Living Well with Disabilities: Strategies for Health and Wellness encompasses the journey of individuals with disabilities towards optimal health and well-being. You have most likely developed your best methods for managing your disability, but have you spent time considering your overall health and wellness? There are many elements that make up your life, and nurturing the things that make it full and enjoyable can make a world of difference. To help you stay healthy, happy, and live the best life you can, here are some of our top recommended strategies to take care of your health and wellness as an adult with disabilities—
Focus on Self Care
Everyone needs a little self care in their life. For many individuals with disabilities, it can be exhausting to navigate certain aspects of everyday life, and this can become frustrating, affecting mental health over time. Practicing self care can help reduce this stress and improve your wellbeing, as well as create space where you can exist without boundaries. Self care can take many forms—it could be your choice of exercise, meditating, reading, spending quality time with your loved ones, and so much more. Finding the best methods of accessible self care for you can help you find balance, joy, and empowerment in all aspects of your life.
Set Goals for Yourself
One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated and engaged is to set specific goals for yourself to reach over time. Do you want to someday live independently? Start a new hobby? Join an accessible sports team? Develop new social connections? These are all great examples of things that can help you enrich your life. Using these as things to motivate you to move forward and live well will not only boost your mental and physical health, but also make you feel that you are living your life to the fullest, no matter what your goals are.
Prioritize Your Whole Health
For many adults with disabilities, prioritizing your health can feel limited to managing your disability. While this may often be the most pressing matter when thinking about your health, it is important to remember that managing your disability makes up
only one part of your whole health. Staying healthy combines disability management, physical health, mental health, and social wellness. Focusing on each of these elements can help improve your quality and enjoyment of life dramatically. You can take steps such as engaging in your favorite accessible exercises, seeing a therapist or counselor, and engaging with people in your community in addition to managing your disabilities to keep all elements of your health in good standings. This looks different for everyone, so it is important to take the time to see what this may entail for you.
Trust in Your Support System (Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help)
While you can do many things to maintain great health and wellness on your own, calling on your support system can help make it all just a bit easier. Whether it is your family, friends, or care team, having that extra support in your life can make a world of difference. This kind of support system can help you reach your goals, find community and connection, and simply enhance your emotional well-being. Do not ever be afraid to ask for help in anything.
You have a full life that is not limited to managing your disabilities. Using these strategies and any others that work for you for taking care of your health and wellness can improve and enrich your everyday life and even help make managing your disabilities easier. Delta Center is here to help you live your life to the fullest, whether it be through providing you with our resources to live independently or connecting you with health and wellness organizations that cater to your specific needs. If you are looking for resources for your mental health, physical health, or any other aspect of your wellness, take a look at our extensive resource page and see how you can live well.