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Q&A Forum: Staying Active and Engaged

Georg Armstrong 5 years ago 1 comment
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Staying active during the COVID-19 pandemic can be difficult. How are Lupus Warriors staying engaged?

Check out this month’s Q&A Forum!

Staying engaged, both mentally and physically, is an important part of life with lupus. A global survey of nearly 5,000 people with lupus released in 2019 by the World Lupus Federation found that:

61.6% of people felt lupus has “a lot” of effect on emotional and mental well-being

Staying mentally healthy can mean:

 

Remaining engaged physically is just as important. Maintaining a healthy weight is linked to fewer lupus symptoms and improved daily function. Plus, exercise can be a great stress relief!

In this month’s LupusCorner Q&A Forum, Lupus Warriors share their techniques for staying active during COVID-19 and address the difficulties of staying isolated.

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lupus tip-person-2

Jasrene

I am staying active during this quarantine.

4/5 (agree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Watching YouTube workout videos to continue staying active. Coupled with doing household chores like vacuuming and mopping the floor…

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

Makes me feel better as I usually spend alot of time in front of the laptop for work…

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Not being able to meet up physically with friends and family.
person 5

Becky W

I am staying active during this quarantine.

2/5 (disagree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Art

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

I paint and I’ve completed 3 paintings. I’d have loved doing more but I got fortunate enough to be able to spend time with two of our grandkids.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Pain and the inability to feel secure when going out anywhere.
lupus tip-person-1

Shantina M.

I am staying active during this quarantine.

4/5 (agree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

We are having family movie nights and game nights. We are also challenging each other on Just Dance and the WiiFit.

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

They are helping us stay active and bringing us closer together as a family.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Not being able to enjoy outside activities.
lupus tip-person-13

Staying the course

I am staying active during this quarantine.

3/5 (neutral)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Working in yard during the early evening hours and fast walking around the block twice a day. My real work is homeschooling my two grandchildren. That requires super powers!

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

These things force me out of bed even on the hard days, which in reality, is better for me overall.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Being unable to interact with my friends and family in a meaningful way. My father has Parkinsons with Lewey Bodies (dementia) and I haven’t been able to physically be with him in over a month.
person 5

Sandeegirl61

I am staying active during this quarantine.

3/5 (neutral)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

I honestly wish I had more energy. I wish I could be more active. I wish I accomplished more during my quarantine. When I feel cooped, I go to the park and walk around the lake. I keep my house clean but I don’t have the moderate energy to sterilize my whole house. One day at a time.

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

I’m coping and getting through. I experience symptoms that are uncomfortable sometimes, but I’ve adapted to them and I know what I need to do to feel more comfortable.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Not having someone to motivate me to do more. I’ve become so accustomed to my solitude, but sometimes lately it hasn’t been comforting. Especially when I don’t feel good.
lupus tip-person-13

Laurie K.

I am staying active during this quarantine.

4/5 (agree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

I am trying to get out and walk as often as possible also, I am doing exercises in my home.

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

I find that exercising makes a huge difference in how I feel. I always feel better!

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

I think the anxiety and fear of the unknown.
lupus tip-person-12

Schedule Creative Time & Ways to Get Good Food

I am staying active during this quarantine.

4/5 (agree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

I am sewing masks for friends & neighbors. Reading like a fiend!

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

I make certain to keep a scheduled time (10 AM) when I go to my quilting studio every day even if it’s just for a brief time of actual sewing. the creative process of design (selecting fabrics, deciding on pattern size, shape, purpose) not necessarily in that order, of course! Sometimes I just reorganize fabrics and play with the colors and textures. My studio is in a small guesthouse we have so I get away from the kitchen and its temptations. I leave the reading and TV news behind and just create.
I make certain to limit my time to ONLY 3 hours on my ‘good’ days so I can enjoy creating again the following day. I find that if I keep to this scheduled activity my day has a structure that helps me keep a positive perspective on life. It also keeps me more active and able to monitor my health by how well I can concentrate as well as how long I stay down in my studio before coming back to the main house and succumbing to the couch or bed.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Grocery shopping has been very difficult for us. My wonderful husband has been the shopper for years, but he too is in a high risk group, so it isn’t safe for him to go out now. We’ve tried various services, but most of the time we get about half of what we ordered.
I decided to sign up with a local fresh veggie delivery service from local farms and that has helped a lot! We also order the ingredients for meals from two different services (I’m Vegan and my husband is not). While this is pricey we don’t have any waste and he picks his meals so he can’t complain!
As time goes on the markets aren’t as crowded as before. I actually ventured out this week with my mask & gloves, long sleeves and sneakers to the market. I felt like a kid in the candy store. All went well until I locked my keys in the car as I was putting the food away. I guess I had to learn a lesson that going out with lupus was a bad idea! After an hour, AAA had me on my way home.

Safire1978

I am staying active during this quarantine.

1/5 (strongly disagree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Nothing I’m just lazy but I plan on starting today

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

Prayer.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Boredom.
lupus tips-person-24

Charlie

I am staying active during this quarantine.

4/5 (agree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

I’m still working away from home

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

I’m not isolating
lupus tip-person-12

Anevnic

I am staying active during this quarantine.

2/5 (disagree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Working full time.

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

No! Stressing me out.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Miss my friends and family especially my elder parents.

person-4

Lisa B.

I am staying active during this quarantine.

2/5 (disagree)

What techniques are you using to stay active at home?

Recumbent bike, walks, playing with my dog.

How are these techniques helping with your daily life?

Helping me mentally to stay positive, helping with my mobility and joint pain.

What has been the most difficult part of isolating?

Not being able to get out for treatments (acupuncture, osteopath) which greatly reduce my inflammation and pain, and help with mobility.

Comments (1)

One thought on “Q&A Forum: Staying Active and Engaged”

  1. Thanks for all the useful reminders about exercise and staying active. Rainy days are especially hard for me.
    I begin each day with a prayer and then music for motivation. Good luck and God bless. HOLD FAST.

    Thanks for the reminders about staying active. With Lupus we do not know until the am how much energy we have and the fatigue level we are dealing with…
    I thank God each day for choices. Unfortunately I also have Chronic Anemia which usually requires weekly injections. HOLD FAST.

    Reply

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