I want a re-do on this year. Can we please just go back to 1/1/2015 and start again? No? Fine, I’ll settle for telling you what’s been up.
If you’ve been around the blog for a bit, you know that I have chronic migraines and fibromyalgia. It’s not so fun, but most of the time I do pretty well and have lots of healthy days spent making, blogging, socializing, and generally being a normal person.
But there can be rough patches. Both conditions flared up around the end of December, and I’m only just getting back on my feet. And since I also started a new job as a receptionist at a cat clinic (which is totally as amazing as it sounds, btw), I’ve been reserving all of my energy for work and have been unable to do anything blog related—or, truthfully, anything beyond simply functioning.
So I thought I’d make lemonade and turn my crappy last few weeks into a blog post! Getting back to the basics has helped me feel normal (or as normal as I ever was ::cackles wildly::). Whether you are battling a chronic illness, or just struggling to stay afloat during a lengthy flu, here are my 4 tips to staying sane when you’re sick.
1. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.
Fibromyalgia, like many illnesses, is an energy-sucker that leaves me with only enough reserves to do one Big Thing a day. Working, cooking, grocery shopping—my body considers a lot of ordinary tasks a Big Thing and refuses to do more. This means setting priorities is crucial. No cooking on a work day, no vacuuming the apartment on a cooking day, no blog projects when busy starting a new job. It’s all about balancing what is most important.
Be brutal with your to-do list when you’re sick. What can wait until you’re feeling better? Do you really need to dust the living room this week? If you can’t miss that birthday party, can you skip a load of laundry to save energy? Postpone non-essential appointments and draining phone calls to your insurance company until you’re back on track. That said, if there’s something on your list that will refresh you, and you’re able to do it—a coffee date with a friend, a trip through your favorite museum—go for it! Just listen to your body and be sure to call it a night before you overexert yourself.
2. Eat good food. Get eight hours of sleep. Hydrate. Rest.
When your health is in the crapper for whatever reason, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to take care of the basic needs of your body. I know, so original, right? But it’s so true! Making food, sleep, hydration, and rest your #1 priority (see above) will help you feel less stressed and recover sooner.
Eating well is the biggest one of these basics for me. I try to bulk up on nutrient-rich foods: lean proteins, good fats, leafy greens, fruits and veggies of every color. Smoothies are a really fast and EASY way to do this (I’ve been enjoying the green smoothie recipes on the aptly named Simple Green Smoothies blog).
If you’re too sick to cook—which happens to me more than I’d like to admit—consider ordering take-out from a healthy restaurant. Yes, this might be a bit of a financial “splurge,” but it will be 100% worth it—like in the first week of January when I had three migraines in a row, started a new job, couldn’t get my 3-month Botox treatment for migraines because of an insurance issue, husband had the flu, and our car mysteriously got a bent axle and had to be towed from my new workplace. Stocking up on 3 days’ worth of healthy meals from a local vegan restaurant for $80? Priceless.
3. Enlist help when you need it.
It takes a village. You just can’t put in the window AC unit during a 97° heatwave when husband is traveling and you’ve got a raging migraine. It’s physically not possible. You can’t do it all by yourself all the time, and there’s nothing wrong with asking family, friends, neighbors, or even coworkers to lend you a hand and install that thing so you can stop being a sweaty overheated migrainey mess. You’ll get them back when you’re able—that’s what cupcakes are for!
(I still owe those friends cupcakes. This is my reminder to myself).
4. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself.
This can be challenging—especially when you are chronically ill and, by extension, chronically feel ten steps behind the Great Plan you keep making to Finally Get on Top of the Rest of Your Life. But that to-do list I told you to cull through? It’s not going to get done when you’re sick. And the longer you fret and feel guilty and keep pushing yourself to do it ALL and do it NOW…the longer you are going to stay in this rut.
So practice something with me: take a deep, slow breath. Close your eyes. And tell yourself out loud, “I am allowed to take care of myself.” And I mean it when I say, practice saying this as long as you need to until you actually believe yourself.
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Now it’s your turn—what do you find helpful when your health has taken a vacation? Any advice for managing illnesses when you have kids or work full-time?
And if I may request some feedback—what did you think of this post? Helpful/interesting/a dud? I’m toying with the idea of starting an occasional series on living a rich life in spite of chronic illnesses, so I’d love your input!
I’ll be back to regular blogging soon; I’ve even got a super fun collaboration coming up! In the meantime, I hope your years have started off healthy and happy. xoxo
Disclaimer: I am totally not a doctor or medical professional of any kind! I’m just a regular gal trying to make a life in spite of migraines and fibromyalgia, sharing what’s worked for me in the hopes that it might be useful to others managing chronic illnesses. So please—use your common sense, folks, and ALWAYS see a doctor when you have health questions!
Oh, I hope you get well soon!
