The Miss America Organization partnership with the American Heart Association is deeply important to me as a woman with three heart aneurysms on my ascending aorta. Heart health doesn’t often reveal itself in obvious ways, which is why conversation is necessary! Here’s how I personally work to protect the heart I have:
1) I have a practice of movement. For me, that means running. I made a promise to myself to run a mile everyday no matter what. I can do more, but I can’t do less. That promise has given me stability and built trust with myself. Rain or shine, I will get a mile in! It takes around ten minutes and improves my health dramatically.
2) I get regular check-ups. Especially as someone with an alarming heart condition as-is, I consistently want professional eyes on how I’m doing.
3) I’ve created a healthier relationship with sleep. I used to treat sleep like something I have to earn after a day of working a certain level of hard. Now, I’m repairing this mindset by taking the next step of improvement day by day. My goal right now is to consistently get eight hours of sleep a night!
4) I use creative outlets to manage my stress! I draw things that I’m grateful for, I doodle as I work through tasks to add some light-hearted fun, and I paint to brighten up my spaces. I pick up the paintbrush and suddenly I can’t help but “take a break” from stressors.
5) I have prepared family members and friends. I keep at least one trusted person really in the loop on my health and how they can help me respond in certain scenarios! They ask me questions to check in mentally and physically and I return the care.
I’m interested… what are your healthy heart practices?
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