National Self-Care Week - 17-23 November 2025 

National Self-Care Week is the UK-wide annual awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self-care across communities, families and generations. 

The theme is “Mind and Body” and organisations are encouraged to use Self-Care Week as a hook to help people practise self-care for a healthier, happier life.  This year, whilst the Self-Care Forum will be promoting the entire self-care continuum a particular focus will be on the wide ranging benefits of physical activity and movement.    

What is self-care?  

The WHO defines self-care as individuals, families and communities’ promoting and maintaining their own health, preventing disease, and coping with illness and disability, with or without the support of a health worker.  

Why is self-care so important?  

Self-care is about empowering people to be active agents in their own health and wellbeing. Self-care interventions give people choice and the option to access healthcare wherever and whenever they want to. 

Self-care has become incredibly important as people realize the need to take care of themselves and put themselves first. This has made people talk about it and increased the interest of others to take control of their health and wellness by prioritising themselves. Today, we urge you to practice self-care, even if all you do is take a walk. 

Self-care includes everything related to staying well and healthy, both physically, mentally, and emotionally; it is the steps we take daily incorporating the NHS 5 Ways to Wellbeing. To connect, give, take notice, be active and keep learning. Studies suggest regular and daily self-care can build your strength and resilience, improve focus, and strengthen relationships; it supports you in caring for yourself and others, supports you in your job and provides a positive and happier outlook on daily activities. 

The health and wellbeing team have developed the Self-Care Calendars for daily prompts to a happier, healthier you. 

You can also visit our health and wellbeing pages Lifestyle Advice and Self-Health Check.