You can Make Choices for Your Health and Happiness
Weather Has an Outsized Impact on Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The many long months of cold and snowy weather here in Denver, inevitably make my muscles tense and cause my fibromyalgia symptoms to flare.
It is well-known in the fibromyalgia community that weather has a big impact on the severity of our symptoms.
I feel so much better in warm weather that I have had two doctors in Denver recently tell me I should move to Austin for my health!
Does the weather affect your fibromyalgia as well?
Which is harder for you, cold weather or hot weather, dry or humid weather?
We are Becoming Snowbirds!
Knowing that I am much healthier in warmer climates, my husband and I have been exploring how we could become snowbirds the past few years.
A silver lining of the pandemic was clarifying that my husband can do his systems engineering job 100 % remote. He works for Sierra Space, an aerospace corporation based here in Denver.
They are building the next space plane to resupply the international space station and they’re also in the planning stages to build the first commercial space station for civilians to work and play in low-orbit space. Wow. My husband loves his job!
My wonderful coaching work, of course, is done all online, on the phone and on Zoom.
So, we are very mobile.
The next issue was replacing our old RV we’d had for 16 years with a model that would serve our needs as working snowbirds. I’m pleased to tell you we found just what we were looking for at a deep discount back in October.
Our new 34 foot, Class A, Coachmen Mirada has a bunkhouse that we are converting into an office for my husband and another office area for me in the front of the cab. It also has a second bathroom we can use for our two cat’s litter box as they will be traveling with us as well!
Our kitties will travel in style. LOL!
We’re busy getting the new RV ready to travel because we are going back to the Sun Outdoors Resort for all of April and May of this year.
I’m so excited! We’ll return to Denver for the warmer weather in the summer and fall and we hope to be snowbirds 4-5 months every winter in the future.
Our ability to make this dream come true has been the result of a lengthy, deliberate process of considering the pros and cons of various lifestyle choices and the impact they would have on my health and well-being.
I’m so fortunate and grateful that my husband is dedicated to helping me feel as well as I can as I manage my fibromyalgia.
We have chosen to prioritize my health in the lifestyle choices we are making and so can you.
You may or may not be interested in RV life or being a snowbird but I bet there are dreams you have for ways you too could prioritize your health.
What would it look like for you?
The Importance of Lifestyle Choices
Here are some examples of lifestyle choices the women I work with are making for their health and happiness.
- Choosing to retire from a demanding job and to take the time needed to rest and recover.
- Choosing to leave a toxic workplace and find a similar job but with much more supportive management.
- Choosing to give up or greatly reduce intake of alcohol, sugar, dairy and gluten.
- Letting go of toxic relationships. Cultivating healthy relationships.
- Joining exercise groups/finding a walking buddy. Investing in in home exercise equipment.
- Spending time in nature: meditating, walking, hiking, biking, camping.
- Investing time in creative hobbies.
- Seeking therapy to heal from trauma, grief and loss, to recover from anxiety and depression, to improve relationships.
- Moving to another region where the climate supports their overall well-being.
- Becoming a snowbird. Oh, that’s me!
Do some of these choices seem radical to you?! They are.
The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine
Let me tell you about Lifestyle Medicine, a relatively new specialty in healthcare that emphasizes the importance of the lifestyle choices in preventing, treating and recovering from a host of chronic health conditions.
I am currently working on a certification in Lifestyle Medicine through Wellcoaches, one of my health coach training programs. I have become convinced of the value of making conscious choices to improve our health. There are six main areas addressed in lifestyle medicine called pillars. Here they are:
The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine
Are you intrigued? Would you like to know more about how you can make deliberate choices to improve your health and well-being?
Let’s set up a time to talk to see if I can be of help HERE.
