International Women’s Day: 5 Meaningful Traditions to Start With Your Circle This Year

Why International Women’s Day matters (especially for women’s mental health)

International Women’s Day serves as a bright, beautiful reminder of how far women have come and the immense strength that resides within us. However, it can also be a yearly pause to reflect and quietly ask ourselves, “How am I really doing?”

International Women’s Day is a pivotal moment to appreciate the contributions of women in our lives.

Celebration matters. Recognition matters. Belonging matters. Support matters. Rest matters. These are not just “extras.” They are essential protective factors for mental health, especially in a world that often expects women to keep going, keep smiling, and keep carrying it all.

During International Women’s Day, we should uplift one another and share our experiences.

Many women are shouldering significant burdens: anxiety that hums in the background, depression that makes everyday life feel heavy, trauma histories that still echo in the body, body image pressure that never seems to let up, and substance use struggles that often stay hidden behind high-functioning routines and “I’m fine.”

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to address these challenges together.

If any of this resonates with you, know that you are not alone.

This post aims to provide gentle support—not through a performative checklist or a picture-perfect gathering—but by suggesting five simple yet meaningful traditions you can start with your friends, family, coworkers, or support circle this year.

Utilizing the theme of International Women’s Day can guide your discussions.

A quick note on “meaningful traditions”: keep them doable, inclusive, and pressure-free

When we refer to “meaningful tradition,” we mean something small that can be repeated each year to build connection, agency, and hope. It should feel like it gives back to you rather than being an additional burden to manage.

International Women’s Day serves as a catalyst for creating change.

Here are a few guiding principles to ensure these International Women’s Day traditions remain supportive:

Celebrate International Women’s Day by empowering those around you.

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made and the work ahead.

Consider how you can integrate the spirit of International Women’s Day into your traditions.

• Consent-based: no forced sharing or pressure to participate in any specific way.
• Accessible: consider time, energy, finances, childcare, mobility, sensory needs, and neurodiversity.
• Culturally respectful: avoid borrowing or “theme nights” that reduce someone’s culture to mere decor.
• LGBTQ+ inclusive: women-identifying encompasses many lived experiences; your circle should feel safe for all of them.
• Sensitive to recovery: particularly regarding eating disorder recovery and sobriety. This means steering clear of body talk, diet talk, “earning” food language, and anything that glamorizes or pressures alcohol use.

Remember to take what fits and leave what doesn’t—no comparison and no perfectionism. If you’re looking for a simple framing question to open your gathering with, consider asking:

“What do you need more of this year: support, rest, boundaries, joy, or help?”

Tradition #1: The “One Woman, One Win” circle (15 minutes, zero prep)

International Women’s Day reminds us to honor the achievements of women everywhere.

If your life is full, your group chat is busy, and the idea of planning something makes you want to cancel before you start, this is for you.

How it works

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Sit in a circle (in person or on video). Each person shares:

1. One win from the past year (big or small)
2. One thing they’re working through (as much or as little as they want)

Then add one more prompt:

1. Name one strength you see in another woman in the circle

That’s it.

Why it matters

Validation is powerful. It counters isolation, shame, and that nagging “I’m not doing enough” story so many women carry. It also helps your brain file evidence that growth is happening, even when it feels messy.

On International Women’s Day, we find strength in community and shared narratives.

Make it trauma-informed (so it feels safe)

• No forced sharing. Passing is always allowed, no explanations needed.
• Use time limits. Two minutes each keeps it contained and respectful.
• Reflect back without fixing. A simple “Thank you for sharing” goes a long way.
• No advice unless asked. This is a witnessing circle, not a problem-solving session.

Recovery-friendly tip

Make a clear agreement upfront: no comments on bodies, weight, diets, or appearance. Keep the focus on values, effort, character, and resilience. Compliment someone’s courage, honesty, creativity, or boundaries. It lands deeper anyway.

Tradition #2: A “Boundaries & Belonging” pact (written together)

International Women’s Day should inspire us to take action for ourselves and each other.

This tradition is exactly what it sounds like: a shared agreement you create together about what you’re saying yes to this year, and what you’re done tolerating.

How to do it

Grab a notes app, a whiteboard, or a piece of paper. Title it:

“Our Boundaries & Belonging Pact: [Year]”

Then write a few short statements as a group. Aim for 6 to 10 lines, max.

Examples of pact statements

• • “We don’t minimize our pain.”
  • “We respect ‘no’ without explanation.”
  • “We don’t bond over body talk.”
  • “We check in, not check up.”

