When you’re waiting for diagnostic imaging, time can drag on excruciatingly slow; a painful jumble of emotions that include exhaustion, anxiety, anger and grief. The “what if” of the unknown can be an extremely difficult part of one’s health journey.
Here are five things you can do to take back control of your time to help ease some of the stress surrounding wait times in this strange new world we live in.
Take A Walk In Nature
Adding a good, solid routine of physical movement to your daily and weekly habits can elevate your endorphins, giving you a massive boost just by moving your feet. The treadmill works, but if you can walk outside while maintaining a safe physical distance from others, even better as you inhale the fresh, cleansing air.
Connect with Friends and Family
Reach out to your friends and family to set up a zoom chat to catch up and connect—from the comfort of your own home. Many of us are used to more social engagements, making the effort to use the technology at our disposal to keep us together even while we’re apart is important to feel connected to the world around you.
Keep a Daily Journal
Use this as a place to physically dump all of your mental stress through the process of writing. Write down all of your fears, anxieties —and then write down your hopes. This will help you focus on a more positive outlook.
Prepare A Healthy Meal
It’s important not to fall into a solely “comfort food” habit when you’re feeling blue. The sugars in those foods will only serve to help you crash harder. Even just taking the time to put extra care into what you’re preparing, and thought into what goes into your mouth, will help nourish your body more than a quick fix.
Give Meditation a Try
It’s not all about finding your inner bliss. Meditation can be utilized as a relaxation technique to help you focus on the present moment, which in turn automatically reduces your heart rate, lessens anxiety, and allows you the space to feel more in control of what’s happening around you.
Remember, you don’t have to jump on them all, but infusing your week with even just one or a couple of the suggestions on this list can give you something to look forward to and help you establish a healthy routine for both your mind and body.
