Many people may feel their lives are uprooted after they receive their cancer diagnosis. They may feel chaos creeping into their lives as they think of everything that has to happen in the future between balancing treatment, doctors appointments, blood work, etc on top of responsibilities of their job if they decide to continue working. A recent Fast Company article lays out ways to regain the feeling of control over your life, and the many competing needs to navigate.
1. Lean into your coping tools
When at work, and you can feel yourself loosing control, name what you are experiencing. Is it stress? Do you need to set boundaries to protect yourself? Do you need to revisit your action plan you made after you were diagnosed (or do you need to make one for the first time)? Are you experiencing side effects that you need to manage? Knowing what you are experiencing can then help you find the tools to stay in control.
2. Embrace RoutinesMany people over the years have told us that they want to continue working because it gives their day structure. Structuring your day so you have your morning routine, you go to work, you come home and make dinner, etc can do wonders for your mental health. But even if you choose to take time off of work to focus on treatment, or if treatment side effect make continuing your current job difficult, how can you structure your day to put some control back in your hands? Maybe you schedule meals at the same time each day, or go for a walk (even if it's just to the end of your driveway and back) every day at 3pm. Having this structure and routine gives you autonomy.
3. Don't ignore your feelings
You are going to have good days and bad days. You are going to have a lot of feelings crop up. Don't try to run from those feelings or assume they will go away on their own. A therapist or social worker is a great person to talk to to help manage these emotions.
4. Shed something
What is something that is not serving you during this time? Are you too much of a people pleaser and need to prioritize your own needs more? Do you get stressed over something that with a new perspective is actually pretty minor in the grand scheme of things? Do you feel guilty for resting and watching a movie in the middle of the day when you could be cleaning your bathtub? Try to listen to what your body and mind need, and let go of something that isn't serving you anymore.
For more resources:
- Check out our archived webinars on Managing Long-Term Stress, Setting Boundaries, Balancing Work & Nutrition and Building Confidence
- Read about Getting Organized and Managing Treatment Side Effects