In between shots, Ananya Panday often reaches for her journal to pen down her thoughts. The process, she believes, has helped her slow down on chaotic days. Today, on World Mental Health Day, the actor is launching Dear Me, a project that encourages journalling and self-reflection. “Anyone who knows me knows how much I love journalling. Even now, in between shoots or while travelling, I jot down moments in my journal that make me smile. Inside are photos of my family, my dogs, my friends, little memories I love going back to. With Dear Me, we wanted to create something that captures that same feeling, of slowing down and finding joy in the small moments,” shares the actor.

Panday, in 2019, had launched the online initiative So Positive to battle trolling, cyber bullying, and address mental health challenges in the digital age. She views Dear Me as an extension of the same conversation, just simple habits that help one focus on themselves and shut out the negativity on social media. “I’ve learned that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Whether it’s therapy, journalling, catching up with friends, or switching off from social media, those small acts make a big difference. We’re so caught up in what’s happening online that we sometimes forget to be present in our own lives. So, a digital detox every now and then is essential; it helps you realign and recharge,” she stresses.