Dealing with cancer no doubt intensifies levels of stress. Fears of uncertainty, physical concerns and even discomfort, financial distress, changes in routines, life patterns, relationships, and many other components sometimes push cancer patients and also caregivers into edges.
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 with self-care.
Cancer patients benefit from resourcing themselves to rejuvenate and replenish. What exactly does that mean for you? Think about it—you resource yourself with various types of self-care. This includes forms of support that you give yourself each and every day.
Explore the specific ways that you resource yourself.
1. Quality sleep and enough hours
2. Doing what you love
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 snacks throughout the day
11. Organic fresh juice
12. Spending time in nature
13. Think positive and express your emotions
14. Connecting with silence and stillness
15. Baths
17. Movie or television show
18. Read enjoyable books
19. Cup of tea
20. Self-inquiries and explorations
21. Personal retreat
22. Classes exploring your favorite activities
23. Focus on gratitude
24. Putting your hands over your heart
25. Relaxation
26. Supportive weights, sit-ups, push-ups, punching bags
27. Feeling your feet on the ground and Earth connection
28. Travel to a new destination and even in your local or regional area
29. Time with your favorite people
30. Get to know who you really are
31. Make art
32. Play
33. Engage quiet time
34. Light a candle
35. Laugh
36. Make your bucket list, prioritize, and do it
37. Perform rituals
38. Pray
39. Use aromatherapy
40. Use non-toxic environmental products
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. Try this 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 integrative cancer care whole person health and healing in Body, Mind, Spirit, Social, Environmental. This includes key information about reducing stress at Stress and Cancer and 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.
