International Self-Care Day: A Gentle Reminder to Prioritize Yourself

Today is International Self-Care Day—a reminder that caring for ourselves is something we deserve every day.

I think self-care often takes a back seat in our lives. We spend so much of our time focusing on staying productive, checking off to-do lists, and keeping busy with everything else.

But I’ve always questioned why we do that.

Is it because we feel guilty if we rest?

Is it because we don’t know how to relax?

Is it because we’re unfamiliar with what self-care actually is?

Somewhere along the way, self-care became associated with expensive products, spa days, perfect routines, and the idea that taking care of ourselves has to look aesthetically pleasing.

The truth is that self-care is found in ordinary moments.

It can be stepping outside for a few minutes to feel a cool breeze.

Sometimes it’s making yourself a comforting meal.

Sometimes it’s going to bed early before you’re completely exhausted.

Self-care also looks like saying no, asking for help, letting yourself cry instead of pretending you’re okay, and sometimes simply admitting, “Today is hard.”

Personally, I get burnout quite easily.

Socializing.

Running errands.

Working.

Sometimes even just a thought will leave me completely exhausted.

It all just adds up. In those moments, my mind and body feel like I’ve hit a wall—one that leaves lasting bruises and takes a long time to recover from.

I’m trying to pay more attention when I’m overwhelmed. When my body is begging me to slow down. I’m learning the difference between what I think I should do and what I actually need.

As someone with both ADHD and Autism, I’ve learned that my version of self-care looks a little different from everyone else’s.

I need dim lighting because my eyes are overly sensitive to bright lights.

I need to cancel plans when I’ve reached my social capacity.

Sometimes I need to eat the same comfort foods I’ve had dozens of times because I don’t have the energy to decide.

I recently bought noise-canceling headphones, and they’ve worked wonders for my noise sensitivity.

I also use fidget toys and jewelry to help calm me when I’m feeling overly anxious.

Those things have taught me something important.

Self-care is about regulation. It’s about creating safety where your mind and body feel like they can finally exhale.

I’m much more aware of burnout now. I pay more attention to how I’m feeling and listen to my body when it tells me I need a break.

I used to push through the exhaustion, thinking that rest was something meant only for sleep. But now, I recognize the signals that burnout is on the way.

I’ve also learned that self-care isn’t always comfortable.

Sometimes the most caring thing we can do is set a boundary we’ve been avoiding.

Sometimes it’s asking for support instead of insisting that we’re fine.

It’s making a doctor’s appointment.

It’s choosing rest even when our to-do list tells us we haven’t earned it yet.

Those choices are acts of self-respect.

For me, setting boundaries has been an important part of my own self-care.

I used to stay in situations that weren’t healthy for me because I never wanted to give up on people. I always thought being a good person meant continuing to try.

But some experiences taught me that people can give up on you, even when you never gave up on them.

Now, I’m more protective of my heart and who I let in. Setting those boundaries has helped me find more peace and protect my own energy.

So today, on International Self-Care Day, start small.

Drink a cup of hot tea.

Step outside for a few minutes.

Eat something comforting.

Take a nap.

Read a few chapters of a good book.

Take a nice hot bath.

Sit in silence.

Listen to what your body is trying to tell you.

I genuinely hope this reminder stays with you long after today.

You are worthy of care—not because of what you accomplish, how productive you are, or how much you give to others, but simply because you are human.

What is one small act of self-care your mind or body has been asking for lately?

“Almost all of us are walking around with a quiet belief that we’re not doing enough. The antidote is not doing more. It’s learning to be kinder to ourselves.”— Unknown

Check out this recent post: The Self-Care Practices That Actually Help My AuDHD Brain