With a new year officially underway, it’s the perfect time to hit the reset button and put some new plans into place.
There’s no doubt that making lifestyle changes can often be more difficult than it may first seem. You might be surprised at just how rewarding it can be to have your years’ routine set out nice and early.
We’ve put together some straightforward tips to help you stay on top of your game this year.
If you try and stick to these, you’ll be on your way to the most organised year yet!
1) Cleanse your body and mind
If you feel like you might have eaten a few too many mince pies over the festive period, there are plenty of other people in the same boat! You can make up for that faster than you think, starting with a cleanse of your mind and body.
It will come as no surprise to you that having an ostomy will affect what you can eat and any diets that you can try. However, it’s good to know that there are plenty of health-giving dietary ideas online that you can try out.
For handy ostomy diet tips, check out our very own ostomy diet and nutrition guide.
2) Try to apply more exercise to your daily lifestyle
Contrary to popular belief, having a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ doesn’t mean that you must start hitting the gym for hours on end. In fact, there are plenty of enjoyable ways to increase your physical activity without having to worry about treadmills or weights.
Depending on how ‘fit’ you think you currently are, one good aim could be to try and schedule in a mile-long walk around the block every day. It will do you more good than you may think.
Being an ostomate, remember that it’s also vital to have a fitness plan that works for you and your stoma. Here are some great fitness tips for ostomates that are great for easing your way back into a fitness routine.
3) Put together a meal plan
Whilst having a structured meal plan in place is a helpful way to keep track of what you’re eating and focus on your health goals, it will save you more time than you think. We recommend trying to set out a plan at the beginning of each week. Plus, you’ll only need to do one shopping trip during the week. Sticking to a healthy nutritional routine if you have a stoma is important, but we understand that it’s not always clear to see what you should and shouldn’t be eating.
Most people who are living with a colostomy or ileostomy shouldn’t actually need to drastically to change their eating pattern and can follow a similar healthy eating pattern to everybody else. A valuable tip is to try and eat your food in small, but often quantities. This way, you will find it easier to manage your output throughout the day.
4) Organise your own morning and evening routine
Don’t worry – you can still enjoy a nice lie in each weekend! Nevertheless, having an idea of your plans for the first and last hour of each day will pay dividends.
With a plan to stick to, you can kick-start your day in a productive mood and feel in control of any challenges that may surface throughout the day. Most people feel rushed in the mornings, so it’s a could idea to try and get up around 20 minutes earlier each day to get ahead.
Before bed, make sure that everything is ready to go for the following day. Having clothes ironed and the breakfast table laid will make life much easier. You’ll be able to go to sleep in a relaxed state of mind, which is very important!
5) Use GoldCare’s home delivery service to keep on top of your supplies
At Oakmed, we are well aware that keeping track of stoma-related supplies can be a time-draining and stressful task for a lot of ostomates. To help with this, we recommend the GoldCare home delivery service.
If you haven’t already tried it, it’s a free service whereby you can arrange for your supplies to be delivered efficiently, and when it suits you. The service is also free to use, which is always a bonus!
The time saved by letting Goldcare take care of your deliveries can be best spent on working towards your other ambitions! Find out more about GoldCare home delivery service here.
Whatever your New Year’s resolution is, if you stick to these tips then we’re sure that you’ll be able to lead an enjoyable and organised lifestyle this year.
