AUGUST ARTICLE: Spotlight on Self-Care during National Wellness Month

Did you know that it’s National Wellness Month? This month, we celebrate physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

It’s all about making self-care a priority, fostering healthy habits and reducing stress.

Self-care is about taking proactive steps to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, helping you better manage stress, illness, and life's many challenges.

Try to practice self-care each day by making healthy habits a priority. Here are a few ways to practice self-care:

•    Eat a well-balanced diet which includes a variety of fruits and vegetables.
•    Make your health a priority by scheduling and attending regular medical appointments.
•    Find time to exercise on a regular basis as it will not only keep you physically healthy, but it can improve your mental health as well.
•    Develop a healthy sleeping habit. Try to get around 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Having a routine of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day will help.
•    Make time for an enjoyable activity or a project that you look forward to.
•    Embrace positivity. Make it a habit by focusing on something good as well as the things you are thankful for each day.

When it comes to self-care, reducing stress is imperative. Many factors can contribute to increased stress levels, including traffic, work deadlines, financial concerns, and health challenges. These are often stressful challenges that are more difficult to control. However, consider “stressors” that are more easily managed, such as daily tasks, planning tasks ahead can help reduce overall stress. Here are a few examples:

•    Make mornings less hectic by preparing the evening before for the next day’s work/activities. For example, choose your complete outfit, including shoes, the night before to help make your morning routine easier and less stressful. Place your keys, coat, water, snack, bag/backpack and other items you’ll need in one place. This can help reduce the stress of rushing to find everything you need and get out the door on time.

•    Consider making several nutritious meals for the week ahead of time and freezing them. You will have fewer meals to prepare, and more time for self-care.

Exercise can also help reduce stress. For example, walking for 30-minutes a few days a week not only helps you stay strong and active, but it also causes your body to release chemicals that can improve your mood and lower stress.

Exercise also plays a role in fall prevention, as it improves balance and increases strength and flexibility. Not sure which type of exercise would be appropriate for you? Talk with your health care provider about starting an exercise program that will help you build strength and improve your balance so you can reduce your risk of falls.

September is National Falls Prevention Month. It’s important to know that most falls can be prevented. In addition to exercising, which helps you maintain strength and improve balance, there are a few other ways to prevent falls.

Did you know? Falls often happen at home, making it important to create a safer living environment to help prevent them. Start by reducing clutter and removing trip hazards such as shoes, books, and throw rugs. Keep your rooms well-lit and install nightlights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Consider having grabbers installed in the bath or shower for added support. Some chronic health conditions and medications can cause dizziness and increase your risk of falling so be sure to discuss any concerns with your physician.

Wondering if you are at risk of falling? Visit the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) website to take their “Falls Free Checkup” quiz: https://www.ncoa.org/tools/falls-free-checkup/

Learn more by visiting our website, ocesma.org/events or by contacting OCES’ Healthy Living Program at 508-584-1561.