SANOFI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL SELF CARE DAY WITH POWER TO LOVE YOURSELF COMPLETELY

As a work-from-home mom of two young adults, I can be extremely busy. With a full house to manage, work to be accomplished, shifting from mom to wife in the middle of a pandemic can be quite challenging. When I was invited to declare a promise for International Self-Care Day 2021... here is what I wrote:

It is very important to take care of both physical and mental health. And yes... growing my own veggies and having my own garden to tend to, makes me happy and brings me some precious "me-time"!

In celebration of International Self Care Day, Sanofi Philippines held an Instagram Live event called Power to Love Yourself Completely to discuss topics related to self care. Sanofi invited MommaNManila founder Michelle Aventajado and She Talks Asia Co-Founder and CEO Lynn Pinugo to talk about self care, with topics such as how to teach kids about self care, and how working millennials can take care of themselves while working from home. 

In line with the Global Self-Care Federation’s theme, #SelfCarePromise, the event also invited everyone to share their self care promises online, empowering the viewers to take the step towards taking care of themselves even in the smallest ways.  

Promoting a holistic approach to health is a big part of Sanofi’s Panata, and encouraging others to practice self care is a part of this. Jill Ong-Lim, Group Brand Manager of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare shared, “We need to realize that self sare in itself is the goal. Not just for others, but just for yourself. ”   

Janeena Chan moderated the discussion, sharing her own experience and tips for practicing self care. “Your reality is shaped within your mind, so as long as you know that you can get back up again, you’ll be okay.”  

For Lynn Pinugo, it’s important that we know the difference between self soothing and self care. “Self soothing are those emergency routines that we do when we’re feeling bad, while self care are the things that you do so you build emotional agility. For self care, it’s the things you do so you don’t gas out, it’s more for the long term.”  

As a mom, Michelle Aventajado also pointed out that self care can be anything simple. “Self care can be so many things. For me, it’s waking up early enough and having quiet time for myself, reading my bible and drinking coffee. For me, it’s to rest when I’m tired, stop when I’m overwhelmed, pause and reflect. And when my kids see me doing that, I’m setting an example.”  

The event was attended by over 100 participants who shared their own self care promises via the comments section.   

Sanofi Philippines encourages everyone to make their own self care promises via selfcarepromise.org and share them on Instagram, tagging @sanofi.ph, with the hashtags #SelfCarePromise, #ISCD21, and #HealthierPhilippines.  

Watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRqhk6KHr5c/