A Simple Thing ✨ no. 5
A Simple Thing ✨ no. 5
this one is an important one
Hello again and happy Monday. I hope you’ve found time to take stock of the good things from your day, breathe, and look up. I can’t let October pass without sharing this important reminder—please take a moment this week to join me in prioritizing this.
A simple thing to do this week…
🎀 Give yourself a self-breast examination.
October brings the crispness of fall, the excitement of Halloween, and many seasonal delights—but it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Despite receiving excellent education on breast health during my college sorority days, and even losing a best friend to breast cancer, I’ll admit this is something I’ve struggled to do consistently. But for this week’s A Simple Thing, I’m making a change—and I hope you’ll join me.
Consistency is key. Getting to know your breasts' unique tissue can help you notice any changes early, and early detection is the best protection. Here are a few ways we can all set ourselves up for success with regular reminders. Which will you take the time to do this week?
refresh your knowledge: Not feeling confident can hold me back from doing the things I need to do. Reviewing how to perform a self-exam or watching a quick 2-minute video can give a helpful boost in making breast exams routine.
set monthly calendar reminders: If you menstruate, the best time to examine your breasts is a few days after your period ends. Set a recurring reminder in your calendar for a few days after the last day of your period, tailored to your specific timeline (I set mine to reoccur every 28 days because that’s about the length of my cycle.)
use physical reminders: stick a Post-it note in your bathroom or write a reminder on your shower tile with a dry-erase marker or on a shower item with a permanent marker. Or if merch is more your vibe, this tote or this beanie have you covered. Since I use a menstrual disc (cannot recommend this one enough!) I wrote a reminder in Sharpie on my tube of cup wash to prompt me when I put my supplies away for the month.
create accountability partners: make it part of your monthly check-in with your girlfriend chat group or ask your partner to support you in remembering your monthly self-exam.
This is my beautiful friend Ellyn, who left this world far too soon. In honor of her, and everyone else who has navigated the impacts of breast cancer, I invite you to join me this week in committing to prioritizing breast health. 💞
In case you missed it—
Pass this reminder along to a friend today,
Such an important reminder and great tips for remembering. I found my lumps doing a self exam and I'm certain it saved my life. Hugs to you on the loss of your friend.
I probably would've never watched a video on self-breast exams so thank you for sharing this simple yet important reminder. I've been catching up on your newsletters and "A Simple Thing" have been my favorite so far. Your other series are just as amazing too. Keep up the great work!