‘Stay busy. Be useful.’ is a great mantra for those living with COPD

I recently read an article on my newsfeed that said Arnold Schwarzenegger, bodybuilder, actor, and onetime California governor, had a four-word mantra: “Stay busy. Be useful.” I thought this was a wonderful guide for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

As I pursue the idea of staying busy and being useful, I find it’s rooted in established psychological well-being. Studies show that having a well-defined purpose in life can shield us from many travails, including hospitalizations, as we’re more likely to take preventive measures.

I know from my own experience that I’m more likely to seek help when I have a pending meeting or engagement. I think, “I’d better see about this so that I don’t miss tomorrow’s meeting.” Looking forward to doing something makes me more likely to attend my Vori Health physical therapy sessions so I’m up for it.

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At present, I’m working on strengthening my legs so I can climb the steps in the nosebleed section of the bleachers at the State Fair of West Virginia, where I live. I don’t know the height of the steps, but the AI assistant Copilot suggests they could be as high as 14 inches. I’ve added stepping up onto a 16-inch dining room chair as part of my routine; that’s good exercise for those bleacher seats. It’s also a good example of how purpose can motivate me to take better care of my health.

My ongoing purpose is to spread the word about COPD and to encourage those who have just been diagnosed with it or another chronic illness. Being told you have a condition without a cure is quite a blow to one’s psyche. I’ve experienced it myself and know where I found hope: from the stories of resilience and accomplishments I heard from members of COPD360social.

Now: Getting to staying active

I’ve once again organized something “bassackwards,” as my thesis professor often told me about my sentence structure. I’ve spoken about being useful before speaking about staying active. Staying active doesn’t mean you need to prepare for a marathon, though I have a good friend with COPD who does.

Staying active can mean simple tasks, like cleaning your nebulizer or organizing your medicine cabinet, as well as yard work and housework. Just 20 minutes of walking or other activity can be beneficial to our health as long as it raises our respiration rate.

The idea that we need to take 10,000 steps a day to remain healthy has been debunked, and the true number is more like 4,400 steps per day. A study found that the benefit of walking leveled off after 7,500 steps. I try to maintain 5,000 steps per day because my insurance rewards me with $5 each month that I maintain this level of activity.

Schwarzenegger’s mantra is probably better than mine, which is “Keep on keepin’ on,” but when I’m getting discouraged because of the demands of the day, my own saying keeps this Appalachian girl going. I hope that you’ve found something that keeps you going.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.