How to keep doing the things that make you, you.
How to keep doing the things that make you, you.
Some people with a lung cancer diagnosis may experience side effects and symptoms that impact on their ability to complete the tasks that they find enjoyable or fun.
Quality of life can be reduced if you experience high levels of cancer symptoms (e.g. fatigue, breathlessness or pain) and/or if you are unable to complete daily tasks in a way that you would like to. Certainly, between hospital appointments, treatment and side effects, activities that seem more frivolous or fun can feel like the last thing you should be doing, and we often end up focusing on completing things that we feel we ‘have to’, like house work. There is strong evidence however, to show that when we complete activities or tasks that we enjoy it boosts both our emotional and physical energy, as well as motivation.
These are the things that we should be focusing on to allow us to have a good quality of life.
One simple way to do this is by sitting down and making a list of things that bring you joy, happiness, pleasure or a sense of achievement. These can be big or small, for example it might be spending time in the garden, going out with friends or reading a book in a comfy chair.
The key is doing something that makes you happy.
The next step is to set aside allocated ‘you time’ each day to complete these fun/nice activities and ensure that this time is not taken over by ‘have to’ tasks. Getting a family member or friend to complete the task with you or support you to prioritise this time can be helpful.
For some, doing the enjoyable task that you did before your diagnosis may be challenging due to side effects you are experiencing, but don’t be discouraged there are always ways to change a task that will allow you to complete it. This might be having rests before and after your task to recharge your batteries, completing it sitting down (to save energy), for a shorter period of time or at a time of day when your energy levels are higher.
All of these strategies can help you to continue to complete the activities that make you, you.
If you feel you need further support, speak to your medical or allied health team. They can support you to find ways to continue to complete those things you find enjoyable.
The author Ms Pippa Labuc has no relevant disclosures to report for this article.