New Delhi, Feb. 15 -- Saloni Dubey, 29, a Hyderabad-based publicist, recalls an incident while waiting for an interview to begin. She was distracted by a nagging thought: her elbows felt dry. The cure for regaining her focus was to rub a hand cream until the sensation faded. "It's not anxiety," she says and adds, "Just a minor disturbance that disappears when I take a moment for myself. It helps me feel grounded and present." Micro self -care rituals like applying lip balm, hand cream, facial mists, nail oils, or solid perfumes aren't just about vanity, but subtle ways to reset the nervous system.

Clinical psychologist Rupa Chaubal explains that these actions can feel either grounding or empowering, depending on the situation. "Self-groo...