Welcome to the eleventh episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk with my best friend for over 30 years, my wife Kristine about healthy distractions.

Kristine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on her 49th birthday in July 2021. We have had to come up with a lot of coping mechanisms to deal with this cancer diagnosis, and we have a number of healthy distractions. From walking, puzzles, dancing, doing fun spontaneous things, exercise, meditation, and sometimes just being silly.

Full transcription can be found on the website (http://carepartnerscompass.transistor.fm)

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

Kristine - You are incredible 💙

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Helpful links related to this episode:

• Cancer and Careers - an organization who works to empower and educate cancer survivors about how to thrive in the workplace
• www.eventbrite.com - Easy way to find in-person and online classes, workshops, and events all over the world. You can sort to find free and online.
• MSK Integrative Medicine at Home - Meditation and exercises classes online (more services are available if you can be in person). This is a low cost membership for live online classes or you can do the free classes that are posted on the website.
• Wellness House (Annapolis, MD) - Offers both in-person and online exercise and art classes for free.
• Wellness House (Chicago, IL) - Offers both in-person and online exercise and art classes for free.
• https://www.hirschwellnessnetwork.org/#Classes - Offers both in-person and online exercise and art classes for free. The in-person classes are extensive if you live nearby.
• www.Open.Spotify.com - Listen to Kristine's playlists or create your own and dance!

• (01:15) - What is a healthy distraction and why are they helpful?
• (02:39) - When Kristine started adding in healthy distractions
• (04:53) - Healthy distractions as exercise for the mind and body
• (06:58) - Distracting sports of one sort or another
• (07:54) - Spontaneous Fun map
• (08:55) - Work can be a distraction, but if you do stop working, try one new thing a day
• (11:39) - Music and dancing as a healthy distraction
• (14:45) - The importance of meditation
• (16:15) - Healthy distractions can involve friends and family. Offer to do fun and distracting things with your people in cancer land