Making self-care a lifelong habit this Self-Care Week

This year’s theme is about how we practice self-care for life. Throughout the week there will be information and activities at the One Stockport Hub in Merseyway to help people understand how to take better care of their health and well-being.

Incorporating the practice of self care into our everyday lives can help us to live as healthily as possible and better health can help us cope better with the challenges that come our way.

Self-care Week is a perfect time to think about how we live our lives and maybe make some small changes that will help to prevent ill health in the long-term and keep us physically and mentally well. Those changes could mean looking at what we eat or drink, how much we exercise or stopping smoking. They could be about our work life balance and how we stay connected to our friends and family which is vital to our wellbeing, and theirs.

Self-care is also about having the knowledge and confidence to take care of minor illnesses and ailments without having to seek advice from GPs or A&E department. There are many websites and pharmacies, which can provide reliable information to help us identify and treat common symptoms by buying medicines over the counter or in a supermarket, or with the help of a pharmacist. Stockport CCG has launched their self-care website in line with this National Self-Care Week.

If you are living with a long-term health condition, being good at self-care will also enhance your quality of life. Being more confident about self-care can significantly help you live as well and healthily as possible.

Councillor Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health at Stockport Council said:
‘The COVID pandemic has been a real wake up call for many of us and made us focus on what we can do ourselves to look after and protect our own and loved ones’ health and wellbeing. Often though, it’s the small and simple things we can do each day that can make a real difference to our health. A walk in the fresh air, drinking more water, eating a healthy and varied diet, and joining in with activities in your community can make such a big difference to your health and wellbeing.
I hope people will be able to call in to One Stockport Hub during Self-care week to find out more about the things going on in Stockport and the support available to help you care for your health and wellbeing. I also encourage you to have a look at the Healthy Stockport website where you can find information, advice and support to help you make lifestyle choices to stay fit and well.’

Dr Cath Munro, Chair of NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
"We are pleased to support organisations, such as Public Health Stockport, as they launch a number of great self-care activities during the national awareness week. Understanding how our own decisions can significantly influence our physical and mental wellbeing is critical for everyone to understand and practise. We support work that helps to show, or teach, people how to do this."

Find out more about the Self-care Week Activities taking place at One Stockport Hub (formerly Argos) in Merseyway