Fitness means keeping your body healthy so it can work at its best.

Healthy habits lead to fitness.

When you are fit, you have the energy to do the things you want to do.

Video

Making Healthier Life Choices

Watch this video from OHSU on how to stay healthy between doctor visits.

What is a habit?

It is an action that a person does over and over in the same way.

Once you make a habit, the action becomes easy to do and hard to stop.

Let's talk about ideas for health habits. They are:

Eat right,
Be active,
Sleep well,
Take care of your body,
Check your stress.

We can also stay away from bad habits and other things that might make us sick.

Wash our hands. Keep germs away.
Get a flu shot. Don’t get the flu if others get it.
Say no to smoking. Keep our lungs and heart healthy.
Get check-ups. Check your body to see what more you can do to stay well.

If we practice healthy habits, we get better at being healthy and feeling fit.

Video

Healthy Habits for Patients

Watch this video to help with ideas. Work with your doctor and team to make healthy habits.

Video

Toolkits for Teaching Health & Wellness to Patients with IDD

Clinicians can check out this video for tips in teaching healthy habits and wellness self-care to adult patients with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

How can you get started?

Work with your doctor and team to set your own health goals.

Click the blue button and use this form:

Healthy Habits Worksheet

Self Advocates - Here are more tools for you!

Health Habits Action Plan

Health Habits on simple days

Health Habits on not simple days

Weekly calendars can help you remember and work on your new habits.

Tools for Caregivers

Support health habits on not simple days.

Handout for caregivers: supporting persons with mild IDD on not simple days.

Handout for caregivers: supporting persons with moderate IDD on not simple days.

Handout for caregivers: supporting persons with severe IDD on not simple days.

Tools for Health Professionals

Support persons with IDD and their caregivers on not simple days.

Explore more info on Healthy Habits:

Tap to flip the cards

Be active

Info on:

CDC info on activity
Blend your type of exercise
Examples for stretching
School of Strength at Special Olympics
Adaptive ideas

bowl of sweet potatoes, leafy greens, grains, avocado and onion

Eat healthy

Info on:

Portion and Food Groups
Party Foods
5 a day the color way
Healthy Tips

Hydrate

Info on:

Choose your drinks
Drink enough

Hygiene

Info on:

Wash up
Hand washing
Bathing
Hair and nails
Clean your teeth
Protect your skin
Pick your clothes

person meditating and a journal laid out on bed

Manage Stress

Info on:

Mind and body
Check your stress
Stress relief tips

Sleep well

Info on:

You need sleep
Get to sleep
Stay asleep

teenager with down syndrome using smartphone near friend cooking dough in kitchen

Stay Well

Info on:

Sick days
Bad habits pros & cons
Be safe

Go to the Bathroom

Info on:

Pee
Poop
Periods