PRACTICE SELF-CARE – 7 WAYS TO DO IT
Escape from reality: Give yourself a break from your usual routine by visiting a museum, scheduling an afternoon at a spa, reading a book, taking a nap or playing a video game. Make a date: One-on-one time with your spouse or partner is crucial for a healthy relationship. Getting out of the house for a few hours is ideal, but there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy an at- home date night after the kids are asleep. Find time for friendships: Friends make life more rewarding and offer much-needed support and companionship. Regular get-togethers, whether they’re in-person or virtual, can provide laughs, a shoulder to lean on or a way to feel connected to life outside your family. Educate yourself: It’s never too late to master a new language, learn how to paint or take up snowboarding. Find something you’ve always wanted to do and then give yourself the time to learn how to do it – or do it better. Get moving: Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress and improve your health. Walking, biking and running are inexpensive forms of exercise that help reduce stress. These activities will also give you some alone time to recharge and regroup. Improve your diet: Prepared foods and packaged snacks will satisfy your hunger pangs, but these foods can make you feel sluggish. Swap convenience foods and sugary or salty snacks for foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean meats for more staying power. Take care of your health: Women often make their family’s healthcare needs a priority while neglecting their own health. In fact, 78% of women surveyed by Healthy Women and Working Mother magazine reported putting off healthcare appointments because they were too busy managing their family’s needs. Making (and keeping) well-visits, dental, vision, therapy and other healthcare appointments is essential for maintaining your physical and mental health. Feeling overwhelmed or stressed? That’s a sign that you need some “me” time. Self-care doesn’t require hours, although the more time you can devote to it, the better. In fact, all you need is a few minutes per day to relax and recharge. Find time each day for any of the things on this list:
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx | October 2022
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