
It’s that time of year. With the new year upon us, many reflect on where they have been and where they would like to go in the coming year. Whether you set new year’s resolutions or have learned they are not for you, this can be a time to harness the energy in the air and consider what would be meaningful to your health and habits in this new year.
We would offer the concept of consistency in your routine or developing resilience:
Resilience is, grit, tenacity, the willingness to get up time and time again. Even when you fall… or trip… or stumble… darn lead feet…
- This surprisingly, is not something we are born with but something we learn over a lifetime.
- We set goals for ourselves, intentionally or unintentionally. Goals such as, get an A on the test, make varsity team, get that promotion, or figure out how to stop our new baby from crying.
- When we succeed we feel triumphant! We get a rush of dopamine and oxytocin. The two chemicals in our body that reward us and encourage us to continue. To keep trying because yes, we can be successful.
We tap into this knowledge when challenges are thrown our way.
Life’s biggest challenge may be Parkinson’s for you…
How can you tap into your resiliency to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep fighting back? I encourage you to look at the lessons you have learned over your lifetime. Lessons that taught you not to take no for an answer but to be persistent. If one doctor doesn’t have a solution seek a second opinion. Do that research and learn about the things you can do to help you feel better each and every day.
So, what is your next move?
No matter what your challenge is, take a moment to identify an area of concern. Reflect on or maybe even write a goal for yourself. What would you like to see instead? Maybe, “I want to sleep better”, “I want to have more energy” “I want to be able to keep up with my grandkids”. Then write down 3 action steps you can take to help you get there? So today I will… “find an exercise class, research good sleep habits, call my doctor…” Whatever it is, write it down and keep it simple and small to start. You are much more likely to succeed. Check out our companion post from October 2023 on routines to benefit those with Parkinsons.
Then surround yourself with people doing similar things and experiencing similar challenges. Having a community that understands and supports you is critical. Join us for our January education series on creating health habits to learn more about how to be resilient in the face of Parkinson’s. This series will include the start of our member challenge in which you will have the opportunity to connect with a exercise or goal partner.