How To Be A Grown Ass Woman: Health + Personal Care
Yesterday, I launched my ecourse The Post College Survival Kit. In honor of trying to be the best adults we can be (regardless of our current age) I'll be devoting the rest of the week to becoming awesome, grown ass women.
You guys! We're grown women now! This means that - in addition to renting cars and signing leases - we also have to worry about things like our blood pressure and health insurance co-pays. Hooray!
I know a lot of people (myself very much included) aren't thrilled about trying to understand their health insurance. And going to the doctor isn't always super fun, either. But preventative healthcare is incredibly important; I know you rolled your eyes when your Grandma said "at least you've got your health!" but that ish is true.
Here are eight things you probably already know you need to be doing to take care of your physical and mental health. (You can download a (free) 27-page sample of The Post College Survival Kit with one article one worksheet from each chapter here.)
1. Get your teeth checked
Don't have dental insurance? Check out this list of dental schools that offer free or very affordable services. If you don't want student hands in your mouth, you can frequently find Groupons for teeth cleanings and dental x-rays. I got a $300 cleaning and x-ray for $60! I know teeth-cleaning isn't a particularly sexy or fun way to spend money, but you know what's really awful? Root canals. That you have to get when you go years between check ups.
2. Get a basic physical
If you're like me, there are probably a few things that have bugging you. What's the deal with that mole? Why does my hip click when I hike? And why can't I sleep through the night? Because you drink coffee at 7 pm, Sarah. This is what your insurance is for: staying healthy and catching problems before they get too big.
3. Get a pelvic exam and pap smear
But you already knew that, right? And while you're at it, get tested for STDs and get the HPV vaccine if you qualify.
4. If you wear glasses or contacts, get your eyes checked
I only do this once every two or three years, but I love that moment I pop in new contacts and allofasudden I can see the leaves at the top of every tree! If this isn't covered by your insurance, you can get cheap exams at America's Best, cheap contacts from 1800contacts, and frames lenses for $100 from both Warby Parker and Eyefly. (I speak from experience!)
5. Give yourself regular
breast exams.
Again, you already knew that, right?
6. Reassess your fitness routine
You don't need six-packs abs or Michelle Obama-calibar arms to be healthy. But you really should do something active, several times week. And lifting weights? It prevents osteoporosis and just generally makes you feel like a badass. Commit to finding something - anything! - that's active and heart rate increasing that you genuinely enjoy doing. It doesn't even have to be "exercise"! It could be 20-minute dance parties in your living room, playing hockey with your friends, shoveling all the sidewalks on your block, or leg wrestling with your roommates every night.
7. If you have serious mental health issues, look into them
If you regularly feel depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed - know that you don't have to feel like that and you're not alone. If you're comfortable with medication, talk to your physician. See if your health insurance covers therapy. If it doesn't or if you can't afford it, look into support groups (either in real life or online) and check out sliding-fee therapists.
8. If you don't have health insurance - please, please, please get some
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of debt. While health insurance won't completely protect you from incurring medical debt, having insurance makes it much, much less likely. Also, you're now legally required to have it. And it's probably less expensive than you think! I use Health Partners and pay about $100 a month. If you absolutely can't afford health insurance, this blog post is incredibly useful.
Tell me in the comments! What do you do to stay on top of your health and personal care?
photo by Smabs Sputzer // cc
Again, you already knew that, right?
6. Reassess your fitness routine
You don't need six-packs abs or Michelle Obama-calibar arms to be healthy. But you really should do something active, several times week. And lifting weights? It prevents osteoporosis and just generally makes you feel like a badass. Commit to finding something - anything! - that's active and heart rate increasing that you genuinely enjoy doing. It doesn't even have to be "exercise"! It could be 20-minute dance parties in your living room, playing hockey with your friends, shoveling all the sidewalks on your block, or leg wrestling with your roommates every night.
7. If you have serious mental health issues, look into them
If you regularly feel depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed - know that you don't have to feel like that and you're not alone. If you're comfortable with medication, talk to your physician. See if your health insurance covers therapy. If it doesn't or if you can't afford it, look into support groups (either in real life or online) and check out sliding-fee therapists.
8. If you don't have health insurance - please, please, please get some
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of debt. While health insurance won't completely protect you from incurring medical debt, having insurance makes it much, much less likely. Also, you're now legally required to have it. And it's probably less expensive than you think! I use Health Partners and pay about $100 a month. If you absolutely can't afford health insurance, this blog post is incredibly useful.
Tell me in the comments! What do you do to stay on top of your health and personal care?
photo by Smabs Sputzer // cc
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