International Self-Care Day recently passed, and while it’s a valuable reminder to look after ourselves, it also raises an interesting question: what does self-care actually mean today? Is it something we acknowledge once a year, or is it a fundamental part of everyday life that allows us to thrive?

For many of us, self-care is associated with pampering or taking a well-earned break. While those moments are still important, I believe our understanding of self-care is changing for the better.

Increasingly, people are recognising that looking after ourselves isn’t something we should turn to only when we’re exhausted or overwhelmed. It’s something we cultivate as part of everyday life. Self-care is becoming less about escaping our busy lives for an hour and more about choosing habits, environments and relationships that help us thrive in the first place.

It’s about moving away from simply surviving or pushing through the mud, and instead taking life one step at a time, with the right tools and resources to help us navigate our own journeys.

I believe this is one of the reasons we’re seeing such a rise in community wellbeing across Oxfordshire. People are longing for places where they feel welcome, where they can slow down, connect with others and be reminded that they don’t have to do everything alone.

Inspired by community

For me, these values began long before I ever considered opening Rooted in Burford.

I spent much of my childhood roaming the Scottish countryside, where my grandparents, Davie and Rita, owned the local fishmongers. Brenda ran the post office, Ann was the hairdresser and Jim managed the local outdoor swimming pool. Everyone knew one another and knew where to go to find what they needed. I watched my grandparents give so much back to their community, often sharing what they had with those who were less fortunate.

People shared stories, swapped skills, looked after one another and always stopped to say hello. There was a genuine sense of belonging. As children, my younger brother and I thought nothing of exploring the local burns or walking to the park because we were surrounded by a community that cared and felt like an extended family.

Looking back, I realise just how much those early experiences shaped me.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked in wellbeing in many different ways. I began as a behaviour analyst, supporting children, families, schools and carers, before going on to teach and study meditation, yoga, Ayurveda and Reiki, among other practices.

For the past five years, I’ve been working with leaders who are striving to create meaningful businesses and lasting legacies, without sacrificing their own wellbeing or the wellbeing of others in the process.

Across every role, I noticed something that became increasingly common: people were trying to carry everything alone. Whether they were parents, carers, professionals or business owners, so many were pushing through stress, putting themselves last and believing they simply had to keep going.

It felt a long way from the communities I grew up in. If I had a pound for every time I heard someone say, “It’s lonely”…

That’s when I found myself wondering how we could bring back that sense of belonging in a world that has changed so much, so quickly.

That question has shaped everything I’ve gone on to do, and it’s why I believe so strongly in community wellbeing. It’s my way of accepting that we may not live in “the good old days”, but we can create good present and future days.

More than self-care

When people hear the word “wellbeing”, it’s easy to think about yoga, massage or meditation. These practices are all incredibly valuable, but I’ve come to believe they’re only part of the picture.

True wellbeing is about feeling connected — both to ourselves and to those around us.

It’s about having somewhere you can go where you feel seen, heard and supported; somewhere that encourages you to pause before life becomes too much, rather than waiting until you reach burnout.

I’ve seen first-hand how powerful this preventative approach can be. Many of the leaders I work with arrive feeling completely overwhelmed, trying to hold everything together at work while also being present at home. They often feel they have to sacrifice one for the other.

I always share the same message with them: you don’t have to wait until you reach burnout before asking for support. In fact, life is much easier when you don’t. The same is true for all of us.

The more we make space to care for ourselves regularly, the better equipped we are to care for the people around us too.

Why community matters in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a wonderful place to live. So many people choose to make their homes here because they’re searching for a different pace of life — one that is closer to nature, grounded in local communities and offers more space to breathe.

As our understanding of self-care continues to evolve, I’m seeing more people across our rural communities embrace a broader, more holistic approach to wellbeing.

Rather than waiting until they feel overwhelmed, people are looking for ways to support their health proactively, exploring practices such as yoga therapy, breathwork, meditation, massage, nutrition and mindfulness alongside more traditional healthcare.

This isn’t about replacing conventional medicine, but recognising that our wellbeing is shaped by our minds, bodies, lifestyles and the relationships we have with those around us.

I’m excited to see more people choosing to prioritise their health as a way of living life to the fullest.

With that shift comes a growing desire for connection. People aren’t simply looking for treatments or classes as standalone offerings; they’re looking for welcoming spaces where they can ask questions, try something new, meet like-minded people and feel supported.

That’s why I believe community wellbeing is becoming increasingly important, particularly in Oxfordshire’s smaller towns and villages.

Living somewhere beautiful doesn’t automatically mean we feel connected, but having accessible spaces where people can come together can make a real difference.

That belief was one of the inspirations behind Rooted in Burford, but it’s also something I’m seeing reflected across Oxfordshire. More independent practitioners, community groups and wellbeing businesses are working collaboratively, recognising that no single person or organisation has all the answers.

By sharing knowledge, signposting one another and putting people before services, we’re creating stronger networks of support that make it easier for individuals to find the approach that works best for them.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to wellbeing.

Because of this, my hope is that more people feel encouraged to explore what’s available on their doorstep. Whether it’s a yoga class, walking group, community café, volunteering opportunity, gardening project or another wellbeing initiative, finding somewhere you feel welcome and connected can have a remarkable impact on your health and happiness.

A different way of thinking about self-care

If there’s one thing I’d encourage people to take away from this year’s International Self-Care Day, it’s that self-care doesn’t have to become another item on a to-do list.

Instead, it should be about creating space for the things that have always helped us thrive: meaningful connection, time in nature, movement, rest and a sense of belonging.

Looking back, I realise those small Scottish communities I grew up in understood something we’re now beginning to rediscover.

Wellbeing isn’t built in isolation. It’s created through the people around us, the environments we’re part of and the moments when we feel seen and supported.

Perhaps that’s why community wellbeing is becoming such an important part of the conversation across Oxfordshire.

As more of us embrace a preventative, whole-person approach to health, I hope we continue to nurture the places and communities that help us all flourish.

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Lillie Ananda is a wellbeing practitioner and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Rooted in Burford, a holistic wellbeing sanctuary and community hub located in the Cotswolds.