b'Life with MSMMaakkeeSSeellffCCaarreeYYoouurrGGooaallMMaakkeewwhhaatteevveerryyoouuiinntteennddttooddooffuunnaannddiinntteennttiioonnaallBy Chris HudspethOur resident expert on complementary and meditate instead. Replacing one self-carealternative medicine shares his perspective on activity for another is a good way to keep thea gentle approach to meeting self-care goals. momentum moving forward, even if it is notReect on what works: The holidays recently what was planned initially. ended, and we are stepping into a new year Always do your best, but also be okay withand a new decade. Take some time to stop and good enough. Everyday is dierent and every-reect, if you havent already, and appreciate one is dierent, and one of the most importantboth your successes and failures during the keys to success is listening to our bodies. previous decade. (You can even indulge and Make it fun: 2020 is a big year. I like thego back to the beginning of the century.) Its number and intend on using it in my personalhealthy to take time to look into the pastjust self-care and exercise plan. I will do 20 minutesdont live there. What is important to remember of this and 20 minutes of that, plus anotheris what does and doesnt work. Maybe it is time 20 minutes of something else. Use your ownto upgrade how we see ourselves or how we this, that, and the other to ll in the blanks.relate to others, evenre-evaluate our relationshipwith exercise, diet, nances, and being more Spreading self-care throughout the day ormindful or gentle with ourselves.week can be fun and benecial. A short yogaCall an audible: Deciding to be gentle with practice is better than no practice at all. Doourselves before we start a new task, regimen, what you can, pause if you have to. Takingor plan of attack is one key to success. However, care of yourself is the goal. we cant use being gentle with myself as an Make whatever you intend to do fun andexcuse to stop all together. Rather than giving intentional.Maybe create ve dierent exercisesup when something isnt working, think of it that you like, put them on separate pieces ofas calling an audible.paper, fold them up and choose them at random,In football, audibles are adjustments to so exercise doesnt become a chore. Watch videosa plan made on the y. A quarterback will call if it helps. (Check out SunLightChairYoga.coman audible when they determine the original for a great resource to get started with a gentlegame plan isnt working. So they use a exible and mindful yoga practice. Or ImageryWork.comapproach to keep on track. With all your goals, for guided meditation.) A gym isnt necessarycall an audible when necessary, but at the to exercise, but you might like the social aspectsame time, keep moving forward.a YMCA or local gym may oer. For example, if you have a plan to start How wementallyapproachexerciseorexercising everyday, but you are unable to do meditation is probably the most importantso for whatever reason, consider taking the key to success. If we are miserable, bored, orsame time you would normally exercise and confusedon whattodo,thereisagoodmsfocusmagazine.org 20'