It does not matter whether you are a young professional, a student, or a working mother. Twenty-first century life for American women is often a delicate balancing act. Further, it is nearly impossible to find a healthy balance if you are constantly putting everyone else first or, let’s face it, during a time of a global pandemic. These are just a few of the reasons why National Women’s Health Week is so important.
This year, National Women’s Health Week is celebrated May 10-16. During this time, women are reminded to look after themselves. Here are some tips we want you to consider this month, and throughout the year.
1. Make your health a priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that women take charge of their health by doing the following:
- Seeing the doctor regularly for routine checkups and screenings.
- Getting plenty of exercise including aerobic and strength boosting activities.
- Eating a healthy diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Avoiding foods that have too much sugar or salt.
- Refraining from smoking or drinking too much.
- Getting enough rest, at least seven hours per night for adults.
- Finding constructive and effective ways to cope with stress.
Of course, the first step toward improvement is choosing to start. Experts acknowledge that taking the first step towards a healthier lifestyle is often the hardest part of the process. This is especially true if you already feel as though you are constantly juggling a million things at once. For many of the women we work with in our practice this holds especially true as they are the primary caregivers for young children and aging parents, in addition to working.
Instead of feeling pressured to try the latest exercise craze or fad diet, professionals say the best approach is to do what is most effective for you. They also say that identifying what that is may take some reflection on your part. Specifically, they suggest that you think about:
- Your goals
- What motivates you
- What is holding you back
In all honesty, prioritizing your health is now more important than ever. By now, everyone knows that social distancing and self-isolation are two of the most important steps we can take to slow the spread of COVID-19. Besides taking steps to protect others, the Office on Women’s Health also urges women and girls to take steps to protect themselves at this time. This is especially important for those who are most susceptible to the virus.
Finally, health providers agree that emotional wellbeing is a key to safeguarding your physical health. In addition, finding healthy ways to cope with stress is an important part of the equation.
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers and we want to help you. If you have any legal concerns that are causing you stress at this time, please know that we are here to help. You may reach us by email or phone and we will get back to you as soon as possible.