As we gather for International Women’s Day, let’s create a supportive environment.

• “We don’t compete with each other’s suffering.”
• “We don’t joke about needing to drink to get through life.”
• “We ask before giving advice.”
• “We celebrate progress, not perfection.”

Why it matters

Boundaries reduce anxiety, resentment, and burnout. Belonging grows when expectations are clear. A pact also makes it easier to show up honestly because everyone knows the rules of the room.

Add a simple accountability plan

Keep it light and supportive, not intense:

• One monthly check-in text: “How’s your nervous system lately? Anything you need?”
• A buddy system: pair up for quick voice notes when life gets hard.
• A “step away” signal: a phrase like “I’m going to reset for a minute” that everyone honors without questions.

Workplace-friendly version

If you’re doing this with a team, keep it centered on respect and psychological safety:

• “We give credit out loud.”
• “We don’t interrupt or talk over.”
• “We normalize breaks and time off.”
• “We ask for clarity instead of assuming.”
• “We address issues directly and kindly.”

Tradition #3: The “Nourish, Don’t Punish” meal or gathering (recovery-informed)

Food-centered traditions can be warm and connecting, and they can also be stressful for many women, especially anyone navigating eating disorder recovery, body image distress, chronic dieting, or anxiety around eating in front of others.

International Women’s Day can also be about healing and connection through shared meals.

This tradition is about flipping the script: connection over control.

Make the setting comfortable and non-pressured

Choose a low-stakes option: someone’s home, a casual brunch spot, a park picnic, or a cozy soup night. The goal is not a “perfect” menu. It’s a safe atmosphere.

Add structure that reduces anxiety

A few small choices can make a big difference:

• Potluck with labeled ingredients (allergens and common dietary needs)
• Options without commentary (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, soft foods, etc.)
• A clear group agreement: no diet talk, no weight talk, no “good food/bad food,” no “I earned this”
• No pressure to explain choices: people can eat what they want, how they want, or not at all

Conversation prompts that build closeness

Sometimes it helps to have prompts ready so the table does not drift into body talk or stress spirals:

• “What’s something that’s helped you lately?”
• “What are you proud of that no one sees?”
• “What do you want more of this year?”
• “What’s a small boundary that’s making your life better?”

If a meal doesn’t feel safe for everyone

Choose a different kind of “nourish”:

• • A tea walk

Engaging in activities on International Women’s Day fosters closeness and understanding.

• Crafts night
• Game night
• A movie and cozy blankets
• A picnic with flexible choices and no focus on food

A gentle note worth saying out loud: eating disorders can be invisible. Creating a supportive environment matters more than the menu.

Tradition #4: A “Care Map” check-in (practical support over advice)

International Women’s Day is an excellent occasion for meaningful support and connection.

When we are anxious or depressed, our world often shrinks. Asking for help can feel like too much. A Care Map makes support concrete and easier to reach for.

What a Care Map is

Each person names 2 to 3 supports for the year in each category:

1. Emotional
2. Practical
3. Professional

You can write it down, take a photo, and keep it somewhere easy to find.

Examples of supports

Emotional

• “One weekly voice note check-in with a friend”
• “A sibling I can text ‘rough day’ without explaining”
• “A monthly coffee date with someone who feels grounding”

Practical

• “Childcare swap once a month”
• “Rides to appointments when I’m overwhelmed”
• “Meal train help during a hard season”

Professional

• “Therapy”
• “Nutrition counseling”
• “A support group”
• “Psychiatry or medication management”
• “A higher level of care if symptoms escalate”

A simple script for asking for help

A lot of women get stuck because they ask in a vague way, then feel rejected when the answer is unclear. Specific asks are kinder to everyone.

• “Could you do X on Y day?”
• “I don’t need solutions. I just need you to listen for 10 minutes.”
• “Can you check in on me tomorrow afternoon?”
• “Could you sit with me while I make this phone call?”

Why it matters

A visible plan lowers the barrier to reaching out. It also helps your circle move from “Let me know if you need anything” to support that is real and actionable.

During International Women’s Day, let’s prioritize actionable support for one another.

Add a safety layer (without turning this into therapy)

If someone is struggling with substances, disordered eating, or thoughts of self-harm, encourage professional support. Your circle can be loving and steady, but it cannot replace care.

If someone is in immediate danger or may harm themselves, call 988 (in the U.S.) for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 for emergency support.

