Women’s Health Month
In May, we observe National Women’s Health Week to encourage all women and girls to take control of their health and wellness. The social responsibilities and roles women and girls have in society can often overshadow their personal growth and development. Even with the chaos of life, you are allowed to put yourself first. However, this change requires support from others, so it can help to start with women empowering women in our local communities. Women’s health is unique and personal, so it is important to celebrate each individual approach to health.
Life as we know it has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. From this, one important lesson I’ve learned is not to take my health for granted. Jada Pinkett Smith once said “ Do something today that communicates to your body that you desire to care for it.”1 So I encourage all women and girls to take advantage of National Women’s Health Week to start prioritizing your physical and mental health.
Here are some fun habits to incorporate into your life to prioritize and protect your health!
Try Something New
Incorporate a new activity into the week to bring excitement back into your life. Life gets automated doing the same daily routine, so let’s challenge ourselves to become more open. Some ideas include trying a new restaurant, recipe, fitness class, hobby, or start a bucket list for an extra challenge
De-stress
Being constantly stressed is common in this busy world, but it does not have to rule your life. Learning how to deal with unhealthy stress will not only positively impact your mental health but improve your physical health too. While most people use coping strategies that are less than healthy, it’s important to take a break and embrace self-care before continuing on.
Treat Yo’ Self
On the topic of self-care, you deserve to live a life where you can enjoy yourself. If you don’t love yourself, who else will? Do something for yourself each week just because it feels good. It can be things that cost money like shopping or going on a solo-date, or things that are relatively inexpensive like breakfast in bed or an at-home pamper session.
Grab a friend
One dimension of wellness that often gets overlooked is social health. Managing healthy relationships helps you build social skills like communication, trust, and boundary setting.Taking time to nurture your quality, mutually beneficial relationships allows you to have a strong support system. While you are trying something new or practicing self care this week, try to invite a friend if you can.
Get a wellness visit
The doctor’s office can make you feel anxious, but it is important to be proactive about your health. It creates the foundation for your health care and allows you to take part in decision-making for relevant preventative health services. Regular wellness exams include preventative screenings which can detect health issues early and could be easier to treat. As women age, there are new health milestones with each decade of life, so it’s beneficial to be aware and familiar with your overall health.
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Sources
Jada Pinkett Smith. (2013, July 16). Don’t take your health for granted. Don’t take your body for granted. [Status Update] Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/jada/photos/dont-take-your-health-for-granted-dont-take-your-body-for-granted-do-something-t/10151798322211320/#:~:text=Jada%20Pinkett%20Smith-,Don't%20take%20your%20health%20for%20granted.,Tomorrow%20is%20not%20promised.
OASH. (2022). Ideas for celebrating NWHW. Ideas for celebrating NWHW | Office on Women's Health. Retrieved May 17, 2022, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/tools/ideas-for-celebrating#:~:text=Organize%20a%20virtual%20healthy%20cooking,heart%20health%2C%20healthy%20eating%20vs
