It's International Women's Day

International women’s day celebrates and empowers women of who they are and

what they’ve become. It celebrates all those women who have faced struggles in

their journey, those women who paved their way out through the storm so

gracefully and bravely and those who are still fighting for their rights.

Every part of the world celebrates it differently. The day is an official holiday in Afghanistan, China (for women only) Cuba, Madagascar (for women only), Vietnam, etc.

In countries like Croatia, Romania, Bosnia, Bulgaria and Chile, it is compulsory for men to appreciate the ladies in their lives – friends, mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, etc. – it can be small gifts such as writing a letter by pouring your gratitude towards them and telling how amazing and important they are your life.

Even if you can’t manage to do so, the day itself is still a great opportunity to celebrate a special woman in your life by respecting their diligence and sharing their stories. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, is always an appropriate way to show your gratitude and the smile it causes can make a big difference!

DO YOU KNOW?

Purple is the official color for International Women's Day. So simply wearing a purple shirt or ribbon is a great way to show your support.

Start by taking care of yourself. An important part of keeping fit and healthy is to

take care of your own psychological state. There are a bunch of things you can do

to make sure you are keeping yourself mentally healthy.

Manage Stress

Stress is usually unavoidable, but knowing what triggers your stress and

knowing how to cope is essential in maintaining good mental health. Try by

managing your responsibilities and worries by making a list or a schedule of

when you can resolve each issue. Often if you break down your worries and

stresses and write them down, you realize that they are manageable. If you

discover you are having trouble sleeping, or keep thinking about things that

are stressing you out, write them down and reassure yourself that you can

deal with them in the morning.

Activity and Exercise

Being active provides a sense of achievement and boosts the chemicals in

your brain that help put you in a good mood. Doing exercises daily

eliminates anxiety, low mood, stress and feeling lazy and gives you a fresh

start in the morning. It is also linked to living a longer life.

You don't need to run a marathon or play 90 minutes of football; a short walk

or some another gentle activity might do the trick.

Do Something You Enjoy

Try to make time for doing the fun things you enjoy. Develop your own

hobbies. If you like going for a walk, painting or even watching a specific TV

show, try to fetch out some time to enjoy yourself. When people don’t do so,

they can be irritable and unhappy.

Be Sociable

Make an effort to maintain good relationships and talk to people whenever

you get the chance. Having friends is important for your self-esteem and for

providing support when you're not feeling good. Research has found that

talking to others for just ten minutes can improve memory and exam marks!

Doing Things For Others

Helping others isn't just good for the people you're helping; it's good for you

too. Helping someone can pump up your self-esteem and make you feel

good about your place in the world. Feeling like you're part of a community

is an essential part of your mental health.

Seeking For Help

It’s important to recognize when you're not feeling good, and to know when

you should ask for help. There's no shame in asking someone for support if

you're feeling low or stressed. Everyone goes through patches where they

don't feel as good as they should. You can try speaking to your friends or

family, or consult a psychologist.

References:

• https://www.coasttocoastflorist.com/blog/2019/02/28/join-coastto-coast-florist-as-we-celebrate-international-womens-day-onmarch-8/

• https://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/health-and-well-being/mentalhealth/10-top-tips-for-good-mental-health/

• https://books.google.co.in/books

• https://www.facebook.com/

• TheCompoundingPharmacyOfAmerica/posts/an-important-partof-keeping-fit-and-healthy-is-to-take-care-of-your-own-mental-/2934961553204492/

Author:

Bhavika Ahuja

BA (Hons) Applied Psychology (2022)