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Self-compassion, concern for personal health and wellness, and knowing your own body are imperatives for all women, especially when life gets busy and attention often shifts to taking care of others. Even in the hectic times, take a moment (or a few!) to check in on your needs or the needs of the women in your life. Below are some healthy steps to keep you on the wellness path.
Women's Health Step by Step
- Eat Healthy: Calculate your MyPlate plan to find out how much and what foods you need, based on your height, weight, age, and physical activity level.
- Be Physically Active: Make a plan to get active! Create your Activity Planner on the Department of Health and Human Services Move Your Way website. Set your own weekly
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: A healthy weight is different for everyone and the key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. It’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the calories you consume with the calories your body uses. Maintaining a healthy weight can contribute to good health now and as you age. Learn more at Women's Health - Healthy Weight.
- Manage Stress: Not all stress is bad. In the short term, stress can be helpful. But long-term stress can lead to health problems. Preventing and managing long-term stress can lower your risk for conditions like heart disease, obesity, and depression. Learn more at Stress and Your Health.
- Limit Alcohol: If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Check out the Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol for more information.
- Learn Risk Factors and Symptoms: Women’s risk factors and symptoms may be different and less-well known than men for many health conditions. This may result in delays in seeking health care, misdiagnosis, and worse outcomes. Start the learning process with these women-specific resources for heart disease, cancer, and mental health conditions.
- Get Regular Check-Ups: Consider scheduling a Well-Woman visit every year to establish baselines for factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight—and monitoring how they change over time. Learn what to expect at Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year. Be sure to discuss your mental health, too. Start the conversation with These 5 Tips.
To learn more about age-specific tips for health and wellness, visit the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) Healthy Living by Age page.
Women's Health Toolkit
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