Caring for Ourselves, Together: Celebrate International Self-Care Day at UC Davis

Did You Know July 24th Is International Self-Care Day?

International Self-Care Day, celebrated each year on July 24th, is a global reminder to prioritize our health and well-being. It's not just about indulging in occasional luxuries, it’s about making self-care a regular, intentional part of our daily lives.

If you’re like me, finding time for self-care can feel overwhelming. Between work, family, and other responsibilities, it’s easy to think we need a full spa day, or a big budget, to feel recharged. But self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. In fact, as Mental Health Match puts it, self-care is “anything we deliberately do (or refrain from doing) with our own well-being in mind.”

Fortunately, as members of the UC Davis and UC Davis Health community, we have a variety of resources right at our fingertips to help us celebrate International Self-Care Day:

Easy Ways to Celebrate Self-Care Day:

• Share the Comfort of Food
  Submit one of your favorite feel-good recipes to help bring warmth and nourishment to our student community.
• Unplug for the Evening
  Take a break from screens and skip the TV and social media for one night. Instead, try a new, savory recipe from UC Davis Health and enjoy a mindful meal.
• Breathe and Be Present
  Reconnect with yourself in just 5–10 minutes a day. Safety Services offers short courses to help you focus on your breathing and bring awareness back to the present moment.
• Move Your Body
  Boost your mood and energy with a new fitness routine. Healthy UC Davis offers free workout videos that are fun, easy to follow, and accessible anytime.
• Reflect Through Journaling
  Writing down your thoughts and feelings is a simple yet powerful way to process emotions and check in with yourself. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

Whatever form it takes, self-care is not selfish, it’s essential. Prioritizing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being helps you show up as your best self, both at work and at home.

This July 24th, take a moment to pause, recharge, and celebrate you!

Additional Resources:

Mental Health First Aid class: Sign Up Now!

Workplace Violence Prevention: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/elr/workplaceviolence/

Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP): https://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/asap

Ombuds: https://ombuds.ucdavis.edu/

Counselor drop-ins: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byI2jDrEAPyQzMa?Q_CHL=qr

Support U Peer Responder Program: clinicalwellbeing@ucdavis.edu

Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program: https://hdapp.ucdavis.edu/

Workplace Violence Prevention Program

• Reporting Workplace Violence
• Training & Preventing Workplace Violence
• Resources & Support
• About Workplace Violence & Tools

Contact the Workplace Violence Prevention Unit:

• ViolencePrevention@ucdavis.edu