Health Hygiene for your

Acan not only avoid becoming ill, but also ways to enhance our health and improve the overall quality of life. It’s easier said than done, but the promotion of health awareness is key. We can save a lot of lives by focusing on preventable health problems and encouraging early detection screenings for diseases like cancer, heart disease, and depression. At the very least, address them as soon as possible.

To take care of your mind, body, and soul all year long, it is essential to practice regular self-care. You can talk to a physician or clinician who can guide you through the process of engaging in self-care and hygiene routines that include physical activity, skin care, sleep, mental health, and sexual health.

Alcohol health effects are connected more to the benefit of our social circles than the alcohol itself, although some studies cite red wine as a positive health benefit. TLDR - If you are drinking, drinking with friends, social circles bring more benefits than alcohol on its own!

By moisturizing your skin through massages, facials, and daily applications, you are helping to protect your skin’s natural moisture barrier, especially in a warm, dry environment.

Don’t have a skincare routine?

Start with a simple routine that includes:

• Cleanse twice a day to remove dirt, sweat, products, and bacteria complexion that also prevents breakouts

• Moisturize after cleansing to preserve natural moisture levels

• Practice safe sun by applying mineral sunscreen -- even on cloudy days

We often talk about the medical side of health but not enough about mental health. You should think about your mental health and ask yourself what makes you happy: people, places, things. As you go on your life journey, I believe the closer you get to those things that make you happy, the longer you’ll live.

The importance of sleep for both physical and mental health cannot be overstated. In fact, there is data to support that practicing good sleep hygiene can positively impact productivity while also making a person happier.

Dr. Merrill Mitler, a sleep expert and neuroscientist at the National Institute of Health, explains that “Sleep services all aspects of our body in one way or another: molecular, energy balance, as well as intellectual function, alertness, and mood.”

Sleep affects almost every tissue in the body, which means that getting enough sleep is crucial to healthy mental and physical function.

Research suggests that lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk for obesity, heart disease, and other infections. Insert doom music since I don’t sleep great!

You can improve your sleep hygiene with these tips:

• Go to bed around the same time each night and wake up around the same time each morning (yes, even on weekends)

• Sleep in a dark, quiet, safe, and comfortable space

• Make sure to exercise daily but not right before bed

• Limit electronic use a few hours before bed

• Avoid alcohol and stimulants like caffeine late in the day

In thinking about hygiene routines, we should also devote the same consistency to mental health hygiene. We should actively work to protect our mental health like we commit time to brushing our teeth twice a day.

Taking care of your mental health is crucial because it also has physical benefits. Stress hormones like cortisol can lead to several adverse health impacts, reports a 2020 article published in the journal “The Physiological Society.”

Having a mental health hygiene routine can improve emotional regulation, which a 2016 study published in the “Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews” reports can bolster resilience in older adults.

A relaxation/stress reduction routine can help set the pace for a good day and reduce stress.

To improve your mental health hygiene, try the following:

• Practice positive self-talk

• Drink eight glasses of water a day

• Take social media or technology breaks

• Spend time with your loved ones

• Set bills to automatic payments

• Set goals and choose one to focus on

• Write a gratitude list

Say “no” to activities you don’t enjoy or don’t want to engage in Now to the fun stuff.

Quick footnote: Learning to say “no” is a critical part of global health that many of us have learned quite a long time ago. This doesn’t imply being rude or mean, but an understanding of one’s limits and engaging socially when happy is critical to getting the most benefits of socialization.

If you are sexually active, sexual health is an essential component of physical and emotional health and should also have a hygiene routine.

To have a safe and enjoyable sex life, one suggestion is to create a sexual hygiene checklist:

• Obtain consent from a partner

• Test regularly for STIs

• Wear condoms

• Use proper cleansing products

• Check in with your emotions

• Determine your sexual values

So there you have it! Ways to improve your health this summer. Hope you enjoy every moment. Take time for yourself and cherish your family, friends, and moments. That’s what makes life worth living!

| By: MEGAN MEHL, Professional Matchmaker |