Our Top 5 Ways to Celebrate National Women’s Health & Fitness Day

As our world progresses, life continues to feel busier for everyone, but women—and mothers in particular over the years—often bear the burden of extra demands, courtesy of our children, other family members, careers, housework and more. It can be challenging to set aside time for ourselves and focus on our own health and fitness needs. 

We are in luck today since it is National Women’s Health & Fitness Day 2020! Celebrated on the last day of September, this annual observance is an important reminder to focus our attention on prioritizing our health and wellness, regardless of age or season of life. It’s the perfect time to evaluate where we currently are and what can be done to be healthier, decrease stress, feel well and have more energy. If you are looking for ideas on how to jumpstart your health goals, look no further than our top tips today: 

1. Get Checked Out – If you haven’t already, go ahead and schedule an annual physical with your primary physician, or a “Well Woman Visit,” as well as the OB/GYN (pap smear) and other specialist of your choice, depending on what is needed (i.e. evaluation with a Physical Therapist, eye exam, mammogram, etc.). It’s important to stay on top of these check ups and from there, determine if additional treatments or other care is necessary.  
2. Stay Active – The CDC and other organizations report that women overall do not get the physical activity that is needed. Click here to learn more. It has been found that women of all ages benefit from a moderate amount of physical movement each day, such as going for a 20 or 30-minute walk. It doesn’t have to be strenuous or a long-lasting workout to make a big difference in our lives. It could be as simple as going for a brisk walk on a lunch break one day or asking a friend to join you on a scenic nature walk over the weekend. Once you have mastered this, consider trying a new workout or sport you enjoy such as cycling, yoga, swimming, dancing, tennis, etc. It’s always easier to stay active when you love your workout! 
3. Eat Well – We all know to essentially eat “healthy” and yet, it remains a struggle for so many of us. There’s no doubt our busy schedules and eating on-the-go is a frequent culprit, but it’s a great time to sit down and review the next month’s eating plan to make sure you are getting enough real nutrition in your diet. It may be a good idea to mark your calendar for certain days you know you’ll have time to cook and the days you won’t.  This will help you balance out the days and weeks and still eat healthy. *Extra tip: Try a new vegetable or fruit this season that you’ve never tried before (jicama, rhubarb, pummelo are a few ideas). Sometimes experimenting with recipes or adding more color to your plate can make nutrition more interesting and fun! 
4. Set Goals – Even if we haven’t purposely written down and set some health and fitness goals yet this year, chances are that most of us have thought of ways we’d like to improve. Whether it is losing weight, toning, building muscle, alleviating pain in the body or eating healthier—we can all take the time today to reflect on a few simple and attainable goals to work on through the end of the year. *Tip: If any of your goals is related to increasing movement, strength, balance or pain management, let us know! Physical Therapy may be a good option for you to help meet those goals. Contact us here with ANY questions and learn more about how an initial examination with a Physical Therapist may benefit you!  
5. Prioritize YOU – We’ve all heard of this famous quote: “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first” – Norm Kelly - right? And it’s so true! To keep giving of yourself—whether it’s to school-aged children in your family, to your spouse, or simply to yourself—you must prioritize your health and wellness. Only that way, then you can be the best woman you can be and happier overall. So, whatever “prioritizing you” means (i.e. getting a massage, going to bed earlier, taking a nap on the weekend, making time for a friend, drinking more water, etc.), then do more of that and your family will thank you later! 

Thank you for taking the time to read our tips and help us celebrate National Women’s Health & Fitness Day – September 30, 2020! Please like, share on your social media and email to someone who needs to hear this today! They will thank you later! 

And let us know: How are you celebrating National Women’s Health & Fitness Day today? Contact us here with any photos, stories, or updates, and you may be in our Community Member spotlight soon!