January 30th to February 6th is national storytelling week. In today’s Community News Blog we’re talking about the power of healthy distractions.
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good book or a great film. We widen the conversation here though to talk about anything that can help us feel better, by distracting us for a while.
We also take some time to acknowledge more of your stories by highlighting the Macmillan Digital Story Telling Project which is online workshops hosted by Macmillan to help people share their story.
In difficult times distraction can be a useful companion. While we often acknowledge the importance of being mindful and living in the present, healthy distractions can help to give us that mental breather we all need from time to time.
What’s your favourite way of ‘getting out of your head’?
Let us know in the comment section below.
Our members often talk about the importance and necessity of healthy distractions.
"Distraction is always good - anything absorbing whether that's work, cleaning, reading, jigsaws, whatever - try to have a little time off from cancer when you can."
"I was advised this and I cannot reiterate enough but the WORST part of all of this is the waiting so distract, distract, distract and don't look at Google. There's so much good advice on here and the people are great."
Elley019, Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum
Of course everyone is different and what helps one person to lose themselves for a while, might not work for another. The most important thing is that you find something that works for you.
Hopefully this blog can spark conversations about what types of healthy distractions help you the most. A forgotten hobby or former pass-time can be a real breath of fresh air, especially during the last year when many peoples’ hobbies are no longer accessible.
What about your story?
Macmillan and the Online Community cancer forum wouldn’t be what it is without the real people affected by cancer sharing their stories.
The Macmillan Digital Story Telling Project helps people to share these stories along with anything else that matters to them.
You can find out more information about it on our main website.
Or watch more peoples' stories on Youtube here.
We hope that today’s Community News Blog has provided some food for thought on healthy distractions and the power of sharing stories. Comment down below if something really helps you which we haven't mentioned here.
Read more from the Community team in our other recent blog posts shown below!
Resilience - Coping in the eye of the storm by Eliza
You never see it coming - Jon's story by Ellen
Meet Sian, a Macmillan Work Support Advisor by Rachel
