Lifestyle and Community- living with Autoimmune disease

I’ve always been big into lifestyle habits and having structure in my life. After all, we are creatures of habit. Having the proper habits…well… that’s a whole other story. What I’ve come to learn in my journey is that “a man is built, not born.” And with that in mind, we must build ourselves one step at a time (even though we tend to want those results NOW). Having the right lifestyle habits and a community, will be key to manage your autoimmune disease.

Accomplishments Start with a Desire for Change

The truth of the matter is that to get anywhere you have to put in the work and effort over time. In the beginning, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of changes you want or have to make, but there’s a secret. Break the goal down into smaller, manageable chunks. If it seems like you have an elephant of a task ahead of you, just think about making smaller changes over a larger amount of time. You can begin with one simple change today. Eventually, you’ll see yourself in a life you never imagined possible.

All effective wellness programs ask you to make one commitment: to truly desire change. If you’ve already committed yourself to changing your life, then this site will get you there. The change will come from you, too, because you have the tools to succeed, and I’ll share my tools for healthy living with you as well.

Lifestyle

Improving your lifestyle and living a healthy life is a multi-faceted task, it requires a holistic approach.  Let’s look at each thing separately.

• Diet – What you take in plays a role in how you feel, and a wholesome diet is a good place to start. Start educating yourself about the diet that best fits your body and condition…and start eliminating the bad and introducing the good.
• Sleep – We live in a world that demands productivity at a fast pace, and we can be productive and get more done when are brains are working at their peak level, which happens when we feel rested. Our bodies function best with eight hours of sleep per night. This is the time they renew themselves and prepare for the upcoming day. If you’re getting less than eight hours sleep, then build a nap into your daily schedule.
• Exercise – An essential lifestyle tool that gets me feeling my best is exercise. One workout a day, preferably in the beginning of the day, will change your mood, your brain, and your body.
• Managing stress- This is one aspect, no-one escapes. The key to managing  stress relies on 2 factors, time management and faith to know that everything that is happening in your life is meant to be; having trust in the almighty.

This are the self-care steps you need to follow in order to produce the best results. So…how do you get there? First, you need to evaluate where you are now. Ask yourself what foods need to go or what exercise you can easily start doing today. Put those two things in practice then check to see if they’re serving you well. If you need to adjust your approach, it’s fine. Just keep practicing until you come up with a routine that works for you.

Finding Your Community

Being an introvert, I always found myself lost in books and independent activities. It was not until recently that I discovered the rewards of having a community to interact with and learn from. Communities come in many forms; mine has been really diverse. I am a community member in my synagogue, which has impacted me the most because it offers intimate contact between people and a chance for joy and laughter.

Beyond that, I’ve learned the value of reading different blogs and reaching out to others who are suffering with the same ailments I am experiencing. It’s not just talk therapy. I’ve learned that there are people who can inform me and provide a structure for the journey I’ve just begun. When you begin to engage with others, you’ll encounter people who are both farther along and just starting off, which means you’ll be both a mentor and a student receiving guidance. Look for communities that you can be a part of that share your interests. They’ll help you in countless ways.

A Closing Thought

Long lasting change happens when you introduce it incrementally, so I’ll leave you with this life-changing tool. It changed my life 30 days at a time.