Your 101 to Women's Health & Wellness – Why Your Mental Well-Being is Important
Determined, accomplished, and strong. Many women have built successful careers for themselves and continue to climb the corporate ladder. But in the midst of this whirlwind of a life, women’s health and wellness should still be prioritized.
We all know it too well – life gets busy, especially if you run your own household, take care of your family, and work full-time. This is one reason why a work/life balance is so important and why you should nurture your mental well-being.
You want to pursue your dreams and challenge yourself to great things but don’t forget to hit the brakes every now and then and allow yourself to catch a breath.
There are multiple factors that can affect your mental well-being and significantly impact women’s health and wellness. If you play your cards right though, these factors can uplift you and provide you with an integral support system. Let’s take a look.
Healthy Relationships
Relationships are one of those things that are central to whether you’re going to be happy or not. Avoid toxic relationships, constant negativity, and look for someone that can enhance your life and brings positivity.
Oftentimes, when we think of women’s health and wellness, we don’t consider all the aspects of our lives that play into our physical and mental well-being. But truth be told, relationships carry a lot of weight when it comes to personal happiness.
A healthy relationship provides you with:
- Support – having a shoulder to lean on when you need it and reminding you that you’re not alone
- Love & affection – feeling loved, valued, and appreciated
- Happiness – having someone you can laugh with and experience life with
Women’s health and wellness and women’s happiness rely on healthy relationships, particularly women’s mental well-being.
They say opposites attract but sometimes it’s just nice to have someone with common interests and shared dreams. Either way, there’s no right or wrong, as long as it works for you.
Strong Family Ties
Remember those big Sunday family dinners? Kids are laughing in the backyard and running around, tugging on the red and white checkered tablecloths that were so neatly arranged – while trying to escape the looks of the adults.
Meanwhile, your aunt is gossiping with your mom about the talk of the neighborhood, and your dad and brothers are in a lively discussion about the latest technical features of hybrid cars.
Believe it or not, but these dinners are important for your mental well-being. More so, strong family ties essentially contribute to your happiness.
Strong family ties are a huge contributor to your mental well-being. In fact, people that spend a lot of time with their families can add up to six years to their lives.¹
How so?
Blue Zone researcher Dan Buttner, who studied the world’s oldest communities, found that those with the most centenarians prioritized family ties and social connections.¹
While the Blue Zones differ culturally, their social lives are similar – making family one of the most important aspects of their lives.¹
Truth is, oftentimes family is taken for granted and its importance overlooked but when it comes to your mental well-being, and women’s health and wellness, in particular, it marks a key element in our lives.
Find a Job that You Enjoy
You know how you always dreamt of being done with college, finding the perfect job, and beginning to live your life? In your imagination, everything was the way you wanted it to be – you were great at your job and people respected you for it.
Unfortunately, it isn’t always quite this easy and life sometimes gives us all curveballs. But being happy at a job is really important when it comes to women’s health and wellness. Your mental well-being is integral – you need to feel comfortable, respected, and appreciated.
You also want to feel accomplished in your role. If you’ve recently changed positions, you may feel like you’re not achieving as much as you thought you would initially but give yourself some grace to get situated and learn your new role first.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be the perfect job but it shouldn’t be a work environment that makes you unhappy and stressed everyday either. Sometimes it takes switching jobs or careers multiple times before you find what you truly enjoy. And that’s okay too, it gives you more experiences to learn from.
Always surround yourself with people that lift you up – don’t underestimate the importance of your mental well-being and allow yourself to be happy. At home and outside of your home too.
Why a Work/Life Balance is Important
But even the greatest job in the world won’t cut it if you don’t have the right work/life balance. You want to enjoy your job, yes – but if you work 70+ hours every week even the most perfect job will quickly turn into a nightmare. It’ll consume you and you may miss out on time to recharge either alone or with friends and family.
So, what’s to do?
Set boundaries. Make time for yourself. Make time for your family and make sure you leave a slot for your hobbies and personal interests as well.
Your personal life is just as important as your career. Don’t keep putting off that trip to the Caribbean you always wanted to take or miss your niece’s first day of school, because you will regret it.
A good portion of your mental well-being depends on a balanced life – a career that makes you happy and the opportunity to actually live life.
Sadly, a lot of women feel like they have to do it all. Whether it’s to prove themselves, social pressure, or personal ambition. The truth is you shouldn't push yourself too much.
Women’s health and wellness largely depend on recognizing boundaries and finding the right balance – however you define it.
Spend Time Outdoors & Get Your Workout in
Ever have those days it feels like you got up on the wrong side of the bed and you’re not a happy camper? Go outside and get some fresh air, bring your dog for a walk or even head out for a jog around the block. Notice a difference?
According to the American Psychological Association, going for a stroll in your local park or hiking through nature can uplift your mood and positively impact your mental well-being. Especially green areas, such as forests have been linked to providing increased happiness.²
There’s just something about feeling the wind in your hair and inhaling the fresh air. A sense of weightlessness, like the burdens on your shoulders are being lifted.
But spending more time outdoors isn’t the only thing that can contribute to women’s health and wellness. Exercise can also promote your mental well-being.
In fact, research has found that regular exercise can encourage better sleep and provide relief from stress. At the same time, it can help your mood and have a positive effect on your self-esteem.³
So, what are you waiting for? Get your running shoes out and enjoy some time out in nature. And when you’ve reached the top of the hill, take a minute and just breathe.
Hear the chirping of the birds, the rustling of the leaves, and the rush of a nearby spring. And feel a sense of purpose and connectedness with nature – one that makes you feel happy and fosters your mental well-being.
What Are You Going to Do for Your Mental Well-Being?
Women’s health and wellness can be complex with many factors playing significant roles. Often not prioritized but not to be underestimated is the mental wellness that goes into a happy, healthy life. Particularly for women, mental well-being can determine happiness and a more positive outlook.
Evaluate your life – your relationships, your family ties, and your career. Ask yourself what you want out of life, where you see yourself going, and solidify a healthy plan to get there.
Your mental well-being is crucial. Choose to look on the brightside and try to cut out the stressors in your life that drain your energy.
And when you have a bad day despite your best efforts, get out of the house and enjoy some quality time outdoors.
Want to learn more about how to avoid extra stress? Read our blog post on 3 simple steps you can take.
And of course if you’re taking steps to have a more positive outlook and you’re finding it’s not coming as easily as you think it should, reach out to a trusted friend or family member or a professional. There’s often more support around us than we realize!
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References:
- Blue Zones: Families that live together, live longer. Retrieved August 2, 2022. https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/health/blue-zone/blue-zones-families-who-live-together-live-longer-ep-1019246699-335506831.html
- Nurtured by nature: Psychological research is advancing our understanding of how time in nature can improve our mental health and sharpen our cognition. Retrieved August 2, 2022. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature#:~:text=From%20a%20stroll%20through%20a,upticks%20in%20empathy%20and%20cooperation.
- Sharma A. et al. (2006). Exercise for Mental Health. 8(2): 106