Dizzy and I have been thinking about positive lifestyle changes (in particular exercise), and how one of the most important things, when trying to start something new, is to have is a positive mindset towards it (or be like a Dizzy, who is just positive about everything in life :)). But this can sometimes be hard, especially when living with a chronic illness. Exercise is super important for everyone though, whether they have a chronic illness or not, and Dizzy (with a little help from a friend) has been contemplating different way to try and help us all feel more positive about our little workouts (however small they may be :)).
Believe that you will succeed
Believe that whatever exercise goals you set yourself (even if it’s just a 5 minute walk a day) you can do it!
If you find yourself having some self-doubts (which we all do). then affirmations, or mantras, can really help. While it might seem a little odd to begin with, repeating positive messages to yourself every day can reinforce those messages in your head, causing you to believe them more and more, helping to shape a more positive mindset over time. You can find lots at: Affirmation Spot’s list of examples to get you started. 🙂
But also remember not to be too hard on yourself. If one day you don’t achieve your goal, and you have to spend all day in bed with NetFlix, that’s also fine. 🙂 Chronic illness is unpredictable, and we have to listen to what our bodies need.
Remember why you’re doing this
We all have different motivations for getting into a little exercise routine. Some of us may want to deal with chronic pain, fatigue, or to lose a little of the extra weight from Easter (Dizzy… 🙂 ). They are all great reasons for getting started, but the further we get away from remembering the reason, the easier it is to forget.
Work out what your motivations for exercising are. Rather than just keeping them in your head, write them down, pin them next to your mirror, and take a little look at them every day.
Don’t start with the big stuff (start little)
Start with the little things: a little walk round the park, or maybe some yoga. Trying to do too much can have a massive impact on us and can just end up making the MS extremely grumpy! So start small, and if you build up to slightly bigger things, that’s great, but it’s also equally as great to just be able to do a little exercise or two a day. 🙂
Get the right gear
Ok, so I’m not telling Dizzy about this suggestion because otherwise she will go on and on about how she must be fully kitted out for all her donkey exercising (do they even do them for donkeys?), but choosing the right exercise clothing does help you to feel more comfy when exercising, and can help you to get into an exercising state of mind. 🙂
Get some friends involved
Some people like doing exercise on their own, and others love to do it with their friends, like the donkeys! If you are doing it on your own though, and you’re having trouble keeping up with your exercises (because of a lack of motivation, and not because of healthy stuff), consider getting some friends involved or looking for groups near you. Net Doctor shows that working out with others has a whole host of benefits. It helps us go for that little bit longer, feel less of the strain, and even encourages us to be more consistent with our schedule.
There are also lots of groups out there specifically for people with different illnesses. Dizzy and I love going to a hydrotherapy group, and having the set time does actually always get us there too! It’s also nice to see others who are experiencing the same things, and to be around others with the same issues when exercising.
See the lighter side of things
There’s no reason that working out needs to be a serious business. Laughter makes just about anything better and creates those all-powerful endorphins that can help you develop more positive attitudes, shake off the stress of keeping up with a fitness routine, and simply make life more fun. Check out OriGym’s list of workout memes when you feel like a little pick-me-up.
You could also join a slightly lighter hearted class. Dizzy and I are currently on the look out for either a puppy or goat yoga class near us! Dizzy wants a donkey one, but I haven’t seen one of them yet…
Feel the rhythm
Listening to music can help with most things in life, including exercise! The workout playlist from The Independent for some ideas.
And it’s not just a matter of getting in the right headspace, music has been scientifically proven to improve exercise by releasing neurotransmitters that help you feel less pain, feel more energetic, and improve muscle memory as your body works in beat. How amazing is that? 🙂
Compare yourself to yourself, not other donkeys
We are all unique and different. And all of our bodies work in different ways. Don’t compare yourself to others and how they are doing. Just compare yourself to yourself. After past relapses I have felt really down about how much I could do, but then looking back over even a month or two, I could really see how far I had come, even if it was still only moving at the same pace as a snail. 🙂 And by tracking your progress over time, it becomes much easier to see this, and to really appreciate these achievements.
Reward yourself for a job well done
Rewarding yourself is one of the best parts of doing a little exercise. Dizzy heads straight for the ginger nut biscuits, and I head straight for a nap. 🙂
Remember to try and not eat all the ginger nut biscuits…
Eating healthily is just as important as exercise, and can also help improve MS symptoms. There are also lots of sites now with foodies ideas too, such as OMS and Healthline.
Switch things up
If you’re starting to feel a little bored or unmotivated, then try something new! If you cycle, run or walk, then changing your routes can make the adventure completely different (you may even come across some donkeys). Or if you’re at the gym or an chronic illness centre, take a look at new classes or equipment you haven’t used and give it a go.
We hope these tips have been helpful! 🙂 What are your best tips for helping to stay motivated when exercising? 🙂 xxx
This is a collaborative post
I think the line about not comparing yourself to other donkeys, but to your self is really helpful. We know what is possible and the idea is to push just a little bit and to be proud of any progress! For those who may be Secondary there is a gradual decline of some muscles, but not all, so working on the bits that are OK is very positive!
That’s such a good point. Even working on some parts, makes such a difference. 🙂 x I hope you have a wonderful bank holiday weekend Cathy. 🙂 xxx
I had May day itself off and it was glorious, bit gloomy now unfortunately!
super great advice……….i love the reminder to not compare yourself to others! bless you!
