is to provide immediate access to members’ crucial medical data in emergencies, transcending geographical and linguistic barriers.
What better way to embrace self-care than by having your vital information, including medications and prescriptions, allergies, diagnoses, surgeries and implants, vaccination records, X-rays, and hospital records, all in one place? If you travel with medical conditions, it’s a sure way for medical professionals globally to understand you, even if you are unconscious.
This International Self-Care Day, let’s make a conscious effort to integrate self-care into our lives, not just as a one-time event, but as an ongoing commitment to our overall wellbeing and happiness. Because when you take care of yourself, you’re better able to take on the world.
Sources:
- https://www.selfcarefederation.org/international-self-care-day-page
- https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2023/06/24/default-calendar/self-care-month
Join the thousands of global members today! Find out more here.
