My Day to Day

Consult your physician for guidance before starting any new exercise program. This is especially important if you have a chronic condition, recent surgery, or are managing symptoms that affect your strength or stamina.

• Visit a physiotherapist to create a plan if you have chronic pain or mobility concerns from your condition or treatments. A personalized program can help you move safely and build confidence.

• Add daily exercise into your routine, such as exercise classes, walking or hiking, cycling, gym workouts, stretching, Pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong. Start small – even 15 minutes a day.

• Learn ways to modify exercises (such as chair yoga or water-based activities), even if just temporarily.

• Explore recreation or community centres for low-cost programs. Check out beginner-friendly, adaptive, or health-focused classes.

• Spend time outdoors with nature walks, gardening, or light recreational activities to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.

• Schedule your physical activity into your paper or phone calendar app.

• Listen to your body and pace yourself. Balance activity with rest to avoid exhaustion, injury, or flare-ups.

• Track your progress in your calendar app. Keeping a simple log can help you notice improvements in stamina, strength, or mood.

• Invite a friend or join a group. Social support can increase motivation and make physical activity more enjoyable.

Think about when you feel most open to connect with others and when you need quiet time to recharge. Plan social activities when it works for you!

• Consider connecting with others through face-to-face visits, phone calls, video chats, texts, emails, or even handwritten notes.
• Stay connected to your health advocate(s) when unwell, then open yourself up to family and friends as you feel able.
• Engage in small group activities that interest you such as crafts, pottery, art, cooking, music, book clubs, walking groups, fitness classes, or educational workshops. Make a list of activities you are curious about and try one new activity each month.
• Join community organizations, cultural groups, faith communities, or hobby clubs that meet with your interests and values.
• Nurture healthy relationships with people who respect you, encourage your growth, listen without judgment, and make you feel valued and supported.
• Practice active listening and open communication. Share your thoughts and feelings honestly while also being receptive to others’ perspectives.
• Explore travel opportunities—such as group tours, wellness retreats, or cultural experiences.
• Seek out support or peer groups or community gatherings where you can connect with others who share similar life experiences, goals, or challenges.
• Consider volunteering with causes you care about. Volunteering not only supports your community but also helps you build meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. Learn more about volunteering in the resource kit.
• Set healthy personal boundaries. Be clear about your comfort level with time, topics of conversation, and personal information as you build new relationships.
• Balance your online and in-person connections. Be careful not to replace face to face time with online or social media communications.

• Recognize your energy limits and plan your day around when you feel strongest. Try scheduling more demanding tasks during higher-energy times and lighter activities when your energy is lower.
• Use pacing techniques—break tasks into smaller steps, take short rest breaks before you feel overtired, and avoid pushing through fatigue.
• Clear your calendar when you are unwell or experiencing a flare-ups in your condition. Focus on what truly needs to be done each day.
• Create a flexible daily or weekly schedule that includes time for medical appointments, treatments, exercise, meals, social connection, and rest.
• Build rest periods into your routine, not just at the end of the day. Planned rest helps prevent symptom flare-ups and burnout.
• Communicate openly with family, friends, and co-workers about your needs and limitations. Ask for help when necessary.
• Follow your treatment plan, including medications, therapies, nutrition, hydration, and physical activity recommendations. Keep track of your symptoms and what worked on your health or phone calendar.
• Practice stress-management strategies such as deep breathing, gentle stretching, mindfulness, journaling, or relaxation exercises.
• Protect your sleep by maintaining a consistent bedtime routine and creating a comfortable sleep environment. This includes turning off your phone.
• Learn to recognize early warning signs of fatigue or symptom worsening and respond quickly with rest.
• Review your balance regularly and adjust as your health needs change.
• Be kind to yourself in words and thoughts. Don’t forget to celebrate your successes and learning.

• Try tracking your symptoms in your health calendar in print or on your calendar app.
• Note significant changes in your daily routine, medications, or treatments that could be impacting the severity of your symptoms. Include any medications or over the counter drugs, vitamins, or herbs you take.
• Describe your symptoms or side effects in detail, such as time of day they occur, how long they last and what treatments, over the counter drugs or remedies you use and with what effect.
• Share any health changes, symptoms or side effects with your health advocate, physician, and specialists.
• Record your new or changed symptoms in your health calendar.

• Keep your medication list up to date in your Health Profile.
• Remember it needs to include updated dosages of your regular medications, the name and dosage of your supplements, vitamins, and herbs. As well as any over the counter drugs you use regularly.
• Keep an up-to-date ‘Medications List’ in your Notes app.
• At least once a year, go through this list with your physician, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist 
• Always make note of any side effects or negative interactions with other substances such as alcohol or OTC drugs, even if the medication isn’t new to you.
• Use pill boxes or blister packs from the pharmacy if you need help organizing your medications.
• Set alarms on your phone, if needed, as medication reminders.
• Download the Mywell Medication & Daily Records fillable PDF tool to have a digital and printable record, is needed.
• If a person other than yourself gives you your medication (and that isn’t the norm), make note of it in your Medication & Daily Records fillable PDF.
• Make sure your health advocate knows where your medication list is on your phone. Include it in your Emergency Plan.

