May has many monthly observances in it that focus on self-care. These include Arthritis Awareness Month, National Walking Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Women’s Health Care Month, and Better Sleep Month.
Self-care is an important component of improving both physical and mental health. According to USAToday, mental illness affects more than 50 million Americans and a large percentage of people go without treatment for mental illness every year. Many across the United States also handle or suffer from physical impairments that affect their day-to-day routine.
“Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy,” states the National Institute of Mental Health. “Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.”
This May, focus on how to care for yourself through observing the different promotions throughout the month.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, 21.2 % of all adults, or 53.2 million people, have arthritis. More than half of U.S. adults (51.7%) with arthritis are of working age (18 to 64 years).
“The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other forms include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus,” stated the CDC. “Symptoms of arthritis are pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can affect multiple organs and cause widespread symptoms.”
To reduce arthritis symptoms, the CDC recommends staying active through physical activities such as swimming, walking, and biking. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding activities that may cause joint injuries will also reduce symptoms. The CDC also recommends participating in a self-management education program, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, that teaches the skills to live well with arthritis.
In terms of physical activity, May promotes walking. There are many ways to be active in Baldwin County from walking around downtown, to walking the trails located at the Oconee Greenway, or visiting trails such as the Tale Trail at the Collins P. Lee Community Center in Milledgeville. In addition, there are challenges to join such as Run the Year (2,204 miles for 2024) or the 2024 Walk for Health Challenge, hosted on Facebook to encourage participants to walk 3-5 times a week and share their experiences.
Moving away from physical activity, May puts dire focus on the health of one’s body. Mental Health Awareness spans a large umbrella as does Women’s Healthcare. However, both of these tie into the physical wellbeing of one’s person. Get involved by learning about different forms of mental health disorders and effects, promoting mental health and women’s healthcare resources, offering a shoulder of support, reaching out to your doctors for mental health or women’s healthcare screenings or discussions and more.
Concluding the monthly observances, Better Sleep month, according to the National Public Health Information Coalition, is a recognition introduced by the Better Sleep Council to help people focus on improving their sleeping habits. The CDC recommends adults get 7 to 9 hours of nightly sleep while children are recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
“Signs of poor sleep quality include not feeling rested even after getting enough sleep, repeatedly waking up during the night, and experiencing symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring or gasping for air),” states the CDC.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, general self-care tips are to stay active and exercise, make sleep a priority, explore relaxation and wellness programs, focus on positivity, and set obtainable goals and priorities for yourself. By participating in these monthly observances and continuing self-care beyond May, one can set themselves up for better mental and physical health overall.