There’s a day for everything now: National Donut Day, Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day (yes, that’s real), and the list goes on.

But there’s one day, I think, that’s truly worth honoring: International Self-Care Day.

Every year on July 24th, we’re reminded to take time for ourselves—for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

We’re reminded that self-care isn’t just a luxury to indulge in a few times a year or an afterthought that kicks in only after we’ve stretched ourselves too thin. It’s a responsibility. A 24/7 habit. A way of life.

Self-care is about remembering who you are when the world pulls you in 10 different directions. It’s not about spa days, bubble baths, or DIY pampering. It’s about honoring your most basic, essential needs: rest, truth, space, and presence.

If you’re looking for self-care practices to help you return to yourself, here are five meaningful ways to begin:

1. Ask yourself: What do I need right now?

It sounds simple, but most of us rarely pause long enough to ask this.

Instead of jumping into a predetermined activity, take a moment to check-in with yourself. Find a quiet place to sit, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and ask:

“What do I need today to feel nourished, supported, or restored?”

The answer might surprise you. Maybe it’s sleep, speaking a hard truth, or letting yourself off the hook.

Whatever comes up in the moment, write it down, and use it as your guiding intention as you move through the day.

2. Clear something that’s been draining you.

Self-care isn’t always soft and soothing. Sometimes it’s setting a boundary, ending a loop, or canceling the thing you agreed to out of guilt.

Consider this:

What’s one thing that’s been quietly stealing your energy? What would it feel like to release it today?

This kind of energetic clearing can be a powerful form of self-respect. You don’t need a full detox—just one honest decision can shift your whole day.

3. Do something because it brings you joy.

Believe it or not, joy is medicine. It realigns you with life’s sweetness.

So, whether you feel like dancing in your kitchen, sitting under your favorite tree, doodling for 10 minutes, or listening to a nostalgic playlist—give yourself the permission to do it.

And if joy feels hard to access, tell yourself that you’ll just try it for five minutes. Often that’s all it takes to start feeling more like you again.

4. Reconnect with the natural world.

One of the most restorative (and often overlooked) forms of self-care is being in nature.

The thing is, you don’t have to go on an all-day trek through a forest or escape to a beach resort to feel the benefits. It can be as simple as:

Walking barefoot in the grass
Sitting under a tree and feeling its grounded strength
Looking up at the sky for one full minute
Taking a walk and listening to nature’s sounds—the wind, the birds, the rustling leaves

Let the earth hold you the way it always does—unconditionally, without asking you to be more or do more. Reconnect with her pace and let it steady you.

5. Create a simple evening ritual.

Close the day with intention. Light a candle. Sip your favorite tea. Write down three things you’re grateful for, or place your hand on your heart and say: “I took care of myself today.”

Rituals help you mark meaning in the mundane. They slow you down, anchor your nervous system, and remind you that you matter, even in the quietest moments.

So, whether self-care is already a part of your life or something you’re just beginning to integrate, remember it doesn’t have to be perfect, pretty, or performative.

What matters is that it’s honest. That it meets you where you are. And that it comes from within.

Happy International Self-Care Day, beautiful soul!

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