Small Daily Healthy Habits: Lifestyle Matters
We all are on a different path and stage on our journeys with AS. Some of us with more symptoms or a faster progression, some needing to take anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressant medication, and others doing ok with just lifestyle changes.
Wherever you are on your health journey, your lifestyle habits can make a big difference in supporting your body and mind through the pain, fatigue, and other arrays of symptoms.
Over the years, I have learned that building a strong foundation of healthy habits that work for me is so key. They are habits I always rely on, and perhaps even more if I feel a flare coming up.
Go back to the essentials of your well-being
The food you eat, how you move your body, how you take care of yourself - these are all important. By essentials I mean to find the simple ways that you know will fuel your body and mind. Here are a few examples and suggestions on what has worked for me over the years when I feel a flare coming, and/or how to maintain my pain free times.
Food:
I pay special attention to the foods I prepare, really focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet: lots of vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, healthy fats, grass-fed/wild-caught animal products. I remove all processed foods and sugar which may lead to extra inflammation.
Movement:
Daily movement has been so key for my well-being (both mental and physical). It’s grounding me and giving me energy. Whether I am taking a long run, doing a HIIT workout, or some gentle movement like yoga and stretching. While it can be challenging some days to get started, it is so rewarding when I’m done, because I know, 100% of the time, that I feel better afterward.
Stress:
When I feel extra stressed, I really make a conscious decision to slow down, to pause. Meditation, a hot bath, long walk, dinner with friends, a phone call to family, etc. Allowing myself to feel present and aware again, and to focus on what is important in my life.
Mindset:
Those habits can sometimes feel challenging or restrictive, but what I have found over the years is how I approach this healthy lifestyle. It’s not something I HAVE to do, it’s something I WANT to do. Following a healthy lifestyle is part of my identity, of who I am. It’s what gives me the greatest motivation and vitality for the projects in my life.
Experiment with lifestyle changes, to find what works for you. Build those habits up one day at a time. Make them simple and attractive so that you can be consistent.
What healthy lifestyle habits are you working on?
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