Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.

Self-care recognises individuals as active agents in managing their own health care, in areas including health promotion; disease prevention and control; self-medication; providing care to dependent persons, and rehabilitation, including palliative care.

Self-care acknowledges people as clients in charge of their health care, in health promotion; disease prevention; disease control; self-treatment; caregiving of dependents; and rehabilitation including hospice.
Self-care interventions are proven, reliable instruments that help in self-care. They are medicines, counselling, diagnostics and/or digital technologies that can be accessed wholly or in part beyond the traditional health care systems. Depending on the type of intervention, some are given with or without the supervision of health workers.• provide support to individual and groups to enable them to promote their health.• improve the national institutions in terms of efficient use of domestic resources for health• enhance the primary healthcare (PHC) and support the achievement of UHCir own health care, in areas including health promotion; disease prevention and control; self-medication; providing care to dependent persons, and rehabilitation, including palliative care.
Self-care interventions are evidence-based, quality tools that support self-care. They include medicines, counselling, diagnostics and/or digital technologies which can be accessed fully or partially outside of formal health services. Depending on the intervention, they can be used with or without the direct supervision of health workers.
Self-care interventions can:
•     empower individuals and communities to manage their health and well-being
•     strengthen national institutions with efficient use of domestic resources for health
•     improve primary healthcare (PHC) and contribute to achieving UHC
Self-care is the process or activity where an individual gives attention to bodily and spiritual needs in order to enhance quality of life.
Much as some might consider being a selfish act, self-care, is critical in a person’s health.
There are still many people who do not know what the term self-care is all about. Keep reading to learn more about what self-care actually is, some ways you can practice self-care, and why it’s beneficial to your mind and body.
What Is Self-Care?
In the definition given by the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is the ability to enhance health, prevent diseases, maintain health and manage illness and disability with or without professional assistance.1
The WHO also mentions that self-care is a broad term and many facets of a person’s life come into play, including:
• Hygiene (community and personal)• Exercise level and leisure activities or lack of them are some of the life style indicators.• People’s living conditions or habits, the state of the environment a person lives in• Demographic factors like a person’s income, or the cultural background that they come from• Taking medications on their own and adhering to treatment regimens for present diseasesh as exercise level and leisure activities
•     Environmental factors such as a person’s living conditions or social habits
•     Socioeconomic factors such as a person’s income level or cultural beliefs
•     Self-medication and following treatment plans for current illnesses
The purpose of self-care is to avoid or minimise the effects of disease and maintain health by routinely attending to different aspects of one’s health.
To understand how true self-care can be applied in personal responsibility and self-reliance a person must understand how to use it in a manner that leads to the improvement of their health in the present and in the future.
People’s perception of what self-care is• Eating foods that are not so good for you in large quantities• Engaging in activities that yield quick positive reactions• Taking costly and fancy holidays• The pursuit of self improvement through any method possible• Self-medicating in order to eliminate bad feelings with alcohol or drugs• Taking care of one’s body and mind• Choosing healthy habits that will allow for a long term sustainable lifestyle• Engaging in enjoyable exercise activities as often as possible• Achieving the right amount of quality sleep• Compliance with treatment regimens of current diseases as appropriate• Making some time and dedicating yourself to engage in some healthy activities of your choicercise level and leisure activities
•     Environmental factors such as a person’s living conditions or social habits
•     Socioeconomic factors such as a person’s income level or cultural beliefs
•     Self-medication and following treatment plans for current illnesses
The main goal of self-care is to prevent or control disease and preserve overall well-being through consistently taking care of various aspects of your health.
For a person to practice true self-care, they must use personal responsibility and self-reliance in a way that positively impacts their health in the current moment and the future.
What People Think Self-Care Is
•     Overindulgence in spending
•     Binge-eating your favorite but unhealthy foods
•     Participating in activities that provide instant gratification
•     Going on expensive and lavish vacations
•     Perfecting oneself by any means necessary
•     Numbing bad feelings using alcohol or illicit substances
•     Binge-watching television
What Self-Care Actually Is
•     Prioritizing one’s physical and mental health
•     Adopting healthy lifestyle habits that can be maintained long-term
•     Eating a healthy diet
•     Finding exercise activities that you enjoy and participating in them regularly
•     Getting an adequate amount of good-quality sleep
•     Following treatment plans for existing conditions accordingly
•     Taking time out for yourself to participate in healthy activities you enjoy
What are the Different Categories of Self-Care?
