May You Be Well
May 8-14, 2022 - Women’s Health Week
The theme for the 2022 National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) is: Forward Focus: Achieving Healthier Futures Together
The statement released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH) encourages women and girls to reflect on their individual health needs and take steps to improve their overall health.
“Prioritizing your health – both physical and mental – has never been more important. Over the past few years, many women have put off taking care of their general health and wellness needs. They have adjusted their daily routines, including the way they connect with family and friends. The combination has led to serious health problems for some women. National Women’s Health Week is also a great time for family, friends, and the greater community to take actions to support women and help them achieve the best health possible.”
The downloadable publication offers a broad range of health and wellness topics. Since it is also Mental Health Awareness Month, here’s the highlight reel on the tips the OWH suggested for finding healthy ways to manage stress:
Get Prepared - Build a toolbox full of healthy ways to cope with stress.
Get Quiet - Simple, everyday actions such as scheduling quiet time for meditation, yoga, and reading can reduce stress.
Get Grounded - Spending a few minutes in nature, getting out to exercise, or playing a favorite song can help you feel grounded.
Get Clear - Learn about the difference between stress and anxiety and how you can cope here.
Mental wellness is something different for each person, and YOU know YOU best. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines it this way:
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others. Mental health is more than the absence of a mental illness—it’s essential to your overall health and quality of life. Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness. The NIMH website also offers a list of tips for Taking Control of Your Mental Health to help you discuss your mental wellbeing with your provider.
When it comes to physical wellness, it’s time to get PROACTIVE!
Part of getting to a place where life is balanced and you are feeling ‘well’ means taking care of your body - you know, that container that carries around the magic that is YOU! Annual visits (and any follow-up appointments!) are an important part of a preventive health care plan. From continuity in health care to getting answers to your questions and accessing tools to improve health, the most critical aspect of regular visits with the doc is disease prevention and identifying concerns at the earliest stage possible. Women’s healthcare needs change over time, so jump to the screening list that fits:
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Take a peek at the 8 Dimensions of Wellness chart, and grab your journal and a pen….
EVALUATE.
Read the description of each dimension.
Consider each area of your life, then assign a value to each from 1 - 10. (1 being unbearable; 10 being amazing!)
List 3 bullet points about why you chose that rating.
PAUSE.
Re-read the dimensions.
This time, imagine what a 10 in that area would look/feel like.
Bullet out three ways you can move towards that.
**Bonus points for adding a timeline to accomplish it!
START.
Make the changes you’ve identified and come back to let us know how it’s going! hello@adagemarketinggroup.com
