7 Ways To Celebrate International Self-care Day With Your Team

Do you ever wonder if there's more you could do to boost your team's well-being at work? Here's a fantastic opportunity: you can celebrate International Self-care Day with your team! 

This particular day is your chance to help your employees enhance their mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. Planning engaging activities will make the day memorable and introduce your teams to effective self-care interventions to improve their overall health and well-being. 

Read on as we tell you when and what this day is about and some of the best ways to celebrate it for a healthier workforce!

What is International Self-care Day?

International Self-care Day is a global initiative for celebrating the vital role of self-care in maintaining health and wellness. It promotes the idea that self-care is an ongoing, essential responsibility for each individual. 

But what does ‘self-care’ really mean? 

The National Institute of Mental Health explains self-care as activities individuals do to maintain and improve physical, mental, and emotional health.

So, International Self-Care Day is a channel to enhance awareness about the importance of self-care as the cornerstone of health. 

It encourages people to incorporate self-care into their daily routines and prioritize it​. Each year, this day sheds light on various aspects of self-care and its critical role in overall wellness.

When is International Self-care Day?

International Self-care Day is celebrated each year on July 24. This symbolic date shows that self-care should be practiced "24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

The United States Senate officially acknowledged the significance of this day by passing Senate Resolution 515 during the 113th Congress.

Why it's important to recognize International Self-care Day at work

International Self-care Day is an excellent opportunity to promote employee health. When you recognize the day, you show your employees they matter to you and that you care about their health. 

This, coupled with lifestyle benefits and other employee perks that promote their overall well-being, will be your best plan for employee retention and growth. 

Here are more reasons you should recognize and celebrate International Self-Care Day at work with your teams:

To enhance employee well-being

It's easy to forget or ignore employee self-care in a fast-paced workplace. 

But when you incorporate self-care practices at work, they significantly impact mood and productivity and empower employees to handle life's challenges. 

Self-care activities help individuals manage symptoms of mental health problems and prevent them from worsening.​

To reduce stress and burnout

Your employees are humans. And chronic stress and burnout can severely affect their health and productivity. Luckily, self-care activities replenish physical, mental, and emotional energy to prevent burnout. 

So when you encourage self-care, you'll help employees manage stress more effectively for a more balanced and fulfilling work environment​.

To improve organizational health

You want to invest in the well-being and happiness of your employees to promote sustainable success. According to experts, happy employees are 13% more productive at work! So, when you prioritize your employees' physical and mental well-being, you'll help enhance their productivity. 

To recognize mental health concerns

Here's the thing – mental health issues, whether fatigue, depression, anxiety, or trauma, lead to unfortunate work absences. 

That’s why it's best to promote self-care and mental health awareness at work to prevent lost working time due to poor mental health. With this approach, you will also ensure a healthier, more engaged workforce.

7 ways to recognize International Self-care Day in the office

As you can see, planning to celebrate this day can have very positive results for your employee's health and, by extension, your company's growth. 

Here are some ways to recognize International Self-Care Day in the office:

1. Appreciation or gift exchange

This approach creates a welcoming environment where you and your team members express gratitude and appreciation for each other. 

You can set up a session where everyone shares moments where a colleague's work or actions had a positive impact. This can happen in a group meeting or through a casual approach like a communal appreciation board or a digital platform for posting notes of gratitude. 

The aim is to cultivate a culture of acknowledgment and positivity to emphasize emotional well-being at work. Encouraging staff to recognize each other's efforts strengthens interpersonal connections and enhances morale and a sense of belonging. 

This initiative is in the spirit of self-care. It fosters a collaborative and appreciative workplace atmosphere. 

And you can make things even better. You can gift your employees with self-care-related items to encourage them to take some time to relax and pamper themselves. This approach personalizes the appreciation efforts because your teams will never forget the gifts – especially when you pick gifts that can improve their lives.

Not sure what to gift your employees for appreciation? Check out some of these posts on gift ideas:

• The best funny employee gifts to lighten the mood at work

• Top thank-you gifts for all your employees

• Superb employee engagement gifts to boost morale and productivity and motivate your teams for better results

• Best affordable gifts if you’re on a tighter budget

2. Scheduled mindfulness breaks

To commemorate International Self-care Day in the office, set aside specific times for employees to engage in mindfulness activities. These breaks allow staff to step away from work-related stress and focus on mental well-being. 

You can encourage activities like guided meditation, deep breathing exercises, or quiet, reflective practices that help center thoughts and emotions. 

