This month we acknowledge and celebrate women’s health and well-being for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM). We’re utilizing today to remind women to take care of their physical and mental health.

 Did you know? Two-thirds of women in the United States provide regular support, are caregivers to others, and often forget about their own health and well-being. Unfortunately, this creates a greater risk for poor physical and mental health. We encourage women to make their health a priority.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of health is as follows:

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” 

Regardless of what you think of this definition, the World Health Organization has not changed it since 1948. We know that sometimes, as women we tend to put ourselves to the side. However, we need to change our mindset and make ourselves a priority (just like our 2022 Cervical Cancer Awareness Month theme: Take Care of You).

Here are five tips to help you live a healthier life:

1. Checkups – Make sure you do not skip your regular checkups, screenings, and exams that you may need. We need to remember that prevention and early detection saves lives.

2. Nutrition – Eating and enjoying a balanced diet is essential for our overall health. Find a balance that works for your lifestyle. No matter what you think about diets, we ALL have one. A diet is simply a pattern of eating. Whatever health means to you, the right diet will support it. There is no one-size-fits-all model for dietary patterns and health.

3.  Get Active – We will not call it exercise but instead, we will say, “Move the body.” The body is never meant to be sedentary. Recent studies show us that sitting is the new smoking. Finding a movement that works for you is key. Starting small and working up to the recommended 150 minutes a week will give you so many benefits for your mind, your body, and your spirit.

4.  Sleep – We must try to sleep at least 7 to 9 hours at night. It is during this time that the body repairs, allowing healing and restoration to occur. Lack of sleep is associated with negative health effects. So in other words…get your snooze on, ladies!

5.  Hydration – Drinking water is crucial for our bodies. The majority of adults do not hydrate themselves close to the recommended level. Multiple studies report that 75% of adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic dehydration. As we age, your body’s thirst signal diminishes, so as a rule of thumb when you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Please, please drink your water.

If all these steps are too overwhelming for you – believe me, you are NOT alone. 

New habits do not happen overnight. It takes repetition and we need to adapt them little by little into our lives and psyche until they become second nature. Some studies say that it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic – you have time to start now!

Mel Robbins states: “Old habits can take years to form. Forgive yourself if it takes more than a day to break them.”

Thank you Mel Robbins for reminding us to forgive ourselves if our work is not perfect and linear. Remember – success does not come from what we do occasionally, but from what we do consistently. 

If you are looking for support, you can join our Survivor Slimdown community. Survivor Slimdown is an online Facebook group open to ALL cancer survivors. It is a safe place for our community to support one another, and to challenge our mind, body, and spirit to live our best lives.