Different types of self-care include different activities or actions. They are equally important and contribute to the achievement of the goal of the health of the people.
Physical Health
Caring for one’s physical well-being is a type of self-care that can enhance the well-being of the individual and stop or mitigate some diseases.
Physical self-care will be different for each person, but ways you can practice physical self-care include:2
• Making a correct choice in terms of physical activities• Consuming meals that are prepared from fresh, whole foods most of the time and including adequate amounts of water.• Involvement in activities that can be used to reduce stress.• Regular check up with a qualified medical and dental practitioner•        Eating regular, well-balanced meals that are mostly whole foods and staying hydrated
•     Engaging in relaxing activities that can help manage stress
•     Getting enough sleep
•     Getting regular medical and dental care
Mental Health
Mental self-care is a concept aimed at achieving a healthy mind through engaging in mind challenging activities and or healthy mental habits. Mental self-care is a way to prevent stress, reduce your chances of getting sick, and have more energy.2• Listen to relaxation programs or apps at least once a week to include meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation or breathing exercises.• Express thankfulness by making a mental note every day of things to be thankful for.hat are mostly whole foods and staying hydrated
•     Engaging in relaxing activities that can help manage stress
•     Getting enough sleep
•     Getting regular medical and dental care
Mental Health
Mental self-care is designed to drive a healthy mind by practicing brain-stimulating activities and healthy mental behaviors. Mental self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.2
While no two people are the same, these strategies can help you manage stress and stimulate your mind:
•     Use relaxation programs or apps regularly to incorporate meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises.
•     Practice gratitude by reminding yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Record them before going to bed or they keep on running through your head.• Get involved other pleasurable pursuits as well.• Scrabble, cross word or other games that will make the brain function must be played.• Enrol in adult education classes.• Consult either the teacher or an external professional when necessary.   Eating regular, well-balanced meals that are mostly whole foods and staying hydrated
•     Engaging in relaxing activities that can help manage stress
•     Getting enough sleep
•     Getting regular medical and dental care
Mental Health
Mental self-care is designed to drive a healthy mind by practicing brain-stimulating activities and healthy mental behaviors. Mental self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.2
While no two people are the same, these strategies can help you manage stress and stimulate your mind:
•     Use relaxation programs or apps regularly to incorporate meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises.
•     Practice gratitude by reminding yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Write them down at night or replay them in your mind.
•     Participate in creative activities you enjoy.
•     Read a book or do a puzzle.
•     Play games such as Scrabble, crossword puzzles, or other brain teasers.
•     Try a new hobby.
•     Engage in exercise.
•     Take adult education classes.
•     Seek help from a professional as needed.
Relationships
Maintaining healthy relationships is a process of social self-care in it of itself.3 This paper unequivocally shows that all forms of relationships whether intimate, friendly, and familial are all constructive to health and well-being.45
On the other hand, lack of healthy relationships is actually proven to be harmful to health. In the case that people do not have platonic relationships, they are exposed to psychological distress and unhealthy behaviors.6• Engaging in a set of activities that include taking coffee, a walk, eating out, watching a movie or simply spending time with friends or relatives.• Providing information to community or faith based organizations• Volunteering for an organization in the societye
•     Eating regular, well-balanced meals that are mostly whole foods and staying hydrated
•     Engaging in relaxing activities that can help manage stress
•     Getting enough sleep
•     Getting regular medical and dental care
Mental Health
Mental self-care is designed to drive a healthy mind by practicing brain-stimulating activities and healthy mental behaviors. Mental self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.2
While no two people are the same, these strategies can help you manage stress and stimulate your mind:
•     Use relaxation programs or apps regularly to incorporate meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises.
•     Practice gratitude by reminding yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Write them down at night or replay them in your mind.
•     Participate in creative activities you enjoy.
•     Read a book or do a puzzle.
•     Play games such as Scrabble, crossword puzzles, or other brain teasers.
•     Try a new hobby.
•     Engage in exercise.
•     Take adult education classes.
•     Seek help from a professional as needed.
