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April Smith

I assist those with chronic illness by providing practical strategies to master resilience, embrace adaptability, and find joy on their terms.

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🧐 The Most Overlooked Part of Chronic Illness Management

Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like you need to “earn” your rest? Like you can only stop and catch your breath after you’ve checked everything off your list—even when your body’s already begging you to slow down? You’re definitely not the only one. So many of us with chronic illness carry that mindset—and it’s one that can quietly sabotage our routines and energy over time. This week on the blog, I’m exploring something we don’t talk about enough:Is rest the most underrated part of chronic...

Hey Reader, If you’ve been feeling completely zapped lately—physically, emotionally, or both—you’re not alone. I see you. And I know how hard it is when even the most “basic” things feel out of reach. When you're living with chronic illness, there are days when just brushing your teeth or answering a text feels like a full-body workout. And while rest is important (essential, even!), sometimes we also crave a sense of forward motion. We want to feel like we're doing something… without pushing...

Hey Reader, If you’ve ever found yourself running out of energy way too soon—before you’ve even tackled the things you need to do, let alone the things you want to do—you’re not alone. I used to push past my limits daily, burning out and wondering why I couldn’t keep up. That’s when I started using The Spoon Theory to visualize my energy. But while it helped me understand my limits, I needed a more structured way to actually manage my energy in real time—one that helped me make decisions...

Hi Reader, I had planned to send this sooner, but life had other plans. Stomach issues have been making things a little rough lately, and I’m hoping to get them sorted out soon. In the meantime, I wanted to finally share something I’ve been working on—because I think it’s really going to help. Managing a chronic illness is hard enough without feeling like you have to remember everything—symptoms, medications, energy levels, appointments, and how it all connects. If you’ve ever wished for a...

Hey Reader, If you’ve ever tried to follow a “perfect” routine—one that productivity gurus swear by—only to find yourself drained, overwhelmed, or completely unable to keep up, you’re not alone. Most routines are designed for people with consistent energy levels and predictable days—which, let’s be honest, is not the reality when you’re living with chronic illness. Our energy fluctuates. Symptoms show up uninvited. And what worked yesterday might be impossible today. So why do we still feel...

Hi Reader, When I was first diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, I felt completely lost. I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever adjust to a life where my body no longer worked the way I expected it to. I fought against it—pushing myself too hard, trying to prove that I could still do everything I used to. But that only led to more pain, exhaustion, and frustration. The turning point came when I stopped resisting and started accepting my chronic illness. Not in a “just be positive”...

Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like self-advocacy for chronic illness is a full-time job? You’re not alone. Whether it’s convincing a doctor that your symptoms are real, pushing for workplace accommodations, or simply navigating a world that wasn’t built with your needs in mind, it’s exhausting. And it shouldn’t be this hard. But since the system makes self-advocacy necessary, we need to talk about how to push back without burning out. In this post, I’m breaking down: ✅ Why self-advocacy feels...

A minimalist graphic with a light blue wavy background and centered text that reads, "Why Managing Energy Matters More Than Managing Time."

Hey Reader, If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a perfectly planned schedule, only to realize you still don’t have the energy to follow through, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. When I was first diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), I thought time management was the key to keeping up with life. I planned every minute, tried productivity hacks, and scheduled rest breaks… yet I still kept burning out. What I didn’t realize? Time management only works if you...

Hey Reader, Have you ever walked into a doctor’s office, hopeful for answers, only to leave feeling unheard, dismissed, or more confused than when you arrived? If so, you’re not alone. One of my amazing subscribers recently shared their frustration about the struggles of getting diagnosed with a chronic illness—the endless tests, the referrals that lead nowhere, the failed treatments and the doctors who say “everything looks fine” when you know it’s not. Their response struck a chord because...

Image reads: Chronic Illness Energy Management Hacks You Need to Try Today

Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like your routine was supposed to help, but instead, it just wiped you out? You’re not alone—it’s a common challenge when living with a chronic illness. The good news is that with a few small tweaks, you can reclaim your energy and turn your day into something that works for you instead of against you. In my latest blog post, Chronic Illness Energy Management Hacks You Need to Try Today, I dive into: Why your routine might actually be draining you. Three simple...