Self Care Week

16th - 22nd November 2015

Self care means keeping fit and healthy, as well as knowing how to take medicines, treat minor ailments and seek help when you need it. If you have a long-term condition, self care is about understanding that condition and how to live with it.

This year's theme is "Self care for life" and aims to help you take control of your health throughout your whole life. This includes helping you better understand how to look after any minor ailments or long-term conditions you may have, and how to prevent ill health by choosing healthy options for good physical and mental wellbeing.

Here are some simple steps to Self Care for Life and help to prevent avoidable conditions:

Move more! You don’t even have to join a gym, just walk the dog, leave the car at home, ignore the bus, take the stairs, dance around the kitchen table, go for a walk!

• Stop smoking! One of the best things you can do for your health is to stop smoking.  Ask your local pharmacist about stop smoking services.
• Sleep.  A good night’s sleep is essential to good physical and mental health so don’t burn the candle at both ends, make sure you get at least 7 hours sleep a night!
• Eat well.  It is vitally important that we get the nutrients we need and avoid excessive amounts of salt, fat and sugar.  Information is available from the NHS Choices website or ask your pharmacist for advice on managing your weight.
• Relax.  We have such busy lives that we sometimes forget to take time out to relax, but it is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing.  Find time in the day to be still and quieten your mind, holistic exercise such as yoga can also be helpful.

During Self Care Week, and always, make time to think about the positive steps you can take to Self Care for Life.  Ask your Pharmacist how you can be self care aware or visit www.nhs.uk/selfcare