Oh thank you dear! I’m getting there. 🙂
I know stuff like this helped me a lot when I was going through months of being out of commission for a sort-of-but-not-really diagnosed gastroparesis period. (It was truly horrible.) So, I think if you are willing to do posts about it, it would be helpful to both people going through it – and also people who should know what it’s like to deal with chronic illness.
I think in general people are pretty bad at self-care so that’s a good topic overall!
Thanks for your input! Didn’t get much traction so I’ll think about it. Gastroparesis sounds really awful, I hope that you’ve improved!
Oh man, I hope you get better soon! I’ll be here waiting for this collab your working on. Sounds exciting!
P.s. Your new job sounds freaking awesome!
Thanks so much! I’m getting there. 🙂 You missed the collab–it’s printables! xoxo
I have chronic illnesses that leave me with very little energy, too, so I can relate. Lately I’ve changed my diet (again) and I’m feeling a lot better. But I’ve bookmarked this in case I have another down week.
Feel well soon!
Ugh, that bites! Low energy bothers me even more than pain, to be honest, because you’re so close to being able to have a normal day, and yet still so far. Good luck with your diet, hope it continues to help! Be well! xoxo
I enjoyed this post and think that you did a good job! I agree that although it may be hard to take care of ourselves and even ask for help when we are sick, the reality is that we need to do it. I remember being 48 hours out of my emergency gallbladder surgery and cleaning up floors that were left a wreck. It was a dumb move and I should have just walked away, but instead I was stubborn and just ended up feeling worse after I was done. Note to self: Listen to your body next time and get rest!
Tori, thank you for your kind comment! It is SO important to take the time our bodies need to heal! I hope that you have recovered well from your surgery!
Aw, that’s rough. I definitely find that prioritizing is one of the most crucial pieces for when I’m not feeling well… it’s kind of surprising how many things really CAN wait until you feel better.
A series on this is a great idea, too!
You’re so right! These past weeks have taught me that “important” is a very flexible term!
I think one of the hardest things for me as a mommy when I get sick is taking care of myself. I still see all the mess I want to clean and all the other duties that come with being a mom, but sometimes I just have to rest! Great tips!
I can’t imagine how difficult it is for parents to stop going going going! You all deserve all the awards!
I hope you will get well soon. I hate to be sick, when I don’t feel good, my life is disorganized.
Thank you so much! I’m getting there! 🙂
I liked your post…it is real life! I think these are great and useful tips! We have had a really bad Feb with illness at my house too. I have barely stayed sane!!! My hubby had to really kick his “helpfulness” up a notch! 🙂
Good for hubby! 🙂 It’s so hard to keep things going with illness, we all need all the help we can get! Thank you Jamie!
Knock on wood, haven’t gotten sick this year yet. I have to get flu shots (because I’m not allowed around my Father otherwise – he’s on Chemo). But man when I get the flu or a cold, I get it bad, and it lasts and sticks around for weeks. I’m one of those weird patients where nothing the doctor gives me, ever works 🙁
Heh, I am one of those weird patients too. 🙁 It’s not a fun status! I’m sorry to hear about your father, wishing him–and you–good health!
Oh I’m so sorry your suffering from this illness. I’m not sure I have too much advice other than…depending on your children’s ages…get them doing chores and helping out everyday. I started when mine was very young and every bit helps out and it gives them something to be proud about.
Best wishes 🙂
Thank you so much Kelly! I don’t actually have children, I am simply mystified as to how people manage illnesses with families to look after! Your chore philosophy is a good one, I was raised that way and I do remember feeling very proud and included. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and for your helpful advice for people with families!
You are SO wise! It’s a great thing to recognize your limits and prioritize yourself over the non-essentials!
Ha, I wouldn’t go that far, but thank you! 🙂
Ugh, it’s never fun to be sick! Thinking I need to print this out for my hubby for the next time he’s sick. 🙂
YES! My husband needs to take this advice too. 🙂
It can be hard to let go of control when sick, so I like your number 4– give permission take care of yourself
Yes yes and yes – I’m assuming you are a Type A personality too? 😉
Great tips – which I unfortunately had to recently employ myself after pulling the muscles in my back. I think asking for help is the hardest part, especially if you’re normally very independent.
I agree completely! Thank you, Megan, and I hope that you are recovering well!
Oh my goodness cat clinic! That really does sound like a lot of fun (belated congrats on the new job!!)
I have never been as ill or in as much pain as you are, but I know the hardest thing for me when I’m sick is slowing down. I get angry at sickness cuz I’m just like I ain’t got time for you!!! These are great reminders, and you should definitely keep this as a series because it’s such a huge part of your story. Others will certainly benefit from it as well. <3
Thank you, Amy, the job is so fun! And yes, ain’t NOBODY got time for that illness! So frustrating! I appreciate your feedback, I’m thinking about building it up as an occasional series, we’ll see! xoxo