Positive Distractions - What Gives You Pleasure?

Hi, what a great thread!  Since being diagnosed with BC Jan 2018 I have become much better at being kind to myself, given myself permission more! 
I have a lot of wellbeing activities and try to make sure I access at least 2 a day. I’ll post them on here one at a time.  I have been feeling anxious recently so I’ve been practicing gratitude and reminding myself of all the things I can access that benefit me.

i recently discovered the joy of jigsaws, a friend had started one and I did some of it with her. I now have a few I have borrowed from friends, always have one on the go. After I finish work every day I have an hour or so of jigsaw time (previously would have been an hour in the car commuting and now wfh). I find myself looking forward to it as the day goes on!

Thank you for sharing your pleasures HappyFeet :) Sounds just what the doctor ordered going picnicking in the countryside & reading can be so therapeutic. There's nothing I love more than a good book and plan to read plenty & also meditate now while I'm recuperating from anc, whilst my kids are in school and nursery :) 

Onwards & Upwards! x

V

Thanks for sharing Amalie. Jigsaws are fun & so relaxing. A good challenge to the mind is also a great distraction for the mind. 

Like you I've been practicing gratitude & mindfullness and I find the two really do walk hand in hand. It's such a magnificent tool in this busy age and also a wonderful aid that we can turn to whenever we need it most. x

V

Looking forward to doing outdoor activities but at the moment it's indoors. So playing video games and watching fantasy films. Dancing to Magic Radio, and exercises too. Cooking more often. Taking pleasure in achieving the simple things like keeping tidy and clean.

Looking for new ideas. 

Hi Glade, thanks for sharing your joys. Really like a good fantasy movie myself, it's lovely to escape into another world for a few moments. Dancing is a wonderful way to feel and stay young no matter if you're good at it or not (I'm certainly not!). 

Onwards & Upwards! x

V

Lovely to read other people’s escapes....for me it is going out for a ride. I ride for miles and love just watching nature unfold around me. My dog never ceases to make me smile - her energy and love is boundless. 
Just having everyone at home over ‘lockdown’, busy home, cooking, chatting, walking. I feel blessed and extremely lucky. 

Hi,

     Lovely post. Getting fed up with all the treatments since October have had neo-adjuvant chemo x3 surgery more chemo radiotherapy and now on Kadcyla until June next year as I’m HER2 positive. For me walking everyday and doing you tube fitness videos. My children especially as my oldest has started high school and the excitement of that. Also like watching tv. It’s hard at times especially with COVID but keep moving forward xxx

Hi Galligirl, thanks for sharing. Riding sounds wonderful. I've not got the constitution for it being incredibly clumsy and incredibly short-sighted, but I can imagine it must give you great joy and a wonderful sense of freedom. I love walking myself. Your dog sounds lovely. I'm absolutely with you on feeling blessed and extremely lucky. 

Live & Love x

V

Hi Gail, can well understand you're getting fed up, I've had those moments myself though I've not had as much treatment as you. I'm with you on the moving forward, walking is a wonderful thing, just getting that fresh daily dose of mother earth and feeling a bit younger and stronger for each step, just finding the time to give yourself those special little treats, such as a nature walk. x

V

Another wellbeing activity I enjoy is yoga. On a work day I ‘Salute the sun’ a few times before getting to my desk. Then 2-3 times a week I try and do a proper session with online tutor. Adriene is my favourite and I have been following her for a few years now. I’m glad I was into it before BC as it helped me during recovery, physically and mentally.

OM