As the saying goes, "Leap year comes one year in four, and February has one day more." In case you didn't know, the science behind the leap day is to help keep us in sync with the seasons. The Earth orbits the sun at a slightly slower pace than the calendar represents (it’s actually 365.2421 days). If the world continued on with 365-day years, June would fall in the middle of winter for the northern hemisphere. Call it a gift. Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients have ultimately been given an extra day—a Leap Day, and could spend this gift doing many different things, but here's the challenge: What should you do? These fun and useful activities should give Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients some guidance on how to make the most out of this quadrennial (recurring every four years) event.
Recommended Reading: Ten Things Only Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis & Other Patients With Chronic Illnesses Understand
Tailored Recipe List: Outline your favorite top tailored meals so that you have a list of go-to recipes for whenever you feel like cooking at home which is also safe for your Renal and/or Diabetic diet restrictions. You should divide your list into "short," "medium," and "long" cook times as well as have at least five (5) fun, tasty and creative recipes that you can quickly reference. Take a look at the hundreds of recipes KidneyBuzz.com has to offer to get started (click here).
Look into Living Kidney Donation: Many patients are on the list and waiting for a kidney transplant. Other Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients have chosen not to be listed whatsoever. Nonetheless, take the extra day to research the idea of getting listed (if you are not already on the list), and Living Kidney Donation. The figures have suggested that Living Kidney Donation is increasing across the country which could be due to more patients effectively sharing their stories. Create a plan of action on how you can best outreach and share your story with potential kidney donors. Consider the idea of fliering, creating banners and signs, and sharing your story on Social Media. If you need assistance in effectively sharing your story, then sign up for the KidneyBuzz.com Find A Kidney Donor Campaign (click here). You may only have time to begin this type of research, but at least, you can get started which is often the hardest part.
Plan your year: What do you hope to accomplish this year? Outline your goals and objectives for the year to help improve the likelihood of success. Goals are broad, general, intangible, and abstract and are really about the final impact or outcome that you wish to bring about. For instance, "Improve the quality of my life." In contrast to the goal, an objective is narrow, precise, tangible, concrete, and can be measured. An example is, "By the end of the year I will lose 4 pounds to help increase my energy levels and feel lighter." As you are writing your goals and objectives remember to determine a measure of success, tie your goals and objectives into fundamental desires you have, include all relevant groups you will need to help you reach your target, and offer plenty of time to accomplish your goals and objectives to avoid anxiety and stress.
Filing and organizing: This is fairly straight forward. How many times have you said, "I will file those papers later" or "I will clean out that cabinet another day?" Well now is the perfect day for Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients to take the time to file, organize and declutter.
Share your talents and ideas: Although Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients are sick they still have a lot to offer. If you have had an idea of sharing your talents and services to help others then take the time to determine what that looks like today. What would you like to do? How will it help others? If you need help sharing your concept with a larger audience then sign up here.
Try something new: Use today to try to get out of "Dialysis Mode," and the regular routine. It could be doing something small, like ordering a pair of socks or a t-shirt offline that you have had your eyes on. You could sit outside and do a few breathing exercises. Consider calling an old friend, writing that thank you letter you have been putting off or ordering a self-help book (click here). Whatever it is, just do something out of the norm during your Leap Day.
Recommended Reading: How Can CKD Patients Declutter Their Life To Find Peace of Mind and Happiness
How you spend your February 29th is up to you. Whatever you choose to do, we hope it’s time well spent. Happy leap year! How will you/did you spend your Leap Day? Share your answer with the over 36,000 Facebook Fan Page Friends (click here). Also, consider following the over 115,000 monthly visitors on KidneyBuzz.com for your Number One (#1) source of Daily News, Information, Impact Meals, Inspirational Quotes, and tailored Products and Services which teach Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure patients how to better manage and improve their lives.