The World Health Organisation (WHO) has renewed its call for people to take greater responsibility for everyday health choices, highlighting simple lifestyle practices that can contribute to longer and healthier lives.
The global health body says self-care includes the healthy habits and lifestyle decisions people make regularly to protect their physical and mental wellbeing.
According to WHO, these actions include maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, limiting or avoiding alcohol, getting adequate sleep and maintaining meaningful social connections.
The organisation made the emphasis as part of its broader work on healthy ageing and disease prevention, stressing that maintaining good health is not solely about treating illness after it occurs.
Small habits, long-term impact
WHO describes self-care as the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote and maintain health, prevent disease and cope with illness, either independently or with support from health professionals.
The organisation, however, stresses that self-care should complement rather than replace professional healthcare.
Among the habits highlighted by WHO is regular physical activity, which can help people maintain physical functioning and contribute to healthier ageing.
A healthy diet is another important component, while avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol can reduce exposure to major health risks.
Adequate sleep and maintaining social connections are also identified as important elements of overall wellbeing.
WHO links lifestyle to cognitive health
The WHO’s latest guidance also places significant emphasis on protecting cognitive health.
In updated guidelines released in July 2026, the organisation said up to 45 per cent of dementia risk could potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors.
Those factors include tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution and health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
The guidance does not suggest that healthy habits can guarantee a longer life or completely eliminate disease. Rather, it underscores that a substantial proportion of health risks are influenced by behaviours and conditions that can be addressed.
Healthy ageing goes beyond lifespan
WHO has increasingly focused on the distinction between simply living longer and living healthier for longer.
The organisation says the goal of healthy ageing is not merely to increase the number of years people live but to preserve physical and mental functioning and quality of life as people grow older.
Its recent work on self-care similarly encourages individuals to incorporate health-promoting practices into their daily lives rather than waiting until illness occurs.
For individuals, the message is relatively straightforward: regular movement, nutritious food, sufficient sleep, avoiding tobacco, responsible alcohol choices and maintaining social relationships can all form part of a healthier lifestyle.