12 Simple, Easy Health Tips That Are Actually Helpful
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Any medical information included is based on a personal experience. For questions or concerns regarding health, please consult a doctor or medical professional.
Have you ever tried to improve your health by following a complicated set of instructions, only to end up frustrated and unsuccessful? Are you tired of getting well-meaning but unsolicited health tips from friends and family who don’t understand your chronic illness and think yoga and supplements will fix everything? If so, you’re not alone. Many people with a chronic illness or mental health condition have had these experiences. That’s why we asked our Mighty community members, who all live with health conditions themselves, to recommend some simple health tips that are actually helpful, without being too restrictive or difficult. We hope they’ll help you too.
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
“It’s OK to completely unplug and rest now — the thing can be done later. Rest now, do later. Give yourself permission to take a break. And really give yourself permission. This shift in mindset has made pacing my activities so much better.” — @trampolinistwithas
“I’m chronically cold. Like my internal thermostat just doesn’t work. I got a tip from my doctor about how to reset it that seems to help. Take a hot shower (she said bath, but I’m unable). As hot as you can stand for as long as there is hot water. Then towel off and dress really warmly in multiple layers. Stay that way as long as you can. The next day and for several days after, I’m not so cold.” — @elm6
“Using a combination of Vick’s Salve and Aspercreme for neuropathy in my feet.” — @tommit
“Order precut vegetables and fruit with your usual groceries. It makes healthy food easier to access when you are tired or achy. I use a grocery delivery service as well.” — @shellylcooke
“I absolutely don’t know what I’d do without my weighted blanket. I know they can be pricey, but to me, it was so worth it. It took a tiny bit of getting used to but now I don’t think I could go to sleep without it. That, my tattoo and my self-soothe kit are amazing when I’m having a bad mental health day.” — @stevsonmeggie
“To give myself permission to rest and nap if necessary. I often push too hard to keep going and keep doing — but sometimes the laundry and dishes can wait and it is OK to just take time to rest.” — @susybarker
“My mom found a cookbook written by someone who has very similar health issues to me, “Fix It With Food” by Michael Symon. It cuts out problematic foods for 10 days, and slowly adds them back in so you can find out what you’re sensitive to. It’s something I’ve wanted to try, but had no idea how. It’s only been a couple of weeks, and it’s already super obvious which foods are OK and which are not!” — @sunflower01
“I use a humidifier every night. It helps with a lot, good for skin and digestion.” — @teathyme
“It started off as a ‘goal’ with my therapist to journal three times a week in the mornings, but I’m enjoying it more and more. Instead of just doing it in the mornings, I do it just whenever I’m feeling anxious or having repeated thoughts that won’t leave me alone, or when I need to get something off my mind. It really helps to get it all out of my head and onto paper. I try to make it more fun, so I even bought a pretty journal and some nice pens to use. It’s good therapy.” — @monana83
“Checking in with myself about the speed I am going about tasks helps. Sometimes going super slow feels very meditative — even emptying the dishwasher. It still gets done and I don’t get stressed.” — @katefm
“Deciding to reduce or completely eliminate contact with people who are toxic in their reactions to my chronic illnesses, regardless of the pressures society places on us to honor those relationships if they are with family members. We all have the power to protect our peace. Cutting off exposure to these people stops my feeling like a living problem all the time and enables me to see myself as a worthy person in spite of my chronic illnesses.” — @isallthatineed
“Breathe, just breathe. Take a moment to breathe and calm yourself. In any situation, this works for me.” — @charlymcleod
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