Pam Peeke, MD

Pam Peeke, MD

Be Strong • Be Healthy • Be in Charge: At Every Age
10 Tips

1. Find that one key motivation that will keep you on your self care track. How about carrying around a picture of your kids or a loved one? Just when you lack that incentive pull it out and take a look.

2. Get up and take your daily walk, remember that when you choose to walk or eat right, you’re choosing to gift your loved ones with the greatest gift of all – you!

3. Joy Yourself! Make a list of at least 3 things that give you joy. It could be cooking, reading that mystery novel, playing with the kids or writing poems. Just make sure you have at least one point of joy every day.

4. When faced with the work of self care, it’s perfectly fine to whine a bit. Give yourself time to whine – 5 minutes – and then move along with your good nutrition, exercise and stress management.

5. Shoot for progress, not perfection! Women are the penultimate perfectionists. Perfectionism leads to paralysis. Throw perfectionism to the wind and instead aim to make any progress you can, every day of your life.

6. Don’t let stress go to your head or tummy. Women can be real stress eaters. Take a deep breath, count to 10 and realize it wasn’t food you were looking for. It was a way to numb the pain of stress. Call a friend, meditate or get help. Food is not the answer.

7. Give yourself a license to chill. I am giving all women permission to take as many Mini Chills as they can throughout the day. Just close your eyes, kick back and rest for even a minute.

8. Learn to be a Master Regrouper. As life’s stresses hit you, do your best to adapt and adjust and get back on track with your self care. Master Regroupers can do this quickly to minimize excess stress.

9. Fight for your right to self care. Tell your family that you’re taking a walk and no one is allowed to bother you. Tell your family you’re taking off to Yoga class every Saturday morning - no questions asked!

10. Form Your Own Estrogen Squad. Women are wonderful networkers. Put that sisterhood of support to work to help you stay healthy. Get a walking or workout buddy. And dial up a friend when you’re distressed. That’ll keep you out of the fridge!

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