Women's Well-being Hub

20–29: Finding Your Flow

You may experience big changes in your 20s, including achieving milestones like finishing school and starting a career. You also may be managing your finances, building a family and choosing employee benefits for the first time. This is a critical decade to lay the foundation for lifelong well-being by establishing habits that support your body, mind and wallet. So, take this time to build the structure that will support you for decades to come, and leave plenty of time to learn, experiment and have patience as you grow.

If you’re planning to begin or add to your family:


It’s time to take the wheel. Whether you have your own health coverage or are still covered by your parents, you’re in the driver’s seat. Here are a few recommendations to set you up for success.

  • Learn about your benefits. Check out Get More out of Your Benefits for some general information, recommendations and tips.
  • Choose a primary care provider (PCP). A PCP will get to know your history, notice changes over time and help coordinate your care so every specialist you see and treatment plan you receive works together to support your overall well-being. Choosing a PCP that participates in the MH Preferred Tier means you get trusted, world-class care and will typically pay less for services. To find an MH Preferred Tier provider, visit the Memorial Hermann Provider Directory at Aetna.com > Find a doctor. Log into your account and look for the “Maximum Savings” tag. You can also search the Provider Directory on the Aetna Health mobile app.
  • Learn your family history. You and your family members share genes, so if you have a family history of certain conditions, you may be more likely to get that condition yourself. Keep a record of the health conditions in your family.
  • Keep records. Create files (digital or paper) for yourself and anyone you coordinate care for (like a child or elderly parent) with medical information, including immunizations, prescriptions and important test results. For care you receive from Memorial Hermann providers, My Memorial Hermann provides easy access to your medical records. You’ll find visit notes, lab results, medication lists and other key information.
  • Consider a health journal. This is a great way to track recurring symptoms, allergies, sensitivities, patterns and opportunities. You might be surprised by what you learn!
  • Check out Memorial Hermann’s Health & Wellness Categories for tips and tricks across family, fitness, health, lifestyle and nutrition. You’ll find articles written by our experts, along with recipes and podcasts. You can even sign up to receive the latest articles in your inbox. To get you started, we’ve pulled a few articles into the topics in this section.

Staying on top of your preventive care is the single most important thing you can do for your health—both in the short-term and the long-term. Below are general guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Work with your PCP to determine exactly what you need.

Annual physical exam (aka: your yearly checkup)

Your physician will review your nutrition, activity, sleep and mental health. They’ll track your vital signs, like blood pressure, and may take blood to check your cholesterol, vitamin levels, sugar levels, thyroid function and more. You can also get annual vaccines, including a flu shot, Tetanus shot or booster and more. The care you need is based on your age and overall health. Discuss with your provider what makes sense for you. 

Annual gynecological exam

This exam can be completed by a PCP during your annual checkup or a gynecologist. It focuses on your menstrual cycle patterns, birth control needs, safe sex education, fertility health and overall wellness.

Dental exams

Seeing a dentist every 6 months helps prevent cavities, gum disease and issues with wisdom teeth, which can appear in your 20s. Regular cleanings and fluoride treatments protect your oral health, which has a huge impact on your overall health.

Vision exam

Vision changes can happen subtly in this age range, especially with increased screen time. Your PCP may conduct a simple vision exam during your annual checkup. Plan to have a more comprehensive exam with an eye doctor every 1 to 2 years or sooner if you need to review your glasses or contact lens prescription or if you experience headaches, eye strain or trouble seeing screens. 

Life can be fast-paced as you balance work, friends and family obligations. Consider these resources to help you manage your overall well-being.

Available to employees and family members:

Employees also have access to the following services, available at no cost:

  • Employee Wellness:
    • Health Coaching: One-on-one support to set goals and stay on track with exercise, nutrition and weight management.
    • Nutrition Consultations: Personalized advice and nutrition-based support from a registered dietitian. Eating balanced, nutrient-rich meals helps fuel busy days, support your physical and mental well-being and lay the groundwork for long-term health.
  • Wellness Wednesdays: Tools and activities to support fitness and overall health, shared weekly.
  • Life in Balance: Designed to help you make lasting changes that improve your well-being through 60-minute health education and skill-building workshops.
  • Noom: An app-based, weight-management and nutrition program for support making long-term healthy lifestyle changes.
Did you know?

EEGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that provide a space to connect, share experiences and build relationships across Memorial Hermann. Each EEG welcomes any employee interested in participating.

  • Allies for the Improvement of Disability Experiences (AIDE)
  • Asian-American Alliance for Learning, Inclusion, Growth and Networking (ALIGN)
  • Black Organizational Leadership and Development (BOLD)
  • Emerging Professionals of Memorial Hermann (EMERGE)
  • Hispanic/Latin American Organizational Leadership and Advancement (HOLA)
  • Pride Alliance
  • Veterans and Employees Together in Service (VETS)
  • Women Leaders of Memorial Hermann (WLMH)

Your 20s may come with new responsibilities and relationships, which often create new anxiety and stress. It’s perfectly normal to feel uncertain while figuring these things out. What matters is reaching out for help when you need it.

Available to employees and family members:

  • Spring Health: You have access to up to 6 free therapy sessions and 6 free coaching sessions per year. In addition, the online mental health assessment helps you find the right care for your needs and keep track of your progress. Spring Health will help you find the right counselor for you, and if you’re covered by a Memorial Hermann medical plan, you can continue to see them after your 6 covered sessions by paying your plan’s in-network cost share.

Call Spring Health for:

Did you know?

TIP

Spring Health also offers a library of on-demand digital content for immediate help with stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and more.

855.629.0554, press 3
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT

You can also email careteam@springhealth.com

855.629.0554, press 2
Available 24/7
Calls are answered quickly

Employees also have access to the following services, available at no cost:

  • Employee Wellness: Confidential, one-on-one therapy sessions from a licensed (LPC, LCSW) counselor. Click the link or email wellness@memorialhermann.org to make an appointment.
  • Life in Balance: Designed to help you make lasting changes that improve your well-being through 60-minute health education and skill-building workshops.
  • Woosah Mondays: Mindfulness practices for managing stress and staying present. 
  • MHU Online Navigating Stress Playlist: Curated stress management videos and coping strategies. Visit MHU and search “Navigating Stress” in the search bar and the playlist will appear.
  • Code Lilac: 24-hour emotional support for difficult situations. Call 833.MH.LILAC (833.645.4522) to get started.

What do you want to accomplish in your 20s and beyond? From continuing your education, to moving toward your dream job and maybe even starting a family, these resources may be able to help.

Available to employees and family members:

  • Continuing education:
    • College Coach: Free resources and expert advice for navigating college admissions, including essay prep and review, financial aid and scholarships.
    • Bright Horizons: Offers tutoring, test preparation (e.g., MCATs and LSATs) and support for professionals looking to earn a new degree.
  • Opportunities to save money:
    • Employee Discount Spot: Exclusive deals on technology, furniture, fitness gear and more. You’ll also find discounts for auto and home insurance and pet insurance.
    • Purchasing Power: A convenient payroll deduction program for everyday purchases.

Employees also have access to the following resources:

  • Career development:
    • Learn Well: Memorial Hermann can help you manage the cost of continuing education.
    • Achieve: Career resources, including access to personal career coaches at no cost.
  • Family Resources: Memorial Hermann can help you plan and care for yourself and anyone you love.
  • Financial protection and planning:
    • Group Legal: If you’re enrolled in the MetLife Group Legal Plan, you have access to expert legal advice for personal legal matters, including traffic ticket defense, real estate transactions, will preparation and more.

In addition to managing your day-to-day finances, it’s important to prepare for the future. Make sure you have an emergency fund and are saving for those big goals, whether you want to get married, buy a home or take a trip.

Available to employees and family members:

Employees also have access to the following resources:

  • Financial Finesse: Free, unbiased coaching to help you set and reach your short- and long-term goals.
  • DailyPay Earned Wage Access: Get paid more frequently, to help you manage unexpected expenses without financial stress.
  • Retirement Savings Plans: Contribute toward your retirement and Memorial Hermann will match up to 6% of your pay each pay period you participate. You’re in a great position to take advantage of compound interest. That’s when the money you save starts earning money of its own—and then those earnings earn more over time. If you start saving now, your savings has decades to grow. Additionally try to make small lifestyle changes—like making coffee at home or packing a lunch—and watch your savings grow!

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