KICKSTART YOUR NEW YEAR WITH 3 HEALTHY HABITS

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2024, many of us set resolutions and goals, but maintaining them can be challenging. Prioritize your health by incorporating sustainable healthy habits into your routine. Here are some practical health goals:

Get Your Body Moving

Being active is a great way to stay healthy. Daily movement doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive! All you need is to get your body moving: you can start by taking a walk in a safe neighborhood or decide to take the stairs instead of the elevator, Find an activity that is comfortable for you, that you ENJOY, and try to do it daily or at least several times a week. 

Examples of activities to get you moving: 

• Walking

• Swimming

• Dancing

• Yoga or Pilates

• Pelvic floor exercises

• Bike rides and stationary cycling

Remember: Safety first! If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor to see which exercise might be best for you.

 Benefits of staying active:

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Boosts your energy

• May decrease the risks of developing chronic illnesses

• Improves quality of life and increases life expectancy

BWPC offers free yoga sessions to the community! Yoga is a great way to get your body moving! Stay in the loop about upcoming yoga classes at our website here: blackwpc.org/events 

Build Your Immunity 

“Sick Season” is in full effect. Germs and infections are easily spread from person to person during this time of year. COVID-19, RSV, and flu cases are up during this season. The best way you can protect yourself from severe illness is to stay up-to-date with your vaccinations.

The AAC Clinic is available to provide COVID-19 & flu immunizations and testing. You can schedule your next COVID, flu, or booster appointment today!

Find Supportive Practices to Manage Stress

Not all stress is bad! You can experience positive stress and negative stress. Positive stress can be a healthy response to something in your life. However, negative stress can have adverse effects on your health. Managing stress is an important part of keeping yourself healthy.

You can effectively manage stress by:

• Getting plenty of rest. 

• Listen to your body.

• Spend time with people who matter and truly care about you.

• Spending time outside when the weather and air quality permits.

• Finding enjoyable activities and hobbies. 

• Respect yourself

• Start setting up goals that are small, realistic, and help you become happier and healthier.

•  If you’re pregnant, or gave birth recently,  join a supportive group like our Black Infant Health program!

• If you're struggling with housing, transportation, food, finding medical care etc. reach out to a Community Health Worker at BWPC and get connected to resources. Call us at (559) 767-1756​ today!

Learn more about managing stress during pregnancy here

Learn more about pregnancy and stress here

Learn more about COVID-19 isolation and vaccine guidance here

Learn more about RSV here

Learn more about the AAC Clinic here

Sources:

• https://www.summahealth.org/flourish/entries/2021/01/stress-management-how-to-tell-the-difference-between-good-and-bad-stress

• https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/why-is-physical-activity-so-important-for-health-and-wellbeing 

• https://www.blackwpc.org/stress-and-pregnancy

• https://www.blackwpc.org/pregnancy-and-stress

• https://www.blackwpc.org/covid-19-isolation-vaccine-guide

• https://www.blackwpc.org/how-to-protect-your-baby-from-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv

• http://blackwpc.org/aac