Self care is personal health maintenance. It is any activity of an individual with the intention of improving or restoring health, or treating or preventing disease.

Self care includes all health decisions people make for themselves and their families to get and stay physically and mentally fit. Self care is exercising to maintain physical fitness and good mental health. It is also eating well, self-medicating, practicing good hygiene and avoiding health hazards such as smoking to prevent ill health. Self care is also taking care of minor ailments, long term conditions, or one’s own health after discharge from secondary and tertiary health care.

Individuals do self care, and experts and professionals support self care to enable individuals to do enhanced self care which combines the education and experience of the professional with the motivation and dedication of the individual.