Dealing with cancer no doubt intensifies levels of stress. Fear of uncertainty, physical concern and even discomfort, financial distress, changes in routines, life patterns, relationships, and many other components sometimes push cancer patients and also caregivers to an edge.
What supports cancer patients through their journey? Resources strengthen and sustain people through life challenges. Along with receiving support from family, friends, and providers, people with cancer need to give to themselves.
Cancer patients benefit from resourcing themselves to rejuvenate and replenish. What exactly does that mean for you? Think about it—you resource yourself with self-care. This includes forms of support that you give yourself each and every day.
Explore the specific ways that you resource yourself. Remember that each individual finds unique forms of self-care. Do what you love. Just for you.
1. Quality sleep and enough hours
2. Doing something that you love when you wake up
3. Mindful breathing
4. Meditation
5. Journaling
6. Stretching, yoga, other types of movement
7. A walk, run, or other forms of exercise
8. Spiritual or religious connection
9. Eating wonderful foods for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner
10. Healthy snakes throughout the day
11. Organic fresh juices
12. Spending time in nature
13. Looking at images of nature
14. Connecting with silence and stillness
15. Baths
16. Massage and touch
17. Movie
18. Reading a wonderful book
19. Cup of tea
20. Self-inquiry and exploration
21. Personal retreat
22. Classes exploring your favorite activities
23. Feeling your feet on the ground
24. Putting your hands over your heart
25. Relaxation
26. Weights, sit-ups, push-ups, punching bags
27. Television show
28. Volunteer work
29. Time with your favorite people
30. Remembering who you really are
31. Make art
32. Play
33. A quiet evening
34. Light a candle
35. Laugh
36. Make your bucket list, prioritize, and do it
37. Perform rituals
38. Pray
39. Self-inquiry through a spiritual assessment
40. Detox your environment
Remember that self-care providing support for cancer patients is an ongoing process. Needs change. The journey continues to provide insights with new ways to resource.
Stay focused on giving yourself what you need. Tune into how your self-care supports your life force. Your boosted, vital energy strengthens your health and healing.
Recognize that stress creates tightness in your physical body. Do an exercise right now. Feel your body seated wherever you are, be aware of your feet on the ground, take deep breaths, and close your eyes. Check in and connect with yourself. What do you need right now? Pause. Stay connected with your body and feel the support that holds you. Remember to breath. Often return to your connection and about what you need.
You can learn more about many of these topics in our integrative cancer care resources sections: Body, Mind, Spirit, Social, Environmental. This includes key information about reducing stress at Stress and Cancer and supportive techniques in Calming All of You as well as many other inspiring articles.
How do you resource yourself? What types of self-care give you nourishment and replenishment? Give to yourself. Know how much you're worthy. |