WOMEN'S HEALTH
Taking Time to
TAKE CARE OF
You
Focus on self-care to improve your physical and mental health
For many women, taking care of themselves often has to come after tending to a long list of other priorities, including kids, a spouse, parents, home responsibilities, work obligations and others. o, how can you shed some of life’s unrealistic expectations and create a more balanced, less stressful lifestyle? While the idea might only sound possible in an ideal world, you can make it happen in the real world, with a bit of strategizing to prioritize some of your own needs. That’s where the concept of “selfcare” comes in. The goal of self-care, a term that has gained prominence over the past few years, is to use intentional strategies to promote physical, mental and emotional health, explains Malinda Whitfield, APRN, family/psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with Sentara
Behavioral Health Specialists in Harrisonburg. “These strategies are necessary to build and maintain resiliency in dealing with everyday life stressors,” Whitfield says. “Depending on your situation, self-care steps could be as simple as being sure to get enough sleep or going outside more. The key is to identify the stressors in your life and consciously make time to take a break from them.” Beyond those smaller steps, however, women also need long-term self-care strategies to cope with stress and build resiliency, Whitfield says. Since our physical health is intertwined with our mental health, nutrition and physical activity, selfcare should also play a role in these areas. sentara.com
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