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Your Health

Taking care of you

Joanna Krasinski, MSN Occupational Health Service Manager Recently in Your Health Life in the balance Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Sleep problems

t’s been more than a month since you made your New Year’s resolution—and if you’re like most people, it didn’t take long to let it fall to the sidelines. But don’t give up. The New Year is a great time to start afresh with commitment to take care of your own needs. No one can make you stick to a diet plan, exercise routine, smoking ban, or promise to get yourself organized—but there are things you can do right now to ensure that you take care of yourself for the 11 months left in 2004.

You take care of other people’s needs all the time—those of friends, loved ones, and patients and families at Children’s. But it’s easy to let things get in the way of taking care of your own health. There are chores around the house, extra hours you put in at work or with the family, or simply the thought that you’ll “start tomorrow.”

Instead of starting tomorrow, start right now by pulling out your calendar and scheduling a physical for sometime this year. While you’re at it, set up an appointment with the dentist too. If you are a Tufts Health Plan member and don’t have a primary care provider or a dentist, or are not happy with the one you currently see, find a new one below.

Don’t fall into the trap of dismissing the importance of your own health because you are young, feel healthy or are a health care provider yourself. Make a note in your calendar for each month of the year to remind yourself to check in on your self-promises. Resolutions are important—they help us with our goals and keep us focused on what is important in our lives. In 2004, keep the promise to take care of you.

Resolution resources Call QuitWorks for free information and telephone counseling (800)-TRY-TO-STOP www.quitworks.org Check out new Fitcorp Longwood Fitness center. www.Fitcorp.com CHB employee discount!! Children's Weight Watchers group Contact Emily Ryan at 617-632-8059 or e-mail eryan2@partners.org. Find a new health care provider (Tufts health plan members) Health maintenance guidelines based on your age and risk factors