As we roll into the shank of the summer here in the U.S., life seems to slow down, and motivation to follow your passions can vanish in the wake of humid days, slower work schedules and endless repeats on TV. While others are sipping their sweet tea on the porch, you can take advantage of this time to become a stronger advocate, while still taking care of yourself. By following these four simple steps — getting informed, being heard, staying active and focusing on your health — you can have your best summer yet.
[See: 10 Lessons From Empowered Patients.]
There is a huge amount of information and opportunities for discussion available online. However, it can be hard to differentiate between opinion and fact, and even harder to express yourself in a way that will make a difference. The first step to ensuring you’re fully aware of the nuances of a topic is to get informed. Read information from a variety of well-established sources. Many sites don’t have an agenda beyond providing a complete story. Find the ones that work for you, read up on a topic and note to yourself where the sources differ in their commentary. Reading between the lines might seem tricky, but with enough practice, it can become second nature. If you have a chronic disease, or if health is an important subject to you (because if you don’t have your health, what do you have?), make sure you get your information from sites like U.S. News and World Report, Kaiser Family Foundation or MedPage.
Once you’ve educated yourself fully about a topic, it’s time to strengthen your own opinions and get heard. Think critically about how you feel, what you value and where you stand on a point. Put your argument into words and run it by some friends or peers to practice. Then, figure out who you want to hear your argument. Do you know who your policymakers and regulators are? Quick searches online can tell you exactly who should hear your message. Often, it isn’t hard to find their contact information, because lawmakers really do want to hear from their constituents. Showing you care by sharing your thoughts on a topic makes you an informed and active citizen. Remember, when speaking with a government official (or member of their staff), to remain polite. Manners count, even if you disagree with or didn’t vote for this person. Whether or not you have experience getting heard (also known as “advocating”), there are outlets where you can join networks and communities of other people interested in sharing their messages, too.
[See: 10 Questions Doctors Wish Their Patients Would Ask.]
After you’ve spoken to your representatives, you’re well-practiced and ready to talk to your peers and neighbors . Get active by moving around, either by going door to door or attending talks and conferences. As long as you get moving, you can share your message wide and far, advocating for what you believe in while staying healthy. Not only is this good for you physically, but you might meet people who share the same interests and opinions, expanding your support network even further. At the very least, you’ll be sharing your passions with those around you, potentially inspiring them to speak out about what they believe in, too. You need not preach, but instead share your “elevator pitch” with the people you come across in an effort to spread the word about your position.
Finally, you can’t forget to take care of your own needs while advocating for others’ needs. Keeping yourself as healthy as possible is an integral part of being the best health hero. Get healthy by eating well, exercising and following your health care provider’s suggestions. You can also spend time on sites like CreakyJoints to get lots of helpful information about taking care of yourself with a condition like arthritis.
[See: When Health Treatments Go From Hospital to DIY.]
The dog days of summer might seem like a classic pattern, but that doesn’t mean you have to be trapped. By getting informed, getting heard, getting active and getting healthy, you can be sure to have your most productive summer yet. Become a health hero to help yourself and others.
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Be a Health Hero: 4 Ways to Advocate This Summer originally appeared on usnews.com
