​

GET SMART ABOUT HEALTH

Commentary: Dr. Michele J.Doughty, DHEd

Learn to cultivate your life, for it is delicate as the petals of a rose, yet strong and sustaining as the air we all breathe. Today's women are confronted with multiple priorities arising from family, personal, and work experiences which can often distract us from maintaining balance and living life fully.  Maintaining inner harmony and balance enables the woman to strengthen her resilience to confront life's challenges. That is why it is so important to "Get Smart" about your health early on.  Educate yourself about your personal health by learning the importance of developing a personalized health action plan for lifelong wellness.  Learn how to start making YOU a priority by changing your perspective and moving away from a stagnating perspective and a sedentary lifestyle.  Make sure you schedule an annual checkup, exercise regularly, cut out a few calories, and distance yourself from stressful circumstances and individuals.  Getting smart about health also means doing research. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to your health, so this means you will need to discover what works best in your life. The next step is to tailor your health plan to complement your unique lifestyle.  Women are different in nature, although we might share a common interest, we still have different destinies, goals, and lifestyles.  We have different taste, perspectives, and preferences; however, one thing we all share in common is we want to look and do our best. Remember "You" ultimately determine your destiny. Getting smart about health means taking the necessary steps to lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The research shows the majority of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, and certain cancers are preventable when we take the necessary precautions. Remember the key to a successful YOU, means spending time cultivating YOU.  Get Smart!