It wasn’t so long ago that self-help gurus on Instagram were touting elaborate skincare routines as the most wholesome form of self-care. Not anymore. Self-care has finally broached the skin barrier to reach deeper within. Inner peace is now the biggest flex. Much of this shift can be attributed to the constant overstimulation that we’re exposed to on a daily basis. As a generation, we’re waking up to the harsh reality that all the sheet masks in the world can’t wipe out the impacts of elevated cortisol levels and sleepless nights.

The butterfly hug is an effective way to reassure your brain, and calm down anxiety

As psychologist Namrata Jain explains, “Emotional self-regulation is quietly becoming the foundation of modern mental health care. Today, whether you are speaking with a therapist, a start-up founder, or a tired parent, the quest is the same: to feel grounded and calm in an increasingly chaotic world.” She adds that the post-pandemic rise in anxiety, burnout and chronic stress has compelled people to look inwards. “People are not just mentally drained, but their bodies are showing signs of emotional overload too. That’s because mental health is not just about thoughts, it is about how the body holds and processes emotions,” she elaborates.