Guest blog by Cathy, a fitness writer at Garage Gym Planner.
Cancer affects billions of people worldwide and has earned its reputation of being an aggressive and terrible illness. Today, mental health is taken very seriously and is a huge part of many peoples’ lives, so it’s key to remember that what and how we feed the mind can truly have a profound effect upon the way we feel.
Today, we are going to discuss eleven lifestyle changes to boost a person’s mental health when going through cancer.
1. Take Time to Venture Outside
This is a key element for anyone who needs a mood booster. A recent study, which was conducted by the University of California, Irvine discovered that spending time outside can assist with the reduction of some mental health conditions. Spending time outdoors can have truly enlivening effects upon the human brain.
2. Community and Close Relationships
When a person is dealing with cancer, it’s extremely important to have and hold close relationships with those who are dear to a person’s heart. Human connection and having that feeling of true support of the heart and mind will tend to make a person feel passionately stronger; as if they could handle anything simply because they have close relationships with others. You would be astonished by how elevated a person’s spirit can become in terms of mental and physical health when a person surrounds themselves with content, sympathetic people.
3. Engaging in A Proper Diet
It’s a known fact that when a person fuels themselves with a proper diet, especially when dealing with cancer, it can have astounding benefits because quite frankly, you are what you eat.
Yes, I know it’s difficult to eat even a handful when a person is going through cancer, but even if it’s just consuming one solid meal a day, why not let that “one” plate be a plate of nutritious food such as fish, dark and leafy vegetables?
What you feed your body is important and your mind will reflect that.
4. Spirituality and Mindfulness
Engaging in spiritual events, even if a person must watch them on television, will give a sense of mental belonging and stamina and this is vital for those dealing with cancer. Spiritual events provide a sense of support, wonder and a feeling of being home because one will be able to connect with their true self.
5. Healthy Sleeping Patterns
It’s key to always get around seven to nine hours of sleep each night because satisfactory sleep will help generate a very healthy, rested, industrious and happier cognizance. Remember that when people rest, it’s like a recharging of the body. When a person has the proper amount of rest, their mind tends to be able to handle a lot more psychologically because one has allowed his or her mind to suitably relax.
6. Getting Great Exercise
This is a given right here!
A person needs daily exercise, especially if one is undergoing cancer and this is simply because when we exercise, the movement will begin to stimulate and release “feel good” chemicals inside the brain, which tend to make a person feel lighter, happier and overall, as if they can take on the world at large. A person doesn’t have to exhaust themselves; only exercise within your limits. A great website for tips on obtaining amazing exercise equipment for the home, if that’s what you would prefer engaging in, is Garagegymplanner.com.
7. Be ‘Hands-on’
This is a great way to keep one’s mind off an illness or even basic stressors within life. Why? Because when we are “alive” and working with our hands and mind, that specific behavioral pattern will remind us what it is like to do something. It takes your mind off your illness and also allows you to feel productive.
Get out, even if it’s only to your kitchen table and engage in making a craft!
8. Participate with Animals
This is very significant when it comes to those with cancer as it is a known fact that animals, in general, tend to lift the moods of human beings. There are even organizations which bring dogs to visit with prisoners simply because it keeps the prisoner’s minds off death row, life sentences and so forth. When a person occupies themselves with animals, especially when sick, it gives a sense of belonging and existence.
9. Say No to Cigarettes
As we all know, there are multitudes of people who have numerous types of cancer and continue to smoke. When a person smokes while undergoing treatment, it’s equivalent to our bodies telling the mind to just give up. Let’s say for an example, you have lung cancer and continue to smoke, you are letting the “mind” know and training the mind to give up, to not be a fighter. A person must have a strong mind, when battling cancer. Become healthy and this will play a role in conquering the illness.
10. Make A Life with Meditation
This is very beneficial because when people learn how to release harmful energy they are holding inside. Meditation generates within the mind, an expansion of inner strength and happiness that life is truly worth living.
11. Keep Yourself Up
What I mean by this is to literally, keep yourself up. Every single day, you need to get out of that bed and force yourself to put on makeup, brush that hair. You cannot give up, so you need to get up, wash your face and take care of yourself because you’re taking care of the mind in terms of sanity, productive mannerisms and overall, a happy and balanced life.
While you are the only person who can truly improve your mental state, we hope these 11 lifestyle changes can aid you in your journey! Whether you are following one of these tips or them all, the most important thing is that you try.
Cathy is a fitness writer at garagegymplanner.com. She writes regularly on topics revolving around exercise and diet and helps educate readers on the best ways to improve their health and looks naturally.
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