Anna Nova Galeon

24-07-2025

World Self-Care Day 2025: Embedding well-being in workplaces

Image by LightFieldStudios via Envato Elements

Explore why World Self-Care Day 2025 matters for regulated sectors and how embedding self-care into policies can boost well-being, compliance, and resilience

On July 24, 2025, the world marks World Self-Care Day under the powerful theme "Self-Care is Healthcare". This annual event serves as an essential reminder that self-care is not a luxury or an afterthought - it is a lifelong commitment to maintaining our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

While the day resonates deeply with individuals, its significance extends far beyond personal choices. For regulated organisations in sectors like health, social care, and education, World Self-Care Day is a crucial call to action: to embed self-care practices into policies, workplace cultures, and community services.

In an era marked by rising stress levels, chronic health conditions, and workforce burnout, the message is clear: self-care isn’t optional - it’s foundational to sustainable health, productivity, and organisational success.

What is self-care?

The term "self-care" has been widely used in recent years, but what does it truly mean?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

In practice, this means self-care is multi-dimensional:

• Physical - Eating well, staying active, prioritising rest, and attending regular health checks.
• Mental - Managing stress, seeking therapy or support when needed, and practising mindfulness.
• Emotional - Building supportive relationships, expressing emotions in healthy ways, and finding meaning and purpose.
• Social - Engaging in community, balancing work-life commitments, and nurturing connections.

For individuals, this may translate into simple daily practices like taking a walk, saying "no" to overcommitments, or scheduling regular medical appointments. However, for organisations, especially in highly regulated environments, self-care must evolve into structured policies and practices that create supportive ecosystems for both staff and service users.

Why “Self-Care is Healthcare” matters more than ever

This year’s theme - "Self-Care is Healthcare" - reframes the conversation. It challenges the notion of self-care as indulgent or secondary and instead positions it as integral to the healthcare continuum.

Consider the data:

• The WHO estimates that up to 70% of healthcare decisions are made by individuals for themselves, without professional intervention.
• Chronic stress contributes to some of the leading causes of illness and absenteeism in the UK, including cardiovascular disease, depression, and musculoskeletal disorders.
• The NHS Staff Survey 2024 revealed that nearly half of healthcare workers experience work-related stress, a figure with implications for both patient care and workforce sustainability.

In short, self-care alleviates the burden on overstretched healthcare systems by empowering individuals to take responsibility for their own well-being, while also improving overall outcomes.

For organisations, the message is equally urgent:

• Healthy employees are more engaged, productive, and resilient.
• Service users who are supported to practice self-care experience improved health outcomes and reduced reliance on acute care.
• Workplaces that prioritise self-care see lower turnover, reduced burnout, and stronger regulatory compliance related to staff welfare.

Self-care is not a “nice-to-have”. It’s a cost-effective, preventive strategy that directly supports organisational performance and sector-wide goals.

The practical implications for regulated organisations

For health, social care, education, and other regulated sectors, embedding self-care is more than a moral obligation - it aligns with regulatory expectations for quality, safety, and staff welfare.

1. Prioritising staff well-being

Regulators like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England have made it clear: staff well-being is inseparable from quality of care. Practical steps for organisations include:

• Providing access to mental health resources, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs).
• Building flexible working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Embedding reflective practice sessions to help teams process challenges and build resilience.

2. Empowering service users

Supporting self-care among service users is central to person-centred care. This could include:

• Health education programmes to help individuals manage long-term conditions.
• Encouraging shared decision-making between professionals and service users.
• Providing accessible digital health tools to promote independence and reduce hospital readmissions.

3. Creating a culture of self-care

Self-care cannot thrive in environments where burnout, overwork, or stigma prevail. Leaders must model and reinforce healthy behaviours by:

• Normalising breaks, downtime, and mental health days.
• Recognising and rewarding self-care champions within teams.
• Establishing policies that protect staff from chronic stress, such as realistic workload management.

How organisations can celebrate World Self-Care Day

Marking World Self-Care Day isn’t just symbolic. It can be a starting point for long-term cultural and operational change. Here’s how organisations can use the day effectively:

• Host awareness sessions on the importance of self-care for staff and service users.
• Launch self-care challenges (e.g., step count competitions, gratitude journaling) to promote engagement.
• Review internal policies to ensure they support staff well-being and align with regulatory frameworks.
• Partner with community organisations to provide workshops on mental health, nutrition, and preventive care.
• Communicate success stories internally and externally to inspire others and build momentum.

Self-care as a strategic advantage

The integration of self-care into organisational frameworks is not just a trend - it’s a strategic advantage.

Workforces that practice self-care are better prepared to handle crises, from pandemics to regulatory changes. They also deliver higher-quality care, meet compliance standards more consistently, and contribute to a positive organisational reputation.

For regulated organisations, where scrutiny is high and the stakes are even higher, self-care strategies can reduce risk by:

• Minimising staff absenteeism and turnover.
• Improving service quality metrics and inspection outcomes.
• Supporting sustainable models of care that align with NHS and social care priorities.

By viewing self-care as a shared responsibility, rather than an individual burden, organisations can transform their workplaces into environments that promote both human flourishing and regulatory excellence.

Final thoughts - Self-care as a lifelong commitment

World Self-Care Day reminds us that caring for ourselves is not selfish - it’s essential. Whether it’s an individual taking time for mindfulness or an organisation implementing systemic changes, self-care is healthcare.

For regulated organisations, this is more than a day of reflection. It’s an opportunity to lead by example, empower their teams and service users, and commit to making self-care part of everyday practice.

Take the next step - Build awareness, drive change with ComplyPlus™

At The Mandatory Training Group, we know that awareness is only the first step - real change happens when it’s embedded into systems, policies, and everyday practice. That’s where ComplyPlus™ comes in.

ComplyPlus™ is our all-in-one compliance, training, and policy management platform, designed to help regulated organisations like yours turn awareness into action. From managing staff well-being programmes to embedding self-care policies and tracking compliance in real time, ComplyPlus™ makes it simple to build a healthier, more resilient organisation.

Together, we can make self-care a measurable, sustainable part of your organisational success.