On March 8, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally, to acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of women while also drawing attention to the discrimination and oppression that still plagues them.
It is an inclusive and diverse celebration that invites us to partake in nuanced conversations about women, gender, inequality, and injustice.
If you happen to treat this day like any other day or are unsure of how to make it special for yourself, here are seven gifts (beyond your usual flowers and self-care baskets) you can offer to yourself today and throughout the rest of the year to honour Women’s Day in its truest form.
Gift of sleep-
There is always so much to do as moms that putting everything else before sleep begins to sound like the only practical choice.
Another reason for skipping sleep and naps could be perfectionism; alternatively, one might avoid them out of stress or for another reason.
Whatever the reason may be, lack of sleep has a negative impact on both long-term health and the ability of the brain and memory to function normally.
Whatever the reason may be, sleep deprivation can not only cause health problems in the long term but also interfere with healthy brain & memory functioning.
Make it a priority to follow a healthy sleep routine & hygiene.
- Fix a consistent routine.
- Take naps with your kids/baby.
- Avoid any stimulation before sleep time (phones, laptop, TV)
- Have a sleep ritual (you can include essential oils, music and meditation)
- Read a book if that helps.
- Try breathing and stress relieving exercises.
- Engage in physical exercises in day time.
- Consult a doctor if you aren’t able to have a good sleep no matter how much you try.
Gift of health
Women are often the prime person to look after everyone else’s well being in their family and may miss out on taking care of their own health
Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle with more work and littler to no exercise, has led to an increasing number of health issues in women of all age groups. Every woman’s body goes through tremendous changes during the different phases of life, depending upon the play of hormones
That’s why it’s important to be mindful of the various changes that take place within their body with passing time and be aware of certain signs and symptoms that might crop up every now and then.
- Check with your doctor if you should be on any supplements for vitamins – especially if you have frequent body pains and other similar complaints. Often even after eating healthy we are short of vitamins & minerals in our bodies! Here’s a list of Vitamin you may need :
- 💊VIT B. 12
- 💊VIT. D
- 💊VIT. B6
- 💊VIT. C
- 💊VIT. E & K
- Walk/Exercise/Cardio /Lift Weight –
Pregnancy and Motherhood makes women lose both muscle and bone density leading to health issues like arthritis and osteoporosis in older age. What really helps is weight training to strengthen your muscles and shift the burden from your bones to the muscles! Strength training helps with:
- Reducing aches & pains
- Prevents Heart disease
- Make you feel empowered
- Enhanced Mood and reduces stress
- Reduced risk of arthritis and injuries
Consult your doctor /general practitioner for medical tests you might need . However here is a list of tests absolutely any women over 30 shall get done –
- Pap Smear & Pelvic Exam
- CBC ( Complete Blood Count)
- Breast Cancer Screening (Mammogram)
- Vit. D Total & calcium test
- Vit. B12 & Folate
- Thyroid profile
- Lipid profile
- Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar
- Eye, Skin & Dental Screening /regular checkups
Gift of emotional strength
Women are more emotionally vulnerable due to the traditional ways girls are raised.
But, to live a healthier, happier life, one must have mental strength.
Thankfully, emotional strength can be cultivated just like physical strength.
Here are five key components to emotional strength –
- Positive Thinking –
- Cut out negative people.
- Avoid comparison & self doubt.
- Create a positive environment around yourself.
- Be open to humour
- Practise a positive self talk
- Stop being critical about yourself.
- Anxiety Control
- Keep overthinking & perfectionism at bay.
- Practise stress & an anxiety relieving exercises consult a doctor or a professional if need be let go thinks you can’t control focus on things that you can work upon and alter
- Visualisation – Envision your confident and radiant self daily – concentrate on that and try working towards it in your daily life.
- Attention Control – Women often need to multitask which increases their chance of having a shorter attention span.
Their minds may be more vulnerable to chaos and might get overwhelmed which makes it important to regularly journal, meditate, and engage in other mindful practices. If necessary, you may also speak with an expert.