• Be aware that your personal care needs may change due to worsening symptoms, new side effects, an accident, surgery, or hospitalization.
• Have an agreement in place with your health advocate or care partners on a plan for getting assistance if your needs change.
• Always continue to voice your need for privacy and confidentiality.
• Identify what you need help with on a daily basis or when feeling unwell. Check out this list to help identify your needs.

1. Personal hygiene such as bathing or showering, grooming (including hair care, shaving, and oral hygiene), toileting, skin care, and dressing.
2. Meal support including preparing meals, grocery shopping, and kitchen cleaning.
3. Moving around, any mobility concerns in your home, such as walking, transferring from sitting to standing, climbing stairs, walking to and from a car and using mobility aids/devices.
4. Medication management including filling prescriptions, taking the right dosage of medications at the right times, re-ordering from the physician, and communicating with the pharmacist.
5. Managing treatments for your health conditions, including using specialized equipment and medical devices, infusions or injecting medications, ordering medical supplies and equipment, and more.
6. Home hygiene chores such as cleaning, laundry, washing dishes, washing bathrooms, and vacuuming.
7. Organizing a schedule for caregivers and care partners as needed.

• Create a personal care plan (with suggestions from the list above) for when you need it.
• Know that a written plan should help you communicate with multiple caregivers and care partners and give you more control over how and when you want assistance and support.
• Download the Changes in My Personal Needs fillable PDF tool. Complete the checklist with your health advocate or a care partner.
• Learn about home care services that may be available in your community in the resource kit.

• Talk with your physician, nurse practitioner or specialist about when it is appropriate to see them. Know how you can get in touch with them by booking a health visit, by phone, or by email.
• Learn about when it is more appropriate to see other health care professionals such as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or registered massage therapist for symptom management.
• Learn about the expanded scope of practice for a pharmacist in BC. Make a list of how your pharmacist might be able to help to manage your symptoms and side effects.
• Revisit your Health Care & Business Professionals list and include how they all can assist you.
• Review your Care Partners list to ensure it includes when and how others can help.

• Plan ahead for different types of emergencies.
• Know whether to go to a walk-in clinic, urgent care, or a hospital emergency room for different symptoms and health issues.
• Learn about emergency services in your community and how to use them effectively. Know the difference between using 911 for a life-threatening situation and calling 811 for information about your symptoms and concerns.
• If your symptoms can be severe, work with your physician and health advocate to develop a written emergency plan of what to do and who to call in what situation. Post it near your fridge in your kitchen. Keep a copy in your digital Health Profile so you can access it from your phone.

Health conditions, physical changes, medications, and treatments can impact your appetite. Flare-ups and times of feeling unwell, can alter your ability to plan, shop, and prepare meals. Explore ways to adapt to   your changing nutritional needs.

• Describe changes in your appetite and list your preferences for meals, snacks, and beverages.
• List all the vitamins, herbs, or supplements you are taking on your medications list in your Health Profile.
• Learn about holistic nutrition and advances in speciality diets for allergies and autoimmune diseases.
• Create a weekly meal plan and share it with care partners stating how they can help you get groceries or prepare meals.
• Explore grocery shopping, meal delivery, and meal support services available in your community.
• Visit the resource kit for suggestions for low-income meal support programs in BC.
• Keep your food services and meal support programs in your contacts app.
• Learn about the role of a dietitian in the resource kit.
• Try consulting a dietitian to help you create a healthy eating plan. Services through Healthlink BC are free consultations. Or consult a dietitian in private practice.
• Check out healthy ways of eating – start with the Canada Food Guide for your age.
• Learn about the benefits and risks of supplements. Make sure all are listed on your medication list (including amount) and shared with your physician.

Look into options like public transit, ride-share programs, or disability discounts if driving is not an option for you, permanently or temporarily. In BC, certain health conditions and disabilities entitled you to transportation discounts. Learn more about each of these programs in the resource kit.

• BC Bus Pass Program: For adults receiving Disability Assistance (PWD designation), this provides an annual pass for BC Transit/TransLink or a monthly supplement ($52) for other transport needs.
• HandyDART: A shared, door-to-door bus service for those unable to use regular transit due to disability; includes free travel for a support person.
• HandyCard: Offers discounted fares on conventional transit (bus, SkyTrain, etc.) and free attendant travel in TransLink areas.
• TaxiSaver: A subsidy (50% off) for taxi rides, supplemental to HandyDART, for eligible HandyCard holders.
• Disability Parking (SPARC) is a special parking permit for people who have difficulties with mobility from surgery, accidents, health changes or disabilities. For permanent or short-term use. A physician or nurse practitioner must complete part of the application. Complete your portion of the form and bring it to the appointment. In some cases, if you are unable to physically get to a visit, the process can be completed online and mailed to you.
• Travel Assistance Program(TAP) is a refund program for getting to specialist appointments, tests, or surgeries outside of your community. If you qualify, you need to get a signed letter and form from your physician or specialist. When you need to use your TAP refund, call the TAP 24 hour information line days before your appointment to get a confirmation number that you write on your form.

Community-Based Ridesharing

• Many BC communities have different transportation options depending on your age and need. All ride-share services need to be booked ahead of time
• Taxi services can provide wheelchair accessible ridesharing and usually accept taxi vouchers.
• Volunteer drivers such as Volunteer Cancer Drivers and Wheels of Hope offer rides to and from cancer treatments.
• Volunteer transportation programs provide rides for people with disabilities or special health needs. These services often offer door-to-door rides to medical appointments and social outings.