Relationships
Having healthy relationships is a form of social self-care all its own.3 Research has shown that different forms of relationships, whether they be romantic, platonic, or familial, can all benefit overall health and well-being.45
On the flip side, not having healthy relationships can be detrimental to health. When people lack platonic relationships, they are more likely to be subject to psychological distress and engage in unhealthy behaviors.6
Ways to foster relationships include:
•     Regularly scheduling get-togethers (coffee, a walk, a meal, going to the movies, or just hanging out) with friends or family members
•     Connecting with community or faith-based groups
•     Volunteering for a local organization
• Going for a meeting of a local organization, for instance a hiking, knitting, or any other interest groupgroup
Spiritual Needs
Spiritual or religious need is not inherent in everyone. However, for some people nurturing the spirit enables them to establish a deeper relationship with themselves and to transcend.• Walking or being in the outdoors• Watching motivational videos and performance of music that touches the heart• Participating in a religious service either physically in a church or by joining online fellowships and services• Disclosing information to a religious leader as a hiking club, knitting group, or other interest group
Spiritual needs
Not everyone has a spiritual or religious need. However, for some people nurturing their spirit allows them to connect on a deeper level with themselves and to think beyond themselves.
Spiritual self-care practices might include:
•     Meditating
•     Hiking or spending time in nature
•     Listening to inspirational music
•     Going to church or attending virtual spiritual activities or groups
•     Praying
•     Talking with a spiritual advisor
Why Is Self-Care Important?
Self-care interventions, when taken through in a consistent manner, have their potential of having both an acute and chronic positive health impact, hence improving the health status of a person.
Short-Term
In the short term, people who practice self-care can see positive changes such as:
•     Reduced stress levels: Taking care of your health and your needs, as well as giving yourself some time off can greatly decrease stress.
•     Increasing self-worth: The more you take care of your physical self the better you will feel about your self as a person. This is because more of your core needs will be met on a regular basis than if you were in a conventional job.
•     Feelings of belonging: A short term gain of engaging in the company of others will give you feelings of companionship and affection which is healthy for your mental well being.
Long-Term
In the short run, self-care has benefits, but more importantly, that is what self-care is more centered on in the long run. Some long-term benefits include:
•     Managing chronic conditions: Through physical and mental self care measures, diseases like depression, diabetes and heart diseases can be well controlled.25
•     Disease prevention: Self-care including exercise, balanced diet or choosing healthy foods and stress management decreases later chances of developing heart attack, stroke or obesity.7
      Stress reduction: Stress is a universal factor that impacts all the body systems. Stress can cause stress related diseases, and this is true for chronic stress. Self-care measures that decrease chronic stress levels can play a part in preventing diseases associated with the heart, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, and other disorders.ورة.
      Healthier relationships: When we take better care of our self-need, we are in a better position to have healthy relationships, this is because we feel better about ourselves.
      Improved job satisfaction: The investigation of the practice of intentional self-care among a sample of nurses revealed that such practice was positively associated with job satisfaction. The authors say that self-care measures could enhance job satisfaction and teamwork and decrease burnout.9
      Reduced burnout: The authors of a review of multiple studies stated that the solution for burnout is multifaceted, but self-care interventions are among the possible solutions.
      Improved quality of life: These enhancements/service improvements include enhancements to one’s general health/health condition, reduction of stress, increase in sense of purpose/belonging/fulfilment.
How to Practice Self-Care
For you to develop a perfect self-care plan, you will have to consider your individual health and lifestyle. To create a plan to encourage better health and well-being:11
•     Determine your overall level of health: Once the base level of health is determined, one is free to add or eliminate some activities or stress factors in an individual’s life in an effort to enhance his or her health status.
•     Identify your stressors: In the next activity, write down all the sources of stress in your life and your roles and responsibilities. The next step is to try to the best of your ability to avoid stressors that are within your control. If they are inevitable, then learn how to manage stress in a way that will minimize your stress response to specific stimuli.
Identify your coping strategies: Everyone develops strategies to cope with health issues, stress, and other life problems. Make a list of your coping strategies and see which ones are healthy and which ones aren’t. The unhealthy ones that don’t serve you well can be swapped out for healthier coping mechanisms.
Summary
Self-care is the practice of taking care of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness. It is a lifestyle that enables you to set aside time for your health to ensure your overall well-being now and for years to come.
If you do adopt the right techniques to care for yourself, you will be able to reap the benefits, such as better physical and mental health, the prevention or better management of disease, and better personal and workplace relationships.