For women, our 20s and 30s are a time of tremendous emotional and personal development. We’re learning to fly on our own, building relationships, advancing a career, and finding our place in this world. Part of that journey is taking responsibility for our physical and mental health, which fosters a healthy and happy lifestyle and allows us to enjoy this special time of life. There are some key health care goals that women in their 20s and 30s should focus on.
Reproductive Health Care
Obtaining regular reproductive health care is essential to all adult women. It’s very important that you see a gynecologist for an annual pelvic exam and pap smear because these visits are where signs of most reproductive cancers are first discovered for women. It’s scary, but catching cancer early can dramatically increase survival rates – once cervical cancer metastasizes, survival rates drop from 93% to 15%, so getting checked regularly could save your life.
Gynecologists also provide access to birth control and can offer or refer you for STD testing. Regardless of which method of birth control you prefer, it can be shipped to your home with a service such as Pandia Health specializing in reproductive care. If, on the other hand, you and your partner are trying to become pregnant, your gynecologist can prescribe prenatal vitamins and help you understand the best diet and lifestyle changes to make in order to facilitate your goal.
Mental Health Care
Your 20s and 30s can be a tumultuous time, which is why it’s important to check in with yourself regularly – a focus on mental health for women is important to overall well being. Short bouts of situational depression or anxiety are normal, but if they’re pervasive and you can’t seem to rally, your doctor can help. Talk therapy can help you find comfort and relief, especially through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy that can help change negative thinking patterns and teach important coping skills. If your doctor feels it’s necessary and you agree, a low-dose antidepressant can make a big difference in your experiences with mood swings, fatigue and loss of enjoyment.
There are ways to focus on caring for your mental health that doesn’t require a doctor. Keeping a private journal where you can express and reflect on your thoughts and experiences can be helpful. Spending meditative quiet time in a place that makes you feel peaceful can boost feelings of wellness. Performing self-care rituals you enjoy shouldn’t be trivialized, either – doing small nice things for yourself like using a bath bomb or giving yourself a manicure are part of an overall sense of well being.
Physical Fitness
You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, but eating a balanced diet and making sure to get up and move as much as possible are important health goals. This is an especially important focus for the 20s and 30s set, who tend to be happy running on coffee, tacos and 4 hours of sleep. Eating a healthy breakfast every day, getting at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity a day and cutting back on high fat, low nutrient fast food meals and iced coffees are 3 ways you can make a demonstrable difference in the way you feel physically as well as your health on paper(and your bank account).
If you work a sedentary job and are having a hard time finding ways to get physical activity throughout your day, consider a physical hobby. Rowing, swimming, and biking are all ways to stay fit that are legitimately fun and can be done with a friend or partner, giving you the opportunity for a mental health boost with some important socialization time as well.