It’s that time of year again collegiettes. The thing that makes February shine brighter than any other month: it’s Heart Month! It’s a whole month of learning about how to keep the most important muscle in your body healthy, and appreciate it for all it’s done so far. You already know to eat healthy and exercise (if you didn’t, you do now), but what else can you do to be a heart health activist? Here’s my to-do list for Heart Month.
1. Download the <30 Days app
This app was developed by the Heart & Stroke Foundation to help you determine factors in your life that could affect your heart health. It gives you small challenges to work on, with the goal of achieving a more heart-friendly lifestyle, and rewards you with badges and fun trivia for making progress! The app is available for iOS and Android.
2. Exercise
Yes, we already know that and yes, everyone says to exercise, but it’s repeated because it’s worth repeating! You need at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week to keep your heart healthy. This means the activity needs to be intense enough that it will make your heart beat faster, and it needs to last at least 10 minutes each time. Track how active you are, and make sure it’s enough.
3. Spread the Love
Not everyone is lucky enough to know how to love their heart. Share what you already know about heart health. Share tips that you, proactive smarty-pants that you are, find while researching heart health. Share this article!
Now that you’ve gotten some people on board, get heart healthy together! Holding each other accountable will pressure you to keep your word and stick to your plan, while making it more fun. It works for diets. Why not Heart Month?
4. Go to Dining With The Hearts
Did you know that our very own University of Ottawa Heart Institute is Canada’s largest heart health centre and is in the top 2 percent of research institutions in the world? This year, the UOHI’s Student Foundation is organizing the grand finale of Heart Month, a fundraising dinner at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, and all proceeds go the Heart Institute. Dress up, enjoy the view, talk about how great it is to care about your well-being, and dance the night away! Find more information here.
Are you ready to start cardio-caring your way to a healthier heart? What’s on your to-do list?