Holidays remind us that there is always something worth celebrating. No matter how random they are (National Popcorn Day or National Tie Your Tie Day), these holidays remind us of the small yet powerful things in life.

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Then there are holidays that aren’t so random — holidays that urge you to reflect on yourself and the world around you. No holiday fits that mold better than World Health Day.

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What is World Health Day, you ask? It’s exactly as it sounds. A worldwide day of celebration, awareness, and even some internal reflection on health — and everything that makes up our health.

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Whether you’re a patient, independent pharmacist, or any kind of healthcare professional, you play a vital role in all things health-related — you just might not know it yet.

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Here’s how you can make the world a healthier place this World Health Day.

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A Healthy History Lesson

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Every holiday has some kind of history, and World Health Day has a storied — and nutritious — one.

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It all started in 1948 when the World Health Organization held its First World Health Assembly. The WHO later decreed that every April 7 was World Health Day. From then on, World Health Day has been part of the social and healthcare fabric.

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As a result, World Health Day is a part WHO birthday celebration and a part-global event to raise awareness of global health.

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#HealthForAll

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This year’s World Health Day is also the 75th anniversary of the WHO’s founding. Appropriately, the theme for this year is “Health for All.”

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This year’s World Health Day focuses on the idea that “the right to health is a basic human right,” according to the WHO website.

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The WHO advocates for universal health coverage, saying such a plan would make health services more accessible and cost-effective.

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The #HealthForAll theme “envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.”

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30% of the world’s population does not have access to essential health services, also according to the WHO.

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Visit the “Key Messages” page on the WHO website for more facts about global health and universal health coverage.

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Shake Up Your Health Journey

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This year’s World Health day is all about accessible care. Though your mind might think of healthcare and insurance plans, go beyond the literal and think of the metaphorical. How can you give yourself a better bill of health?

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How can you make your health journey as easy and enjoyable as possible? Yes, your health journey can be an enjoyable one. Just like how healthy foods don’t always have to taste like dirt, you can have a little bit of work and play in your health journey.

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If you already have a consistent workout routine, great! It takes a great deal of trial and error to come up with the perfect workout routine. However, what’s great now rarely stays great for much longer.

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If you’re seeing fewer results with your current workout routine (better known as the Plateau Effect), shake things up a little.

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Your changes can be small: use different exercises for the same muscle group, add more tempo runs to your routine, and even the time of day for your workout.

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#HealthForAll is more than just hitting the gym more often. Learn more about your health this World Health Day. Go for regular checkups from your doctor and get those biannual dental cleanings — you just might find a rogue cavity in the nick of time.

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What matters is you truly understand the inner workings of your health. Once you know how your body works, create a plan of action with the help of your doctor and independent pharmacist.

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Then you’ll get to your next starting line or workout bench a smarter, stronger, and healthier self.

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Lend a Helping (and Healthy) Hand

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As we’ve said in previous blogs, you’ll never have to go at it alone. By “it,” we mean workouts, runs, and even your meditation journeys. Even your office plant can qualify as a plus one (in this situation, not in social situations).

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Get a workout buddy for extra motivation to see that grueling workout through. Having a friend spot you (in workout terms) can give you that extra boost.

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Having a workout buddy makes you feel more motivated and more consistent with your workout routine, according to the CDC.

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Whether it’s doing one more grueling rep or literally going the extra mile, a workout buddy can help you push through self–made barriers.

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Not to mention, you both will be achieving a better and stronger bill of health. Self-improvement doesn’t have to be restricted to the self. It should be contagious and encourage others to become healthier versions of themselves.

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That’s part of what #HealthForAll is all about: breaking needless thresholds to get to a whole new level of health.

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Spread the Word

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World Health Day is more than going to the gym or ordering water instead of soda. World Health Day is a holiday, and holidays give you something to celebrate. The WHO luckily has all you need to make this World Health Day a worthwhile celebration.

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Visit the “Campaign toolkit” page on the WHO website for official World Health Day resources.

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You can host a community event (your independent pharmacist may love to help out) or create a social media plan for your small business. The more you put the word out, the better.

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You’re bringing the community together and raising awareness about World Health Day. What’s not to love?

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One Step Further, One Step Healthier

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The future is health, or at least it should be. The WHO predicts that between 2023-2030 there will be a shortfall of 10 million healthcare workers worldwide. This makes World Health Day even more important.

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It’s a great way to jumpstart your health journey. It also acts as a reminder of how essential accessible healthcare is. The WHO’s vision of #HealthForAll should not be an unlikely one.

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As such, use this World Health Day as a way to make yourself and others around you a little healthier. Like all things in life, a little bit goes a long way.