Take breaks when you need them. Then take the next fun action; plan a trip, knit something, have lunch with a friend (even over zoom or facetime counts) or meet them for a walk, reading a book you checked out from the library, try out a pickleball class, or try a piano lesson… Stay in the game of living your life. 

We all need breaks. Post cancer I need more than I did before. I had coffee with a friend this week and she had a deadline that had her up multiple nights in a row to meet the deadline. She said I just can’t do all-nighters any more. I agreed.

I no longer take the red eye and walk straight into the shower and work when I get home. If I take a red eye, I give myself a day to recover. Recovery time and breaks are necessary.

Recreational pursuits are also necessary. That also doesn’t need to cost money. When we explore new places or try new things we are helping our brain engage in new ways. Which can improve cognitive challenges caused by treatments and studies show that it can also lower our risk for Alzheimers and other memory decline as we age.

If you played the game LIFE as a kid like I did, I don’t recall there being a space for navigating catastrophic medical diagnosis on the board. These can knock us down. Getting back in the game of living your life full out can actually help you dust off and find new pursuits to enjoy. You know those things you keep saying you will do someday? What if someday is today?

What fun action can you take today?

Continue the conversation in the facebook group Surviving is JUST the Beginning or follow me on Instagram.