A new year, a new beginning. The opportunity to make changes in your life and start out fresh. Sounds so rejuvenating! But where to start making changes? If you have a blood cancer such as leukemia or lymphoma, you may have healthy living on the brain- a great beginning! Here are a few suggestions for New Years Resolutions for the leukemia or lymphoma patient.
Take Permission to Ask!:
This resolution can contribute to your overall health in many ways.Have a question about your care? Ask! Thinking about a second opinion? Ask! Asking for more information about your condition and care will help to empower you to take charge, and advocate for yourself.
Feeling too tired to walk your dog? Ask for help! Not sure what programs are available to cancer patients in your area? Ask! There are many people and agencies about there that are practically waiting by the phone for you to ask for help.It is a win-win situation! You get the help you need; they get the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to your care.
Check Out a Support Group:
Support groups are a great way to meet other people who are in a similar situation to you. Sound like a bunch of doom and gloom? Sick of thinking and talking about cancer? Many people who attend support groups actually find them to be very inspiring, and very educational. Who else can provide you with better advice than somebody who has gone through what you have? You may also be surprised at the number of people you can help through your experiences.
Make a New Friend and Keep the Old Ones:
A study out of Brigham Young University in Utah discovered that not having a close social network is bad for your health. It is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes per day, being an alcoholic, more harmful to you than not exercising, and twice as bad for you as obesity. Having friends to support you, make you laugh when you are not in the mood to, and forget about problems with, help you feel and cope better- no scientific study required.
What Can You Do For Me?:
As a blood cancer patient, you likely have a team of people that work with you and your oncologist to give you the best care you can get. Not sure who is on that team? Find out! There are physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, the list goes on. Make it a resolution to learn what role each of these people play in your care, and what they can do to make your journey a little easier.
Get Moving!:
This is a very popular New Years resolution, blood cancer patient or not! For you, increasing your amount of physical activity may have surprising effects on your energy levels, emotional state, pain control, and side effect management such as nausea or constipation.
Make a resolution to do more physical activity such as walking or swimming, or resolve to try a new exercise such as yoga or tai chi. Be gentle on your body, the point of exercise for you is to stay in motion, not overdo it.
The Bottom Line:
If you are thinking about a making a New Years Resolution, or just thinking about making some healthy changes in your life, there are a number of small things you can do that may make big improvements in your overall well being. Staying connected and active can help your mind and body stay strong- a necessity on your blood cancer journey.
