The World Health Organization (WHO) designates most of July as self-care month. Self-care is all about making healthy choices that improve your wellness, happiness, and quality of life. Try this free printable July calendar for regular ideas and prompts for your self-care this month.

What is Self-Care?

The WHO uses July as an opportunity to bring awareness to the role of self-care in basic human rights. Self-care is being active in your health and choosing habits and activities that improve your wellness.

Although the WHO focuses mostly on medicine and healthcare, self-care is more than physical health. It addresses all areas of wellness, including mental health, social health, and spiritual well-being. A common misconception is that self-care means indulging and treating yourself.

Why is Self-Care Important?

Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or selfishness. It is an essential component of good overall health. Choosing self-care requires time and commitment. It’s easy to overlook if you have a busy lifestyle, but you should prioritize it. The benefits of self-care are numerous:

• Improved physical and mental health
• Lower risk of disease and chronic illness
• Lower healthcare costs
• Less stress and greater resilience in the face of stressful situations
• Cope more effectively with mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety
• Increase energy
• Sleep better
• A longer lifespan
• Improved self-esteem

Self-care is what you make it. The more time you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. If your schedule is busy, find the things that waste your time, like scrolling through social media or watching TV. Replace some of these activities with wellness-centered self-care for better overall health.

Your July Free Printable Calendar for Self-Care Activities

To get the most out of self-care, it’s important to prioritize it regularly. Our free printable calendar for July is a great tool for keeping you on track and accountable. Some examples of self-care activities include:

• Self-love meditations to help you learn to be kinder and more compassionate with yourself
• Time alone to do something you enjoy and find rewarding
• Time spent simply relaxing and managing stress, for instance lingering in a warm bath
• A full-body stretch session or a few yoga poses that you find invigorating
• Meditations that help you listen to your body and what it needs

Some other things you should do regularly for self-care include exercise and spending time outdoors, eating healthy foods, visiting your doctor for health checkups and screenings, focusing on gratitude, and spending time with friends and family.

Use the downloadable and printable calendar for activity ideas and also to record and keep track of what you do for self-care. Aim to spend at least five minutes per day on something that will make you feel better and live healthier. All these small moments will add up to real results.