“I want to take better care of myself. But life keeps getting in the way.”

Have you said this to yourself more than once? If every day was the same, self-management would be easier. But days are different. At certain times, we may have to work a bit harder at it. Here are some examples:

Sick days. If you have an acute illness such as flu, you should not go to exercise class, and you may not feel like eating your normal diet. You may want to check with your doctor to see if you need to change your medications. Specific chronic conditions may require extra attention. For instance, if you have diabetes, you may check your sugars more often. Get all the rest you can.

Injuries. Getting hurt can interfere with exercise programs and other daily activities. It’s important to rest the injured part but to keep your body moving as much as possible. Perhaps you can find other ways to exercise, such as Sit and Be Fit programs. You may need to get some help with keeping up the house or with other demands.

Holidays and celebrations. Special days usually mean a busier schedule, more visiting, more food (usually sweets), more alcohol, and more stress. Enjoy your holidays, but prepare yourself! If you’re going where there will be lots of tempting foods that you don’t want, eat something before you go. Practice your assertiveness skills so you can say no to things you don’t want. Schedule rest times and exercise times. Know who you can talk to if things get stressful.

Traveling. Long hours on a plane or in a car, eating and sleeping in strange places, being away from your routines can all cause problems. In route, remember to get up, stretch and move around every hour. Pack food with you if the airplane or roadside food isn’t right for you. If the place you’re staying is not healthy for you, can you find another one? Bring extra medication or testing equipment in case something gets lost. If possible, find in advance restaurants that serve food you can eat. Ask the people you’re staying with (family or hotel) for what you need to sleep comfortably.