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Living Well With MBC > Looking After Yourself > Get Physical

 

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Get physical

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Exercise is an important part of looking after yourself. It can help you feel better, both physically and emotionally. Pain and fatigue can make it harder to exercise, but exercise can ease these symptoms. Be sure to talk with your doctor before you start an exercise program or change your level of physical activity.2

Here are a few exercise tips:

  • Try to work some form of exercise into your everyday routine. Consider doing some housework or gardening.
  • Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. Finding some gentle or moderate exercises you can do at home, such as yoga or tai chi, is a good place to start.
  • You can benefit from exercise even if you do it for just a few minutes a day. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t manage more than that in one day.
  • Do an exercise you enjoy. This will help make exercise something you look forward to and help you stick with it longer.
  • Remember to also get enough rest to help your body recover.
  • Pay attention to your symptoms. Don’t exercise if you don’t feel well.
  • If you’re not sure where to start, ask your doctor for some tips.

Pace yourself

It’s important to pace yourself throughout the day. Pacing is about finding a balance between times of activity and times of rest. Resting is important because it gives your body time to repair and recover. Even when your daily life is keeping you busy, remember that taking a break may help you do more over the long term.2

Pacing is also important when you’re feeling fatigued or out of energy, which is common for those living with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. When you feel very tired, being active is often the last thing you want to do. These tips for pacing yourself may help2:

  • Plan your daily tasks in order and spend your time doing the most important ones first.
  • Break a task down into smaller chunks. For example, instead of trying to clean your whole house in one day, try tackling just one room to start.
  • If you need help getting something done, don’t be afraid to ask. People generally like to be able to help.