10 Ways to Celebrate National Women’s Health & Fitness Day! $0.00

10 Ways to Celebrate National Women’s Health & Fitness Day!

By: Emily Nichols |
National Women’s Health & Fitness Day!

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” - Unknown


What better way to represent strong women than through National Women’s Health and Fitness Day? Health covers all aspects of our life…mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, intellectual…just to name a few.

Every year on the last Wednesday in September, National Women’s Health & Fitness Day is held. It is the largest national annual health promotion event for women of all ages which, “focuses attention on the importance of regular physical activity and health awareness for women.” [1]


As a clinician, you are able to provide your patients with the tools and encouragement to live a healthy lifestyle. You are in an ideal position to promote health and wellness throughout your clinic and with your patients. Although don’t forget, you should be practicing what you preach. Set yourself as an example for your patients and be someone that they can look towards knowing you believe in what you’re telling them.


But we get it, everyone’s busy! Jobs, families, and nights out with friends tend to take priority. Health & fitness can suffer due to the crazy demands of life. Regardless, in order to be our best self, we have to make sure we’re taking care of our health. Not only will the reward of feeling better be noticed, but it can be pretty fun!


Check out these ten ideas to help celebrate your mind, body, and wellness & kick start those lifestyle changes. Consider them for yourself and take away some ideas that you can encourage your female patients to try out.


  1. Find an Event/Host an Event

  2. Anywhere between 50,000 to 75,000 women will participate in local activates related to health and fitness throughout the country. With more than 500 groups to choose from, it’s guaranteed that you will find somewhere to participate! These groups are located throughout the communities in places such as senior centers, hospitals, health clubs, park and recreation districts, local health and service organization, schools, retirement communities, and houses of worship. [1]


    As a clinician, you have the opportunity to take this day and week ever year to provide information to your patients through your clinic. See what fun ideas and activities you can come up with to get your patients involved and interested in how they can better their health & wellness.


  3. Discover a New Fitness Activity

  4. With all of the new (and old) crazes out there, I’m sure there’s at least one fitness activity you’ve been dying to try! Ranging from kickboxing to cycling. From boot camps to Pilates. From rowing to Zumba. Get out of your comfort zone and give one a shot! Don’t have time to make it to a class or to the gym? There’s plenty of online programs you can do right in the comfort of your own home. You can even break out your TheraBand to get in a killer workout!


  5. Grab a Friend

  6. What’s more fun than taking control of your health and wellness? Doing it with a friend…of course. It will allow you to focus on your social wellness and maintain healthy relationships, all while holding each other accountable! Grab a group of girlfriends, hit up a yoga class together on a Sunday, and follow it with a delicious brunch. A perfect way to end the weekend.

  7. Buy an Activity/Fitness Tracker

  8. With so many different brands and styles to choose from, a tracker could be the perfect solution to meeting your fitness goals. Measuring workouts, calories burned, steps, heartrate, and sleep, just to name a few…trackers can be both a stylish and easy way to take control of your accountability. How about that friend you’ve been working out with? Friend each other through your trackers and make a friendly competition out of it!


  9. Take Care of Your Mental Health

  10. Your physical health can affect your mental health. Just like your mental health can affect your physical health! All different categories of health and wellness can play into each other. Make sure you’re doing what you can to keep your spirits calm and positive. Try signing up for a sunrise yoga class or discovering meditation. Take that vacation you’ve been needing or experiment with a new hobby. Do something for yourself that you love and enjoy!


  11. Get a Check Up

  12. Not many of us want to spend our time flipping through magazines in the doctor’s office, but it’s important that we’re being proactive about our health! By having regular health exams, we can find problems early or before they even start. Our doctors can provide a lifestyle check-up and give us any medical advice needed. Besides your physical, be sure to have your scheduled pelvic exams, Pap tests, and breast exams. Keep up with them regularly and have peace of mind knowing you’re taking care of yourself.


  13. Take Time to Relax: Get a Massage

  14. Massage? Say no more. Stress can do some serious damage to the female body. I’m sure most of us know (or have noticed) stress can cause sleeping trouble and weaken the immune system. Not only can it do that, but it can lead to headaches and migraines, depression and anxiety, heart problems, an upset stomach, obesity, problems getting pregnant, menstrual cycle problems, and a decreased sex drive. [2] Take some time to yourself to relax and release the stress you have built up from daily life.


  15. Eat Healthy

  16. We all know how tempting it is to choose the cheeseburger over the salad. But really, make sure you’re considering the fuel you’re putting into your body! Healthy eating is an essential part of performing your best. Start by taking small steps such as cutting out pop or sugary drinks, choosing whole foods over processed foods, eating smaller portion sizes, and counting nutrients. Step-by-step you can make changes until your new eating habits become your regular lifestyle.


  17. Drink Your Fluids

  18. Do you have a favorite reusable water bottle? How about a fun way to keep track of your water intake? A common recommendation is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day which equals out to about 2 liters. Although there are variable factors that affect the amount for each person, drinking enough water should be a goal that we all have. There are plenty of health benefits and position affects that water has on the body.


  19. Sleep

  20. For women ages 18-64, it is recommended that you get anywhere from 7-9 hours asleep. For women 65 and older, it is recommended that you get anywhere from 7-8 hours of sleep. [3] Sleep deprivation can affect people’s performance. It can also affect the ability to think clearly, react quickly, and form memories. It can affect other forms of health and wellness due to mood changes, relationship problems, depression, and anxiety. Not getting enough sleep can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. [4] So be sure to get those Zzz’s!


    We want to celebrate our female healthcare professionals on National Women’s Health and Fitness Day, and make sure that you all are taking good care of yourself. No matter how crazy life can get, always be sure to prioritize your health, wellness, and fitness. Strong women like you can set awesome examples for your patients and encourage lifelong lifestyle changes.


    Find your favorite way to celebrate this day (and week) in 2018 and pass on your favorite celebrations to the women around you.


    Sources:


    [1] http://www.fitnessday.com/women/index.html

    [2] https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/stress-and-your-health

    [3] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/content/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need-0

    [4] https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/sleep/conditioninfo/sleep-deprivation

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