Me too. And I think it’s always one we need to remind ourselves of. 🙂 xxx
so true. thank you for sharing. i hope today is a good day for you.
It has been. 🙂 And Dizzy and I are enjoying the sunshine too. 🙂 How’s your week going? xxx
So happy to read that you and dizzy are enjoying the sun! 🙂 Thank you so much for asking………this has been a really rough week ~ hoping next week is much better. Bless you!
I’m sorry to hear it has been a rough week so far. x I hope next week is much better for you too. 🙂 xxx
thank you so very much!
These are some great tips Heather! I love the idea of goat or puppy yoga, but as someone who has two pups who love to get on my yoga mat, I’m not sure it would be as much fun in practice as the idea of it is…. I’d probably just forget the yoga and love on the animals.😁 You make such an important point about approaching changes with a positive attitude. When working with personal training clients I always found those who approached the changes they wanted to make from a positive standpoint rather than a negative one were much more successful. Wishing you and Dizzy all the best!
Hehe, I think a yoga practice, that turns into cuddling pets time isn’t really a bad thing. 🙂 But I do see your point. I did try and do some yoga once when we had a little doggy staying with us, but he kept bouncing at me! Not sure he really got the idea of yoga… 🙂
I’ve always found that getting started is the most important thing. Once you start it becomes a habit, but taking that first step is often the hardest thing to do
That’s so true. And once you start you really do realise the difference it makes, even if it’s just doing a little bit. 🙂 xx
When I was in late grade school, Olivia Newton John released an album “Physical”. That still runs through my mind when I exercise! https://youtu.be/6zwPVU92-XQ
I remember this song!! It’s been ages since I last heard it. 🙂 xxx
I have to push myself to get up and out because I get too involved in my work on the PC. So tomorrow I am out for a while exploring some places I have not seen yet in my neighborhood. Wishing you and Dizzy a great weekend from me and Dotty.
I’m the same. Or I nap. 🙂 Where did you go exploring? What places did you find? I do love going on a little adventure. 🙂 xxx
Great tips! I especially think that starting little is so important, it makes things feel more manageable rather than setting yourself up for things that are too daunting and off-putting to tackle. And a few ginger nut biscuits are still allowed regardless (sneak a few in Dizzy, we won’t tell!) 😉
Caz xx
It’s so true, and if you do too much it just makes you feel terrible. I’ve done that before, and then didn’t do any more exercise for ages! xx Hehe, I think Dizzy is sneaking in more than a few… xxx
I am taking this from someone else but movement is medicine. Think of it as brushing your teeth. You wouldn’t miss a day. And for exercise geared to every MS level, check out #themsgym
I love that quote! And I haven’t heard of themsgym. I will definitely check it out. Thank you. 🙂 xxx
This is a great selection of tips. I love the photo of Dizzy with the motivational post it note. I do that often in the winter show season in Florida. I put motivational quotes on post it notes on the bathroom mirror and my bedside light , the fridge and anywhere else that my eyes wander to often.
Dizzy loves that post it note. 🙂 And I do think it’s a great thing to do, just as little reminders and to make us feel happy throughout the day. 🙂 Give Biasini a big hug from Dizzy and I. 🙂 xxx
All great suggestions, especially as Spring kicks into gear and it is easier to get outside without worrying about ice and snow to worry about navigating around and the ability to ditch all the heavy clothes and trappings of cold weather … it makes you feel lighter in spirit too.
It’s so true. I always love doing abit of yoga in the garden in the sunny weather, and going on little walks with Dizzy. In winter, I always just want to stay snuggled up in bed though. xxx
It is hard to get inspired to get out and about in the Winter. I’m okay if the weather is just cold and I can bundle up, but the snow and ice is a definite deterrent to getting out. Sunshine is good for the soul!
Starting my program early in the day is hard for me for the simple reason that I don’t. It’s noon, and I’m wondering about the likelihood that I’ll get in the pool this evening. (It is too bright for me at noon.) Thanks for the reminder, and may I have the recipe for those reward cookies?
You can make a non christmassy version too. 🙂 https://dinosaursdonkeysandms.com/dizzys-christmassy-gingery-cookies/ xx
I saved it. Thank you. These sound very good!
great tips! for me, it is super important that i start off slow when getting back into exercising because i know i will pay for it for days if i don’t. even if i feel okay, i will set a timer and stop when the timer goes off.
That’s a really good idea with the timer! Otherwise there is always the temptation to push yourself further than you should. I’ve done that before and then not been able to do anything for days! xxx
Having any kind of exercise with animals would be a big motivation to get me there!
In the meantime I have a crosstrainer and an exercise bike, and try to get on them when I can! Thanks for the great tips 🙂
Me too! I really want to find a goat or puppy yoga group! But I can’t find any near me. xxx
Brilliant post Heather! Thank you so much for this great post of information! It is funny, I thought of you and Dizzy yesterday while grocery shopping. I saw ginger cookies and had to get them! I wish I could send Dizzy a few!
Dizzy said you made a very good shopping choice there! 🙂 xxx
I knew Dizzy would approve and be delighted in my choice! xxx
Nice Post. You can also check regarding some information about yoga in our blog too https://www.addictionaide.com/blog/10-yoga-postures-to-support-your-addiction-recovery/
Thank you! And thank you for the link.; I will check it out. 🙂 xxx
Very useful…Great article.