Self-Care Isn’t Selfish!

Grab some icy water, silence your notifications, and breathe deeply: International Self-Care Day is on the 24th July. Every year, it's date (24/7) reminds us of the importance of consistent self-care – not just once in a blue moon but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not just a marketing moment or a wellness buzzword: it’s a movement with global significance, supported by healthcare organisations, schools, and public health campaigns around the world.

What is International Self-Care Day All About?

The day underscores the role of self-care in preventing illness, managing chronic conditions, and improving mental health. All of these are so vital in our busy society, where stress is constant.

Since the pandemic, public understanding of health and wellness has shifted. There’s now a stronger focus on proactive care: doing what you can before you’re unwell. Self-care is central to that shift.

This year, International Self-Care Day encourages global awareness, education, and a sense of responsibility for individual well-being – regardless of age, gender, or background.

What is Self-Care?

In an age of skincare routines, spa treatments, and an all-round focus on self-care as an aesthetic-based practice, true self-care is less about what you buy and more about what you build into your daily life. Sometimes that looks like going for a walk, cooking a healthy meal, or doing yoga. Other times, it’s turning off your phone, saying “no” to a draining commitment, or finally booking that health appointment you’ve been putting off.

In short, it isn’t always aesthetic. It doesn’t need to be expensive. And most importantly, it’s personal. What works for one person may not work for another – and that’s okay.

How to Get Involved:

Reflect on your rhythms: are your habits supporting your health, or working against it?

Choose consistency over intensity: you don’t need to overhaul your life – just start with small changes.

Prioritise rest without guilt: rest isn’t lazy – it’s vital.

Set boundaries: learn to say “no” without apology.

Talk about self-care openly: normalize conversations around mental health and burnout in your circles.

It all begins with awareness and the permission to care for yourself as a necessity, not a reward.

Top Tips for Self-Care on a Budget:

Hydrate: water truly is transformative – inside and out.

Keep active: this doesn’t have to be the gym, even a ten-minute mental health walk can be beneficial.

Try free online classes: YouTube is full of yoga, meditation, and fitness tutorials.

Create a DIY spa night: use kitchen ingredients like honey, oats, or coconut oil.

Digital detox: unfollow, mute, or delete what drains you – additionally, remember that our brains are not built to receive the bombardment of constant information from social media.

Journaling: a simple notebook can help reframe your mindset daily.

Prep simple, nourishing meals: your body is important and deserves proper sustenance; equally, this is not to discount cheat days. You also deserve a sweet treat!

Self-Care Is a Practice, Not a Performance:

International Self-Care Day is a call to take yourself seriously – not as a project to fix, but as a person to care for. So this July 24th (and beyond), don’t wait for burnout to remind you to take a break. It’s about paying attention to your needs and giving yourself the same compassion you offer others.