CULTURE
Healthy Habits to a
HEALTHY FUTURE
NORMALIZING CONVERSATIONS AROUND WOMEN'S HEALTH BY ROSEMARY JONES Beginning on Mother’s Day every year, the Office on Women’s Health celebrates National Women’s Health Week. This week is devoted to encouraging women to prioritize their own health and consider positive health habits they could insert into their lifestyles. This year, the Office on Women’s Health is commemorating more as May 10-16, 2020 will be the 20th anniversary of National Women’s Health Week. The Office on Women’s Health intends to empower women to get recommended screenings, look into preventative care, get daily exercise, enjoy a nutritious diet, create good mental health habits and practice healthy behaviors. These healthy habits can take different forms for different women, such as quitting smoking, learning stress management, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections or practicing safe sex. Looking only at the terms “health” and “wellness,” it is hard to find a clear definition. In many contexts, these words are used to describe physical appearance. However, it is important for one’s health journey to recognize that health is not just about physique. This assumed connection between health and physical appearance has many negative repercussions on both men’s and women’s health and their minds, many of which have been affected from a young age.
ARTWORK BY SHANNON BILLINGTON
“WE LIKE TO LOOK AT HEALTH AS STRICTLY PHYSICAL, LIKE WHAT YOU EAT OR WHEN YOU EXERCISE — THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO HEALTH."
THE SWINGING BRIDGE
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