The importance of promoting self-care with your teams as we celebrate International Self-Care day.

Maybe you’ve not even heard of it, but International Day of Self-Care (Also known as Self-Care Day, or ISD) is a universal day dedicated to the promotion of self-care and personal wellness. It falls each year on the twenty-fourth day of July and is a wonderful opportunity for you as employer, to focus on encouraging and supporting self-care practices within your workplace.

What Is Self-Care?

A little lost? When many people think of self-care, the act of having yourself a nice hot bubble bath is probably what comes to mind first. The truth is, that an ideal self-care routine includes a variety of actions and mindsets to really work and benefit each individual, and as we are all different, this will be different things for different employees.

Self-care includes a wide spectrum of related categories—it includes your physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

If you’re taking care of your outer appearance but ignoring your bad eating or sleeping habits, you aren’t really practicing self-care. We can do all of the self-care things like having a hot bubble bath or having a Netflix movie night, but at the end of the day, if you’re neglecting your emotions, nothing will change.

Now, we aren’t saying self-care can’t be a nice cup of freshly brewed green tea or an hour spent walking alone in the park—-but it’s important to remember to take care of the less glamorous tasks too, which mean we can maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable mental state, and we all need to take responsibility for this in our own lives.

What can I do as an employer?

There is a lot you can do, and most of it starts with you, and the role model you are in the business and the culture you create in your business too.

You can also think about implementing wellness programs, providing resources for mental and physical well-being, and creating a culture that values employees’ time and boundaries. Additionally, you could consider recognising and rewarding self-care efforts to foster a positive and supportive environment.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how to promote International Self-Care Day:

1. Implement Wellness Programs:

• Offer a variety of wellness activities:

This could include yoga classes, meditation sessions, stress management workshops, or even just a walking group over lunchtimes.

• Provide access to resources:

Consider offering counselling services, and this might be something your Employee Assistance Program offers, maybe offer a subscription to a mental health app such as OK Positive, or some online resources for stress management via Mind; the Mental Health Charity.

• Encourage physical activity:

Promote gym memberships, you could even see if you could get a good deal for your employees at a local independent gym, you could have a walking meeting, or even a simple lunchtime walk.

2. Create a Culture of Support:

• Lead by example:

Managers and leaders should model healthy self-care practices and encourage employees to do the same, for example, making sure you take a break, and don’t respond to or send emails outside of normal working hours, and especially not when you are on holiday! These are all things that will send a strong message to your employees to do the same.

• Encourage employees to set boundaries:

Help employees understand the importance of setting boundaries around work and personal time and encourage them to communicate those boundaries.

• Promote mental health awareness:

Educate employees about the importance of mental health and offer resources for support.

• Offer flexible work arrangements:

Consider flexible work hours, remote work options, or other arrangements that allow employees to better manage their time.

3. Recognise and Reward Self-Care Efforts:

• Acknowledge employees who prioritise self-care:

Publicly recognise employees who actively participate in wellness programs or who demonstrate a commitment to their well-being.

• Provide rewards:

Consider offering small rewards or incentives for participation in wellness activities or for demonstrating healthy self-care habits.

4. Other Tips:

• Send reminders to take breaks:

Encourage employees to step away from their desks and take regular breaks throughout the day.

• Encourage walking meetings:

Walking meetings can provide a break from the usual desk-bound routine and promote physical activity and creativity.

• Consider providing self-care kits:

A small gesture like providing a self-care kit can be a wonderful way to show employees that you value their well-being.

• Communicate the importance of self-care:

Share resources, articles, or stories that highlight the importance of self-care. By implementing these strategies, you can effectively promote International Self-Care Day and create a workplace culture that values employee well-being.

Some Final Words of Encouragement

Self-care is a concept that may seem frivolous or unnecessary to some, but it is undoubtedly a crucial part of the ideal healthy lifestyle. It can be scary to let go (even for a moment) and allow yourself to take a break from responsibility—and what better time to try it than on International Self Care Day!

Want some help?

At Meraki HR we’ve helped many of our clients create their own Wellbeing Strategies that work for their business and their people, and as a result, they’ve seen reductions in absences, and a more engaged and productive group of employees, so if you’d like some of our help and expertise to create your wellbeing strategy, get in touch. BOOK A CALL HERE.