6 simple habits that help me with living with ALS
How stretching, breakfast, gratitude, and more give me the boosts I need
Life’s curveballs happen to us all. Many of my column’s topics have been about the unexpected events I face while I live with ALS, as well as what I do to conquer them. But I believe the secret to my ability to handle life’s ups and downs is the six simple habits I’ve built into each and every day.
These are habits that I believe you’ll find helpful as well, and I’m excited to share them with you here.
A morning stretch
Although I sleep well at night, my ALS symptoms cause me to wake up in the morning with tight muscles, feeling stiff and wobbly on my feet. Now, I linger in bed and take the time to perform gentle stretches, a few twists, and even rolling side to side.
The routine feels good, and besides helping my body feel more relaxed, my walk to the bathroom is safer. During the stretches, I have time to think about the day ahead.
I never skip breakfast
My past years teaching wellness included sharing the benefits of starting the day with a healthy breakfast. It’s something I still do now. But when I started experiencing ALS-related swallowing issues I transitioned to drinking fruit smoothies. My caregiver husband can make them ahead in batches, resulting in less mealtime stress for both of us.
No matter what your favorite start-of-the-day meal happens to be, make sure it’s something you can easily consume and is nutritious.
Dressing up and showing up
Even though we’re all wearing more casual clothing than we did a decade ago, it’s no excuse to look “like the airline lost your luggage.” When I wear frumpy, comfy clothes, I feel, well, frumpy.
My habit of showing up began during my first year of ALS, created to motivate myself to move out of the bedroom to the living room and to engage in the day’s activities. It tricked my mind into feeling better while my improved attitude influenced how my body felt.
Getting dressed and showing up is so ingrained into my life that I still occasionally surprise my husband when he remarks, “You’re a little dressed up for a day at home.” I answer, “I know. I’m showing up!”
An afternoon of mindfulness
As an advocate of mindfulness, I’m mindful all day long. But in the afternoons, I’m especially alert and paying attention. That’s when my day can be snoring-boring or the curveballs start rolling in. Unless I check in regularly with my body and mind, my reactions could ride a wavy roller coaster.
My 3 p.m. break
No matter how mindful I am, I can’t push through a long, intense afternoon as I could in my younger years. My energy needs a pickup, my mind needs a break, and I give myself a recess.
Turns out this happens around 3 p.m., which is my signal to push away from my computer, stand up, and have a snack. In my case, my snack is a short glass of the same version of fruit smoothie I drink for breakfast.
Falling asleep with gratitude
As I wrote in the column “How to Revive Your Daily Life Routines,” I like to fall asleep each night while mentally giving gratitude for all the positive things that happened during my day. This nightly ritual helps me maintain an optimistic attitude, as I find myself on the lookout for more and more positive events.
Habits and daily routines are important. Each one gradually strengthens our self-esteem, lifts our attitude, and is a form of self-care. Give my daily habits a try. They’re valuable strategies to help us learn how to live well with ALS.
Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.
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