SEPTEMBER IS SELF-CARE AWARENESS MONTH – The best way to care for people, is to empower them to care of themselvesSelf–Care Awareness Month in September is a time to remind us how important it is to take care of ourselves. Self-care is often neglected in our everyday lives, with many of us placing careers and the needs of others before our own. When practiced regularly, self-care creates significant personal, social, and economic benefits.
On average, individuals spend less than 1 hour a year with a health worker versus over 8 700 hours a year practicing self-care. Self-care interventions promote an individual’s active participation in their own healthcare – a push towards greater self-determination, self-efficacy, autonomy, and engagement in health.
There are many ways to practice self-care, ranging from being intentional about staying healthy, getting regular checks done at a nearby hospital or clinic or healthcare facility of choice, fueling the body with the necessary over-the-counter approved treatments, engaging in regular physical activities, spending time with loved ones, taking time off to rest and recharge.