- Goal Setting – Goal setting is an important part of our life and it makes life so much easier and more purposeful. Make sure to have daily, weekly and yearly realistic goals
Note – Even if you get only 10 minutes, make mental health your priority and take out 10 minutes to sit and meditate, clear your mind and focus on yourself.
Gift of great relationships
With so much on our plates in our 30s and 40s it gets difficult to build meaningful relationships and bond with families.
But that’s the age we and our kids need holistic relationships more than ever.
People lose parents, have babies, go through difficult marriages, and require support with all of that. On top of that, they could also be stressed out about their careers and finances.
Helping someone through these times by simply being there listening and not judging is an honour and will deepen your relationships in ways you probably can’t imagine.
Not only that, it will help you ensure that you too will have reliable people around you when needed rather than you having to deal with all the things alone.
So, take time to foster and deepen relationships not only within family but also with your old & new friends.
- Make your time with your kids more meaningful & bonding.
- Let go of friendships that don’t treat you well or instead drain you.
- Be proactive in meeting like minded people
- Plan get togethers, family dinners.
- Check upon your family and friends often.
- Share your hardships and happiness.
- Communicate often.
Gift of organisation and planning
Being organised is a life skill. It helps you be prepared.
It helps you know what’s on your plate and give your attention appropriately.
You look ahead to what’s coming and are prepared mentally as well as actually – not that you hold them all in your head and remember them at just the right moment, but that you have a place for them to live outside your head (like on a calendar) and you look at it often enough to know what’s needed next.
Even if being organised does not come naturally to you, you don’t have to give up and accept life in chaos and disarray.
Here is all to help get your life organised –
- Declutter your brain so you have a clear space for meaningful things.
- Make a habit to dump your thoughts in a journal periodically whenever you feel overwhelmed.
- You can also try talking to a counsellor or friend
- Mark all important dates/ appointments / events in a digital calendar and turn on reminders.
- Have daily, weekly and monthly to do lists to check off.
Pro Tip – Instead of sifting through all the possible to-do items on your list multiple times a day, create a short daily to-do list on an index card or post-it note.
Choose the top three priorities for the day and write those out on your card. Of course those aren’t the only things you’ll do all day, but those are the things you want to focus on making happen – and if they get done, you will have had a good day.
- Pre-plan your meals –
Kitchen tends to take up a huge chunk of our daily routine . Having rough meal plans prepared for the week ahead with groceries stocked for the same,can ease up your work in loads
- Delegate and take help from technology wherever needed.
- Learn the art of smart delegation. It will help you get so much more time for your own self out of laundry, cooking and cleaning time.
Gift of financial growth-
Women traditionally being ‘home-makers’ are often not concerned with where the finances are coming from and where they should go.
However, with the changing economic scenario and the higher participation of women in the workforce, financial literacy for women should be given topmost priority.
It can help them
- Be prepared for emergencies.
- Deal with rising costs of living and inflation.
- Children tend to be more influenced by their mothers than their fathers. Being financially literate sets a good example for your children as well.
- In most households, women are responsible for the day-to-day expenses. Thus, it is helpful for them to know how best to use the money.
- Women who are financially literate gain more confidence in their own decision-making.
Here’s how to work your way through financial literacy and independence –
- Gain basic understanding of finances and investment through online resources.
- Go through the finances, investment and insurance of your family. Keep revising every few months.
- You can also start working towards financial independence at your own pace. Here’s all you need to know about gaining financial independence – (Add career blog link)
Gift of self growth –
Self-Growth for moms is important. Whether you are a working mom or not, working on yourself is important.
Don’t let daily duties make your life feel stagnant. So instead, focus on learning and growth.
Our kids pick up our habits. When we work on ourselves, our kids can witness values like confidence, assertiveness, gratitude, self-discipline, balance, etc for themselves
- Invest your time in quality books, shows & podcasts
- Network with people who you idealise.
- Work on your physical and mental health.
- Work on the interests that sparked you before marriage.
Hope this blog helps you celebrate International Women’s Day more meaningfully.
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