Meet Aby and Get Tips About Living With MS and Overall Well-Being.
by Caroline Craven
When chronic illness hits, it is not only the body that is hurts. Everything can be affected, leaving one to feel out of balance in life.
If you are not nourishing your whole self – including the body, mind and soul, it’s likely that your wellness may suffer.
It can certainly be difficult to find balance while working, taking care of others and being present for friends and family.
Divide and Conquer
Let’s look at how we can dissect these elements into more digestible pieces by using Aby – a new app created by Biogen for everyone living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the people who support them.This app is a really useful tool for anyone impacted by MS – from newly diagnosed patients to those who have had MS for many years, as well as their caregivers and health care providers.
Before getting started, consider your current state of affairs.Visualize how sensitive you are in your condition. Are you feeling in balance with everything going on in your life?
While we may feel as strong as an oak tree on some days, more often we may be delicate dandelions figuring out how to not blow away in the wind.
Then look closely at your body, mind and soul. How are you feeling physically? What are your emotions like today? How do they differ from the week or month prior?
Then look closely at your body, mind and soul. How are you feeling physically? What are your emotions like today? How do they differ from the week or month prior?
Now take it one step further, and think about your vulnerability at this moment. Does one little thing happen and you are wiped out for the day? If so, then it’s time to slow down, breathe deep and nourish yourself.
To help capture these sentiments, after creating an account on Aby, you can use the journal feature to record your sleep patterns, activity levels and emotions from day to day. I love that it’s all in one!
I take advantage of the Aby notes section in the journal, to keep track of the myriad of feelings that I feel throughout the day. Later, when my sleep, activities and emotions have been recorded, I can look back and see trends, using this information to manage how I use my energy and better understand my body.
6 Tips to Find Balance in Life
With this information, you can identify ways to find balance in life while nourishing yourself.
To find balance, here are some techniques I would recommend:
To find balance, here are some techniques I would recommend:
1. Seek quiet: Whether it’s a “do not disturb sign” on your door or a walk to a peaceful spot outside, find a place where you feel safe and where you can be at peace. This may mean a gentle stroll or roll without people around, or possibly a few minutes in a quiet room, or under a tree in a garden. Just sit, be quiet and become increasingly aware of your body and surroundings.
2. Break up the routine: Do not sit in one place too long, especially at a desk in an office or while working. Stand up, stretch and walk around. When life becomes stagnant, it can become a vessel for ill will and bad energy. Think of pond scum. But, if you take charge and make changes, you can encourage your life to flow with clarity and beauty.
Tip: EXPLORE the exercise program in Aby. “Warm-up” is only 48 seconds long. Short enough for everyone to fit into their schedules.
3. Listen to music: Music may soothe the beast within, so give it a try! Many folks find it may help with focus and motivation. You can use it to get moving in the morning or for an afternoon jolt. Try different genres and see which ones inspire what’s inside of you. Get up and dance if it so moves you!
What’s your favorite dance tune? Right now, I’m stuck on the soundtrack to Peter Rabbit, the film of 2018. So fun!
TIP: In Aby, record your activities in the journal. And then, add your mood, your sleep and your MS symptoms. The first day may not seem that important, but trust me, a week or so into it and this information will be handy to have. It has become a great way for me to spot trends in my MS symptoms.
4. Stay hydrated: Often considered the essence of life, surround yourself with the cooling, cleansing presence of fresh water. Drink it filtered, all day long. While bathing and cleansing, be appreciative of the water flowing freely from the faucet.
Take this time to acknowledge the gratitude to those you love and the life you appreciate. Remind yourself of something beautiful in your life. Carry the sense of water throughout your home and garden by adding water elements to your surroundings, such as a fountain. Download an app that sounds like the ocean or a river and carry the water element with you throughout your day.
Take this time to acknowledge the gratitude to those you love and the life you appreciate. Remind yourself of something beautiful in your life. Carry the sense of water throughout your home and garden by adding water elements to your surroundings, such as a fountain. Download an app that sounds like the ocean or a river and carry the water element with you throughout your day.
5. Elevate your diet: Perceive all healthy food and drink as nourishment for your mind, body and soul. What are you feeding yourself? Is it working? One way to feel better about yourself is to add more plant-based foods to your diet. The variety of colors, vitamins, textures and tastes are endless. Use them raw or find recipes to cook.
Want some inspiration for a meal? Make themes for your dishes. One suggestion is to have a different color in every pot. Another is to have a meal in honor of a great piece of art in your house. Match the colors and play with the plating and table displays. Be creative and enjoy your inner “Martha Stewart.”
Tip: EXPLORE the diet and nutrition feature in Aby to learn about healthy recipe options! Check out “Tips for Healthier Eating.”
6. Smile: Smiling is contagious in a good way, and it’s hard to be in a bad mood when you have a smile on your face! It also physically works the face muscles, and is just a darn good thing to do. Pass it on!
Look at the Bigger Picture
We define ourselves by what we do, so let’s think again about the bigger picture. Why are we on this planet? One might say we are here to do good unto others, to enjoy the beauty surrounding us and to shower the world with love. While people have other ideas about why we exist, this image is perfect enough to place us in a positive mood.
Most importantly, enjoy what you are doing! Life can throw us some real curve balls, but we can duck, swing and catch them when we are at our strongest. I hope that the Aby app may help provide you with additional inspiration.
How Do You Aby?
There is much I find helpful by using Aby. By easily tracking my life with MS, I’m taking the first step to help take control of my actions.
After weeks of recording my information, I have found trends in my symptoms. I can now share this information with my health care professionals to help keep on top of this illness.
Dive in and give it a try. You can download the app for free by clicking the icons below, or by searching “Aby” in your app store.
It is my personal goal in life to help everyone with MS.
Together, we’ve got this!
*Please note that I am being compensated by Biogen to share my experience with the Aby app.*
#MS #multiplesclerosis #aby #livingwithMS #spon
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