I put my body first because a healthy and relatively pain-free body is essential when living with someone who has a chronic illness. I know how important working out is for my husband, I don’t always remember that it is just as important for me. Exercising, getting the blood flowing throughout my body, is also key to keeping my brain healthy so it can manage everything else. Having a healthy body and brain gives me the energy, and capacity, to provide the support he needs while continuing to pursue my personal interests and self-care.

In addition to physical activity every day, I like to find ways to stretch my mind. I read the local newspaper daily and try to stay informed about current events. I find time for computer games on my tablet, solitaire and sudoku or matching games that give different challenges. I follow several Parkinson’s research websites looking for answers to challenges we face. The older I get, the more often I find myself standing in a room wondering why I am there. Any activities that might help me maintain the brain I have left has to be good, right?

Finally, I take time every day to exercise (or really pamper) my soul. I can only spend so much of my time in the CarePartner role before I find myself getting frustrated and tired. My way of fighting that is to find a space in my day to reconnect to myself. My husband takes naps daily which gives me a chance to focus on my own needs. This is my time to write or play games. My favorite activity is writing because it gives me the opportunity to vent negative feelings in a safe way rather than put them out into the world around us. I journal what’s happening in my day, but once that is done I work on creative short stories and poems. The creative writing allows me to escape into a different reality for a while. That hour or so gives me a break midday to rest, reflect and refresh my soul. He needs the sleep and I need the quiet. It really works well for both of us.