Tradition #5: The “Story, Not Stigma” ritual (a yearly reset for shame)

Shame thrives in secrecy. Trauma thrives in silence. And many women have learned to make their pain sound smaller than it is.

This ritual is a gentle way to reclaim your story without forcing anyone to share details they are not ready to name. It’s important to remember that surviving trauma can lead to thriving, and sharing these stories can be empowering.

How it works

Each person chooses:

• One story they want to reclaim (or one lesson learned)
• One stigma they are letting go of

Prompts to choose from

• • “A hard thing I survived…”
  • “A belief I’m unlearning…”
  • “A part of me I’m learning to accept…”

International Women’s Day can be a chance to reflect on our growth and resilience.

• “Something I’m done feeling ashamed of…”
• “A moment I chose myself…”
• “A way I protected myself that makes sense now…”

Keep it contained and safe

This matters, especially if trauma is part of anyone’s story.

• Set time boundaries (one to three minutes each).
• Offer grounding breaks (water, feet on the floor, step outside).
• Close with something regulating: a short walk, a calming song, a few slow breaths, or a quiet reset before everyone jumps back into life.

Optional give-back element

If it feels aligned, write anonymous notes of encouragement for women in your community. This could be for shelters, schools, or recovery communities, always with privacy and consent in mind. The point is not to “save” anyone. It’s to offer dignity and warmth.

Consider how you can give back on International Women’s Day.

How to make these traditions supportive for everyone in your circle

Before you begin, do a quick comfort check. You can say something like:

“Anything we should avoid tonight? Any accessibility needs? Any sobriety considerations? Any food or body image sensitivities you want us to keep in mind?”

A few group norms that help:

• Use inclusive language for women-identifying people across all races, cultures, and sexual orientations.
• Avoid the common traps: fixing, comparing pain, pressuring vulnerability, or centering appearance.
• Offer multiple ways to participate: speaking, writing, texting, or simply listening.
• End every gathering with a regulating close: a gratitude round, a grounding exercise, or “one small next step” each person is taking this week.

If International Women’s Day brings up more than celebration, you’re not alone

For many women, International Women’s Day comes with mixed feelings. Grief. Anger. Exhaustion. Loneliness. Triggers around body image and self-worth. Sometimes it highlights what’s missing, not just what’s worth celebrating.

We also know many struggles overlap: depression, generalized anxiety, childhood trauma, eating disorders, and substance use. It is common to be dealing with more than one thing at a time.

Needing help does not negate your strength. It is a form of courage.

On International Women’s Day, remember you are not alone in your struggles.

It may be time for extra support if you notice:

• Persistent low mood, numbness, or hopelessness
• Anxiety that interferes with daily life, relationships, or sleep
• Escalating eating disorder behaviors or obsessive food/body thoughts
• Increased substance use, relapse risk, or feeling unable to stop
• Feeling unsafe, or thoughts of self-harm

How we can help at Revelare Recovery (Atlanta)

At Revelare Recovery, we are here to help women heal, grow, and reconnect with purpose through personalized, evidence-based care. Our work is rooted in compassion, clinical excellence, and the belief that you deserve support that looks at the whole picture.

One thing that makes our approach different is that we treat eating disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions at the same time, with integrated care. That matters because food and body image struggles often do not exist on their own. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use can be woven into the same story, and healing is so much more sustainable when we address it together.

Our care is trauma-informed and whole-person, and may include:

We are committed to supporting women’s mental health, especially on International Women’s Day.

• Psychotherapy, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other evidence-based approaches
• Solution-focused techniques that help you take doable steps forward
• Nutrition education and counseling
• Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for co-occurring concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders

We also prioritize an inclusive environment for women-identifying clients of all backgrounds, races, and sexual orientations.

Closing: Choose one tradition and start small (then reach out if you need more support)

International Women’s Day is a call to action for all of us.

Let’s make this International Women’s Day a starting point for lasting change.

If you do nothing else this year, choose one tradition. Keep it simple. Consistency matters more than perfection.

If you want an easy starter combo for first-timers dealing with food noise, try:

• One Woman, One Win
• Care Map check-in

And remember, women deserve support that is real, not just one day a year.

If you’re in the Atlanta area (or seeking women-focused care in Georgia) for an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use, reach out to us at Revelare Recovery. We will meet you with compassion, talk through what’s going on, and help you understand next steps including a confidential assessment and scheduling options for personalized integrated treatment.