Implementing these mindfulness breaks signals the importance of mental health at work. It encourages a structured way for employees to recharge and refocus to enhance productivity and mitigate burnout. 

In addition, the breaks create a more balanced, mentally healthy workplace that shows your dedication to your employees' overall well-being. It might just be your best way to cultivate a more mindful, focused, and resilient team!

Related: 8 Ways To Celebrate World Mental Health Day & Employee Wellbeing

3. Group activities for social wellness

This practice involves organizing activities that encourage social interaction and teamwork. You can plan group events or team-building exercises that create opportunities for employees to connect on a more personal level (and beyond work-related tasks). 

Your activities could range from collaborative problem-solving challenges to fun, interactive games. Remember, you aim to break down formal barriers and allow team members to interact in a relaxed, informal setting. 

Doing so will strengthen team dynamics and support individual well-being through a fostered sense of community and belonging in the workplace. 

You will create shared experiences that will improve communication, boost morale, and create a more cohesive and supportive work environment – all crucial for overall social wellness!

4. Host or encourage meditation and fitness sessions

You can organize sessions where you and your colleagues participate in meditation exercises or physical fitness activities. Consider yoga, light aerobics, or even a short walk outside together as a team. The aim here is to provide a physical outlet for stress and a mental break from the rigors of work.

With these sessions in your workday, you'll emphasize the importance of improving physical and mental fitness even in the office. Physical activity improves physical health, boosts mental clarity, and stress management. Meditation, on the other hand, calms the mind and enhances focus. 

Such a holistic approach to self-care underlines the value your company places on the overall well-being of its employees. It’s a great way to bond with your colleagues while caring for their body and mind.

Related: Wellness Gifts For Employees: Ideas To Balance The Team

5. Engage with nature

How about crafting an approach that involves outdoor activities for you and your colleagues? Stepping outside and enjoying the natural world offers your team a refreshing change from the usual office environment. 

Engaging with nature can increase creativity and encourage a better mood, plus a sense of rejuvenation. It’s a beautiful way to break the monotony of the workday and foster a deeper connection with your surroundings. 

You can consider a group walk in a nearby park, a short hiking trip, or even a simple outdoor lunch. The goal is to connect with nature – think plants, animals, fresh air, and soil - which can significantly boost mental well-being and reduce stress. In addition to better mental health, this approach will help your team bond in a relaxing, informal setting.

Related: 8 Top Sustainable Company Swag Ideas

6. Start a healthy eating initiative

Better food equals better overall health and more productive and happy employees so lead the charge in promoting nutritious eating habits among your colleagues. 

You can start by organizing a healthy potluck lunch, providing organic fruit baskets in the break room, or arranging for a nutritionist to give a talk on balanced diets.

When you prioritize healthy eating in the workplace, you highlight the importance of physical health as a part of overall well-being. Nutritious food improves energy levels, mood, and cognitive function, which are crucial for a productive workday. 

By encouraging your employees to make healthier food choices, you will foster individual well-being and create a culture of health-consciousness in the office. 

Celebrating International Self-Care Day like this is a great way to educate teams on the benefits of a balanced diet while enjoying delicious, wholesome food together. 

Remember, a healthy team is a happy and efficient team!

7. Coffee and tea breaks for social interaction:

Have your teams been dealing with a demanding project all year? In such cases, you'll find your employees struggling to catch a break at work, and maybe socializing with their colleagues is the approach to make all the hard work seem light. 

On International Self-Care Day, you can encourage your employees to take coffee and tea breaks together. This provides an excellent opportunity for them to step away from their desks and engage in meaningful and fun conversations. 

They need such breaks to discuss work projects, weekend plans, families, pets, or shared interests. The informal setting allows for building social connections. It will also significantly evoke a sense of belonging and support in the workplace.

Ultimately, all your employees will benefit from better social wellness, thereby reducing anxiety and fatigue, which could affect their productivity and health.

Key takeaways

Sometimes, work gets in the way of self-care. There is always too much to do and maybe too little time so your teams might be rushing against time to meet deadlines. 

But, you can make it easier for them – even if just for a day. The International Self-Care Day practices above are easy to implement and will leave a lasting impression on each team member. 

Show your team that their well-being is your top priority. You will create a happier, healthier workplace and spark positive energy that'll ripple through your office long after the day. 

To make rewarding your team easier, check out PerkUp. With PerkUp, there are gifts for every occasion and milestone so that your employees always feel valued and appreciated. Whether you want to send a self-care package or let your employees choose how to spend their rewards, PerkUp’s got you covered. Book a demo today to find out more.