Making time to care for yourself amid a busy schedule can be hard, especially when you’re managing a cancer diagnosis and a job. However, doing so is essential for your overall well-being. Discovering and implementing even the smallest healthy habits can result in boosted mental capacity, mood, and productivity at work and at home. 

The Glassdoor article “8 Insightful Things Successful People Do During the First Hour of the Workday” offers a list of ideas for beginning your day in a positive, focused way. We’ve highlighted a few of them, below:

— Exercise. Aerobic exercise has been shown to help relieve side effects of cancer treatment, including depression, decreased appetite, nausea and fatigue. Of course it’s important to first communicate with your doctor about your exercise goals. Read more about cancer treatment and exercise here.

— Meditate. This can be as simple as practicing mindful breathing for as few as 10 minutes in the morning! For effective breathing strategies and progressive relaxation techniques, click here.

— Say positive affirmations. Your mindset can have a powerful impact on your day-to-day life. A cancer diagnosis is often an incredibly difficult emotional experience, making it hard to stay positive. But having an awareness of your mindset and how it affects you can help bring presence to your work and your personal life. Find suggestions and resources regarding your mindset here.

— Eat breakfast. Maintaining a balanced diet while juggling work and cancer is essential for keeping up energy levels, and that means starting with breakfast. For strategies on overcoming nutritional challenges while working, watch our Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar on “Strategies for Eating Well on the Job.”

Incorporating even one of these ideas into your daily routine can be a great first step toward a more focused, feel-good day.

Below are additional resources on caring for yourself through a cancer diagnosis.

— Visit the Back to Work page of our website.

— Download a free copy of our On-the-Go Guides for practical, time-efficient advice on things such as nutrition and fitness.

— Watch our webinar on “Managing Long-Term Stress.”