International Self-Care Day
Next: July 24, 2027
Look after yourself, 24/7.
The story
Where it comes from
International Self-Care Day was first held on 24 July 2011. The date is a small piece of arithmetic: 24/7, because looking after your own health is something you do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was started by self-care groups including the International Self-Care Foundation, a non-profit founded the same year, and the Global Self-Care Federation now promotes it every year. The idea is that everyday habits, from what we eat to how we sleep, are the foundation that the rest of healthcare stands on.
How it's celebrated
Health groups, pharmacies and clinics use the day to share simple advice on staying well and on treating minor ailments safely. For most people it is a quiet day: an early night, a proper meal, a walk, a check-up you have been putting off, or a note to a friend who has been running on empty.
Did you know
- The World Health Organization marks the month from 24 June to 24 July as Self-Care Month, ending on Self-Care Day.
- The World Health Organization published its first guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being in 2019.
- The International Self-Care Foundation groups healthy habits into seven pillars, among them physical activity, good hygiene and the responsible use of self-care products.
Coming up next
- World Drowning Prevention Day · July 25, 2027
- International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem · July 26, 2027
- The Transatlantic Cable Lands · July 27, 2027
- World Hepatitis Day · July 28, 2027
- Global Tiger Day · July 29, 2027
- International Day of Friendship · July 30, 2027