Author: be well™ with Big Y^® Registered Dietitian Team

Your self-care is just as important as being there for the ones you love.

How often do you take time for yourself? In the United States, women outlive men by 5 years.¹ With both heart disease and cancer being the leading causes of death for men in the United States,² it’s easy to pinpoint self-care as an important factor in this gap.

Make your health a priority with these tips:

Get Nourished

What you eat directly correlates to how you feel. The same goes for how hydrated you are. Keep a few pointers in mind when it comes to your nutrition‍—‍such as spreading your protein intake throughout the day, keeping a bottle of water within arm's length at any given time for a sip and enjoying a variety of colors and textures with a multitude of fruits and vegetables‍—‍and you’ll feel and perform your best.

Give up Tobacco

It's the #1 behavior impacting your health risks; take steps to finally walk away from tobacco use.

Get Moving

Aim toward 2½ hours of aerobic exercise each week and strength training at least 2 days per week, upon receiving clearance from your healthcare provider.

Relieve Stress

Incorporate quiet time, yoga and/or meditation into your daily routine.

Get Screened

Schedule annual appointments, blood work and immunizations with your healthcare providers.

Get Sleep

Let your body rest, rebuild and reset with 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night.

Get Safe

Avoid escaping stress with drug use or excess drinking. Practice habits to prevent accidental injuries at work and home.

¹Arias E, Bastian B, Xu JQ, Tejada-Vera B. U.S. state life tables, 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 70 no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:101128. Accessed April 1, 2021.

²Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Arias E, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2018. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 69 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-13-508.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2021.

For more health & wellness tips, contact our be well^™ with Big Y^® Registered Dietitian Team.

Reviewed 5/25/2023