Disability wellbeing – creating a lifestyle that supports you

Being aware of your personal wellbeing, and learning to look after it, is a valuable skill. Especially when you live with a disability. Our communities often focus on carer wellbeing, but disability wellbeing is just as important.

I know that my own experience of the world, as an autistic person, is very different to other people’s experiences. And I’ve learned that acknowledging how the world impacts on me in different ways is important.

Growing up, I never really understood this. I always just thought that I needed to keep up with everyone else – do what everyone else did, regardless of what it meant to me. And it has only been in recent years that I’ve really understood the impact of what happens if I don’t keep check on myself. If I don’t create a lifestyle that supports the person who I am. If I don’t make my wellbeing a priority.

Because to live at your best, you need to put yourself in the best environment you can. Not just the physical environment, but all parts of what surrounds you.

For me, a lifestyle that supports my wellbeing makes it easier for me to go about my day to day life. It makes it easier for me to engage with the world in a way that suits me and I’m less likely to experience unexpected anxiety or overload.

And it’s something that I continue to work on – like a project that’s a work in progress! Making little changes as I need to.

In just the last few months I have made efforts to reduce sensory stimulation from my phone (by turning off notifications) and to make space for what’s important to me. I’ve been practising setting clearer boundaries (let me tell you, it’s easier said than done). And I’ve been working to identify ‘early on’ when things need to change.

But whilst these things work for me they might be different to what you need. Because how you support your own wellbeing is a personal thing and something that will be different for everyone.

So take some time to think about what might work for you. Think about who it is who’s supporting you , what your days look like, and if you need to add or takeaway to make things more of what you want.

Creating a lifestyle that works for you isn’t something you’ll necessarily do overnight, but it’s definitely worth exploring for yourself. Remember, disability wellbeing is important.

Elissa x