Today is the first day of Women’s Health Week. Women’s Health Week is celebrated internationally to highlight the importance of improving all women’s health and to raise awareness of supporting every woman’s health and well-being. This year, the theme for Women’s Health Week is “It’s All About You”, to spread a vital message to remind all women that it’s okay to put yourself first and to remember to prioritise your health. For many women, it may be difficult to put themselves first and spend the needed time taking care of their well-being. In today’s world, it is important to support all women to take a portion of the day to give themselves the much-needed self-care and self-love they deserve. Here are three tools for practicing self-love and self-care.
Slow Down
We only have twenty-four hours in a day, and time may go very quickly when you have a daily to-do list. It may become easy to get lost in that busy list, and you may never stop until the day is done. According to the National Women’s Health Survey in 2018, more than quarter of women aged between thirty-five and fifty spend more time taking care of other people, rather than taking much-needed time for themselves. It’s important to take time aside in your day to slow down and give yourself the time you need to calm down and rest from the day. If you can, try to make a rest break a part of your daily list. This may be a five-minute, ten-minute, or an hour break, whatever is best and achievable for you. This rest break may be taking a walk outside, having a quiet sit, or reading a chapter of a book. Whatever is restful for you, what is important is that you try to slow down and enjoy some stillness in your mind, and take time that’s just for you.
Choose Nourishing Foods
One of the best methods to practice self-care and self-love is to be good to your body with your food choices. Choosing the right food suited for your body will make you feel well and support your body to get through the day. By eating nourishing foods, you are supporting your physical and mental health to become stronger, and healthier. Eating well may help your body heal quickly, fight any illnesses, and protect your mind against the daily stresses of life. A few ingredients to add to your plate to help your body going throughout the day are dark leafy greens, berries, dark chocolate, eggs, olive oil, and sweet potato. Whatever food you choose to add, the most important thing is to aim for a range of different ingredients, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and proteins. The right nutritious foods for your body may become a powerful tool in optimising and improving your health, and self-care needs.
Try Something New
One of the greatest things in life is that you can always find the time to try something new. Whether it’s a new class, a fun recipe, or a different tomato sauce for your spaghetti, there’s always something different to try that can spice up your life. If you try something new, you may not have a blast and enjoy it from the beginning, or enjoy it at all. If you don’t enjoy what you tried right away, it isn’t a sign that you made a mistake in trying it, but that you did something out of your comfort zone, and are open to new experiences, and learning more about yourself. While trying something new may be uncomfortable, this will allow you to try something you haven’t done before, realise whether it may or may not be for right you, and give yourself the confidence to continue trying new things, while also feeling more connected to yourself on your likes and dislikes.
For many women, taking care of their mental and physical health may be a challenge. It may be hard in knowing the first steps to practicing self-care and self-love, but by taking a breath and giving yourself the time to rest, eat right, and try something new, this will support you towards feeling happier and healthier. For Women’s Health Week, it’s important to support the women in your life by encouraging them to practice self-care and self-love, and supporting their health through taking the much-needed time they need to recover from the day. This year, become involved in Women’s Health Week by signing up to be a part of the Women’s Health Week community, attend a local event in your area, or donate to the Women’s Health Week foundation to support the women in our communities.
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