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Life’s curveballs happen to us all. Many of my blog’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 good for
three days, 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 consume easily 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 just 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.
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| Dagmar Munn ALS and Wellness Blog |
“Good habits are simply good choices made over and over again.”
Tom Ziglar
A version of this post first appeared as my
column on the ALS News Today website.