Make every day International Women’s Day
Improve your life
JUST because you may be in a good job or in a comfortable space right now, doesn’t mean you have to stop trying to improve yourself or broaden your horizons. You are a woman! And there is so much more you can accomplish especially with days like IWD to spur you on. So:
1 Take a self-help course. If for the longest time you have been complaining about how you wish you could bake like your best friend, or do great floral arrangements.well guess what? It’s definitely not too late. There are no ends to the classes available where you can enrol to do whatever course. Besides, if you are short on funds, HEART Trust offers courses like these at a minimal cost.
2 Start driving lessons. You may not own a vehicle right now, but somewhere down the line you may. Instead of forever sponging on your friend to drop you here or there, or dealing with the inconvenience of the bus, you can start taking matters into your own hands by taking driving lessons.
3 Go to school. The more you improve yourself, the better your chances of earning a higher salary. It might be hard and challenging, but nothing good in life ever came easy. Stop saying this year you will enrol and make the move now. The new school year begins in September, start checking out fees and the requirements to do it.
4 Start an investment. Remember it’s a wise woman who thinks about tomorrow. Things may be great now, but it may not always be that way. Talk to a good financial advisor and put an investment plan in place. Credit unions have a few investment saving options, so do banks. Believe us, it will be a great improvement in your life.
Enhance your life
STRESS is a killer, that’s a fact, and with women wearing so many hats these days, you will definitely need some ‘down time’ to regroup. Whether it’s from the kids, husband, house cleaning or the job, here are some suggestions to enhance your life.
1 Mommy’s day out. Every once in a while – hint, this Sunday would be excellent – leave dad with the kids while you spend the day pampering yourself, kicking back and reading a book or just taking that long drive in the country you have been promising yourself.
2 Go to the spa. After all that stress women put their bodies through, you definitely deserve this treat. Forget the expense and book yourself a day at the spa. It’s really a great experience and one that will leave you feeling invigorated and ready to take on any challenge.
3 Go out with your girlfriends. Sisters sure know how to have fun! Shake off your mundane daily chores for a few hours and go have some fun with your gal pals. Whether you are going clubbing or taking in a movie…or just hanging out, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you are among friends where you can let down your guard and unwind for a while.
4 Exercise. You should never be too busy to exercise. Exercise is a sure way to relieve stress and according to research, just a simple half an hour walk every day can lower your anxiety level and show favourable changes in brain activity. Besides, if for no other reason, daily exercise will ensure you keep fit and healthy.
5 Keep a journal. A lot of women have sworn by this practice, that writing things down in their journal actually helps to get it out of their system. Why not give it a try, if you can’t talk about some of the things that are bugging you…tell it to your journal. You might be surprised at the results.
6 Go up on the roof. “When this world starts getting me down and people are just too much for me to face…I go up on the roof.” Remember the line from that famous Drifters song? Take a page out of their book and find a ‘roof’ for yourself. It could be in the basement, on the balcony…you decide, but make sure it’s a quiet spot where you can relax for a hour or two and ‘recharge’.
Be healthy for you
A part of celebrating you is to ensure that you are in good health every day. This means visiting your doctor regularly to do your necessary check-ups. But if you haven’t been doing this, there is no better time to start than now. So make a pledge to yourself that this week as the world gears up to acknowledge and celebrate women, you are going to ensure that you do your part in safeguarding your health.
There are some things you can do without your doctor’s assistance, but they are very effective at making sure that you live to celebrate years and years to come.
1 Re-stock your fridge with healthy food. There is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available this time of the year at reasonable prices. Bypass those high-fat foods on the supermarket shelves and make a beeline to the outskirts of the aisles where the good stuff is stored. Eating right is one way to ensure that you are at your best.
2 Sign up for a gym membership. Gaining access to a gym does not have to cost you much, especially if you are part of an organisation that owns one. You can also use furniture such as your dining chair and sofa to get a hearty workout. If you want to keep your heart pumping at all 20 years from now, you’ve got to start working up some sweat now.
3 Pay a visit to the gynaecologist. The increasing rate of cancer continues unabated, so do yourself a favour this week and make an appointment with your gynaecologist. Get your pap smear, breast examination and pelvic examination done so you can pick up on any problem. Remember early detection is key. Also do your STD tests to ensure that you are free from any disease.
4 Get those teeth sparkling. Now is the perfect time to visit your dentist. Part of being healthy is being confident. There is nothing that can boost a woman’s confidence like the ability to smile. When your teeth are pearly white, you are more inclined to laugh and this comes with health benefits.
5 Take your pills. Don’t cause your diabetes or hypertension to become worse by not taking your medication. Stock up on Calcium supplements and vitamins. Try to find creative ways to make doing so fun and develop a routine, so that you won’t forget to take them.
Be knowledgeable about your rights
DUE to ignorance of their rights or just plain fear, some women continue to bear the brunt of abuse and other forms of discrimination on a daily basis. This has over the years resulted in the loss of life, property and self-esteem. The recent domestic dispute involving popular pop-stars Chris Brown and Rihanna proves that any woman is susceptible to abuse. Don’t take the situation lightly, file a report.
1 Get a protection order if you are being abused. It is fairly easy to get a protection order if you are being abused. If you are in such a position, you can request a protection or occupation order under the Domestic Violence Act at the family or Resident Magistrate’s court in your parish. If your abuser lives with you, then he’ll be required to move out of the house, stop the abuse and will be enjoined to stay a certain distance from you. You do not need an attorney to get a protection order. If your abuser breaks the order, he will be charged, fined or arrested.
2 Get support for your child. Taking care of a child alone puts a lot of strain on women. But you do not have to do it alone, as the court makes it mandatory for fathers to maintain their children also. Go to your nearest family or Resident Magistrate’s court and put in an application for such an order. Once paternity has been proven, the court will demand that he pays child support.
If he is working, then the money can be deducted from his pay. If he doesn’t abide by the ruling of the court, then he can be arrested and jailed.
3 Know your entitlement after divorce. If you have been divorced after being in a relationship for a long time, then you have entitlements under the law. If you share a house and he forces you out of it after divorce, then you can get the court to intervene. The court will order that the house be valued and you will be entitled to half of the interest of the property. You can do one of several things after this is done – you can either buy his other half of the property and become sole owner or both of you can sell the house and split the proceeds.
4 Know your rights on the job. If you are being discriminated against at work because of your gender, then you can call the Ministry of Labour and make a report. If you are being sexually harassed, don’t take it lightly. Report the matter to your human resource manager to have them investigate it. The workplace should be a place where you feel safe and secure. If this is not the case, don’t let it rest.
– Stories by Cecelia Campbell- Livingston, Donna Hussey Whyte and Nadine Wilson
