The management and appropriate treatment of chronic disease are ongoing challenges in health care. As the population ages, the prevalence of chronic disease can be expected to increase. Since by definition there is no cure for chronic disease, controlling, minimizing, or managing its negative effects becomes a primary goal. In the self-management perspective, it is neither clinicians nor health care systems who must accomplish the bulk of chronic disease management but rather the patients themselves. Moreover, self-management has been shown to be associated with improved outcomes. Self-management is comprised of two domains: self-management of health care and self management of everyday life. Self-management of health care includes self-care activity, partnership in care, communication, self-care self-efficacy, and adherence. Self-management of everyday life entails achieving/maintaining "normality" in everyday roles and functioning. End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a chronic disease for which self-management is particularly relevant. Understanding the components of self-management may help patients and clinicians to embrace this approach, to enter the mutual relationship it requires, and to maximize positive outcomes for patients with ESRD.