This guide outlines some crucial women’s health care aspects no business or career woman should ignore.
Managing a company or having a high pressure role is a full-time job. When you have a hectic schedule, it’s not always easy to prioritize your health, but it’s important to take care of yourself. Looking after your body and mind can help you achieve more and reduce the risk of health issues.
Key factors for women’s health care
In this informative guide, we’ll outline some simple steps you can take to boost mental and physical well-being while running your business.
Keep up to date with tests and checks
A packed diary often means making decisions about how to allocate your time and which meetings or appointments to accept or reject. When managing your schedule, make sure you are up to date with routine tests and checks and make time for screening and appointments. Regular women’s health care assessments are designed to minimize risks and ensure that healthcare professionals have the best chance of spotting warning signs early. If you haven’t been to the dentist for years, you have no idea what your BMI is, or you’re behind with cervical screening, now is the time to pick up the phone and make some calls.
Seek advice if you don’t feel right
Many of us are reluctant to seek advice if we don’t feel well or we notice abnormal symptoms. It’s often easier to ignore signs and hope that they disappear. If you don’t feel right, or you notice changes in your physical or mental health, it’s important to reach out. There may be a simple solution, or a treatment or therapy you can try to ease symptoms and improve your health. If you let symptoms go untreated, there is a risk of conditions and infections getting worse.
It’s very common for women to experience specific health issues, especially as they get older or they go through pregnancy or menopause, which impact hormone levels. If you experience symptoms that are affecting you daily, or the signs get more severe, arrange an appointment with your doctor or search for clinics that specialize in women’s health care treatments such as hormone replacement therapy. It’s essential to understand that in the vast majority of cases, there are treatments available for mental and physical health issues. Often, people are more likely to seek help for physical symptoms but mental well-being is equally important.
Make time for exercise
Exercise is one of the most effective natural remedies for good health. If you run a business, it can be difficult to find the time for regular physical activity, but if you can find 15 or 30 minutes each day, you’ll notice the benefits. Try to maximize the time you have available. Go for a walk before you start work in the morning or cycle or jog to the office. Block out times for exercise classes or active pursuits in your calendar, and opt for high-intensity activities, such as HIIT sessions, if you want a workout that burns a lot of calories in a short period.
Regular exercise provides a diverse range of women’s health care benefits, including a lower risk of depression and anxiety, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and some types of cancer. Being active can also help you to de-stress, improve sleep habits and channel emotions. If you’re tired but you’re struggling to switch off, for example, going for a walk or doing a yoga session may help you to unwind. If you’re feeling angry, frustrated or restless, activities like boxing, golf or spinning will help you to channel your feelings positively.
Recognize the signs of stress and burnout
A recent survey revealed that over 90% of small business owners have experienced symptoms of mental illness in the last two years. Stress and burnout are common among entrepreneurs. Running a business can be stressful, especially when confronted with additional challenges like navigating a pandemic. It’s hugely beneficial for entrepreneurs to be aware of the signs of burnout and to take action to try to protect against severe stress.
Try to ensure you get enough rest. Experts recommend 6-8 hours of sleep per night for adults. If you are prone to sleep troubles, modify your sleep routine and make sure that your bedroom is a quiet, soothing space. Set a daily bedtime and take 30 or 60 minutes each evening to do something that makes you feel relaxed. Resist the temptation to make work-related calls or check emails late at night and keep tablets and laptops out of your bedroom.
An active lifestyle can help you to lower the risk of stress and increase energy levels. If you’re exhausted, going for a run or booking an exercise class may be the last thing you want to do but if you can muster up the energy, you’ll feel better. Exercise boosts your mood, it makes you feel more energetic, it reduces stress and it aids sleep. Other women’s health care techniques that can decrease stress include breathing exercises, massage therapy and meditation.
Healthy eating
Healthy eating is essential for optimum women’s health care. We often focus on changing our diets as a means of losing weight, but nutrition should be the top priority. If you’re busy all the time, it’s easy to fall into bad habits like eating on the go and ordering takeouts frequently.
It’s a great idea to get an insight into your nutrition by keeping a food diary. Enter meals and snacks into an app and analyze your diet to see if there are deficiencies or issues you need to address. You may find that you’re not getting enough iron, protein, vitamin C or fiber, or that you’re eating far more sugar than you thought, for example. Modify your diet to improve nutrition. If you’re short on time, search for quick, easy, healthy recipes online, prepare meals in advance and try batch cooking.
Conclusion
Life as a businesswoman or career woman is hectic, and this means that women’s health care and well-being are not always priorities. To perform to the best of your ability and keep problems at bay, you need to look after your body and mind. Follow these simple steps to put your health first and enjoy better mental and physical well-being.
