Today, we celebrate National Women’s Checkup Day, which is held on the second Monday in May. Though it may not sound like the most exciting holiday, it’s one that is needed, especially when there’s such a disparity between the way women and men are treated when they seek medical care. National Women’s Checkup Day is an important reminder to schedule annual checkups and preventive screenings, all while advocating for yourself to receive the care you deserve.

As female entrepreneurs, we know just how easy it is to put our businesses before everything else—even ourselves! We work hard for our success, but it’s important that your health always comes first.

I remember when I went for my annual checkup last December, and I didn’t think much of it at the time. After a few run-of-the-mill tests, my doctor found a nodule on my thyroid. I was worried, but that worry turned to fear when further tests revealed that the nodule was actually thyroid cancer. 

It was a tough journey, but thankfully, it was caught early, and I’m receiving the necessary treatment to overcome it.

I share this story with you to emphasize the importance of taking care of your health, even when you feel perfectly healthy. As women entrepreneurs, we often put the needs of our businesses and clients ahead of our own health. However, we must prioritize our well-being and schedule regular checkups to ensure we stay healthy and catch any potential health issues early on.

To properly celebrate National Women’s Checkup Day, these are some of my best tips to help you prioritize your health as a busy woman entrepreneur.

1. Schedule Your Annual Checkup.

Especially as a woman, yearly checkups can be daunting. If the cold chills from the stethoscope aren’t enough, we also have to deal with uncomfortable pelvic exams, pap smears, and the dreaded mammogram. None of these things are fun, but they are extremely necessary. 

Plus, at your annual checkup, you can discuss any health concerns you may have had throughout the year with your doctor. Whether it’s a persistent pain in your back, a clicking in your jaw, or a mole that looks just a bit different than it did last month, it’s worth bringing up.

Remember, the best care is preventive care. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Besides, what better way to celebrate National Women’s Checkup Day than to schedule an annual checkup of your own?

2. Make Healthy Choices.

This tip may seem obvious, but in the hectic world of the female entrepreneur, we often reach for the convenient choice, rather than the healthy choice. This could be in terms of the way we eat, exercise, or even socialize.

For example, you may reach for a bottle of coffee with the extra shot of espresso on the way to work every morning. This might be fine in moderation, but it’s not solving the root of the problem. Instead, try going to bed earlier or hitting the snooze button to give yourself some much-needed shut-eye.

Perhaps your business or event is only a short distance from your home. Why not walk or bike there rather than driving? No matter how small, the healthy choice is always the best choice.

3. Take Breaks and Recharge.

It’s not the easiest thing to do when you are running your own business, but one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy is simple: relax!

Overworking yourself not only leads to burnout, but can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule and result in some serious stress. Which leads us to the next tip…

4. Manage Stress.

It often feels like women entrepreneurs have to work twice as hard as some of our male counterparts for our businesses to be just as successful as theirs. Customers and vendors may not take us as seriously, which makes our jobs even more stressful than they already are.

Being overly stressed is one of the worst things for both your body and mind, as it can manifest in physical ailments like aches and pains, migraines, insomnia, and panic attacks.

You can help manage your stress in a number of ways, such as doing yoga, reading a book, or simply taking a break from emails for the day. No matter how you do it, reducing your stress level is imperative to your well-being.

5. Stay Connected with Other Women Entrepreneurs.

No one “gets it” quite like we do. As an entrepreneur, your friends and family may not understand the struggles of starting your own business. Having a network of female entrepreneurs ready to support you with a kind word, hot tip, or a night on the town has been a lifesaver for me, especially during my business’s early days.

Happy National Women’s Checkup Day!