For millions of Indian women, this question has become almost impossible to ask. We have been raised in a culture that celebrates the woman who sacrifices, who gives endlessly, who puts herself last as an act of love. And somewhere along the way, that belief quietly taught us that taking care of ourselves is something we do only after everything and everyone else is taken care of. The result is a generation of women who are exhausted to their bones and have no idea their body has been trying to tell them something for months.
Every year, International Self-Care Day on July 24 is a reminder that self-care is not a luxury. It is not selfish. It is not something you earn by finishing your to-do list. According to psychologist Dr. Rituparna Ghosh, “Self-care is about recognising your own needs and taking intentional steps to protect your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.” Here are the 9 signs that your mind and body are asking you, urgently and clearly, to finally stop and listen.
