Stockport Council Is Marking Self Care Week, 13 – 19 November

Stockport Council is marking Self Care Week 2017 (13 – 19 November) by giving people helpful tips on how they can Self Care for Life.

Self Care for Life is about living well and being healthy. This means practicing Self Care for Life, which many of us already do on a daily basis. Choosing to eat healthily, to self-treat common ailments and to be active are all positive self care actions.

Councillor Tom McGee Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Health said:

Image: Councillor Tom McGee Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Health.

“Largely avoidable conditions such as type2 diabetes, heart disease and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are all on the increase, which means we need to do more to avoid ill health and build our mental and physical resilience. Prevention is better for you and your family and cheaper for society and the individual rather than treating ill health. That’s why the Council is backing Self Care Week 2017 and is urging local people to take extra care of themselves - I'm trying to do more of the self care suggestions myself.”

Here are some simple steps to Self Care for Life.

• Move more! You don’t even have to join a gym, take a brisk walk, do some gardening, leave the car at home, take the stairs, dance around the kitchen table
• Stop smoking! If you smoke one of the best things you can do for your health is to stop .
• Sleep - A good night’s sleep is essential to good health so don’t burn the candle at both ends, make sure you get at least 7 hours sleep a night!
• Drink less alcohol - Most of us don’t realise how much we drink – keep a check by downloading the free One You drink tracking app or
• Eat well - It is vitally important that we eat healthily and avoid excessive amounts of salt, fat and sugar
• Connect - Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
• Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?
• 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.
• Ask your pharmacist- your local pharmacist is the health professional on the High Street and should be the first port of call for advice on treating minor illnesses