It’s important to implement self-care activities into your daily life. When you have epilepsy, it becomes necessary to reduce stress and control anxiety. Just a few small changes can have a big impact. Overall, having a routine of a combination of these self-care tips for 2023 to live well with epilepsy is one of the best ways to maintain physical and mental well-being. It’s time to start a self-care routine where managing epilepsy is your priority – this will give you a purpose to stick with the plan.
Having a self-care routine is an essential piece of improving your mental health, but it is not a substitute for appropriate therapy and professional mental health support. So, if you are struggling with your mental health, please seek professional medical help. If you need support regarding epilepsy resources and don’t know where to start, please contact us at info@epilepsydurham.com.
1. Eat a healthy balanced diet and do not skip meals.
The most sustainable way to get better nutrition habits is to find enjoyable ways of eating that support your goals. Eat adequate amounts of protein and whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Start a meal planning and prepping guide to make sure that you don’t resort to last-minute fast-food options. You can create a basic grocery list of healthy foods you eat on a weekly basis, and simply rotate the ingredients to build your meals. Don’t forget to pack your lunch – this will help you eat healthily and save money while doing it.
Some people with epilepsy benefit from a ketogenic diet which has been proven useful, especially in children. Specific epilepsy diagnoses may even benefit more from this restrictive diet. Before beginning the Keto diet, it is important to contact your doctor as close monitoring is required.
2. Avoid and manage your seizure triggers.
Do not miss doses of your medications, get enough quality sleep, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. This isn’t all-inclusive, and each person should take their own triggers into consideration. If you need support with identifying your triggers, you can discuss this with your healthcare professional. If you need advice on how to manage your triggers, you can connect with us, it may be beneficial to join one of our support groups.
3. Get some exercise.
You don’t need another fitness trend that is unsustainable, it’s better to look for enjoyable ways to get moving. Getting outside and interacting with nature, such as going for a walk, is a very relaxing activity and offers many benefits to your body and mind. In many cases, physical activity may improve seizure control because it improves one’s overall health.
Most sports and activities are safe for those with epilepsy, however, remember that there are some precautions that people with epilepsy must take. For example, don’t go swimming alone or make sure that the exercise area is cushioned in case of a fall. Exercise is important for both your physical health and mental well-being so get moving and have fun while doing it.
4. Find a way to get involved or have something to focus on.
One of these things could be to volunteer with Epilepsy Durham Region. You could offer different ways to help raise awareness about epilepsy. Getting involved will help you build a community of support where you can talk with other people living with epilepsy about your struggles and get advice from them.
Epilepsy Durham Region has many different types of support groups that are accessible such as caregiver support groups, adult support groups, youth advocates, and more. You could also pick up a hobby, this would be something personal to you that you enjoy doing, it’s for your own relaxation and done during your leisure time.
5. Get organized.
If only it were that easy! It seems that organizational tools and gadgets are all around us, but so hard to implement and use, but there are some ideas you may not have thought of. One idea is to use a digital calendar that you can always access on your smartphone, you can even share them with family members so that you can coordinate your appointments. You can log your medications and set reminders to take them, with apps on your phone, to make sure that you never miss a dose. It’s also helpful to have a daily routine to help you stay organized so that you keep up with small to-do’s each day and you aren’t overwhelmed at the end of the week.