đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
What hygiene looks like on my worst days
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Hi Reader, On my worst flare days, my hygiene routine is three things: a wipe-down with sensitive-skin wipes, mouthwash when brushing is too much, and clean underwear. Some days I need help even with those. For a long time I thought that didn’t count. Hygiene meant the full routine, and anything less meant I was failing at it. Chronic illness took that idea apart, and what replaced it has made my hardest days a lot more manageable. In this week’s post, I’m sharing how I scale my routine down to what my body can handle, how I set up my space so basic care takes less energy, and what it looks like when I need someone’s help. I’m also sharing how you can work out your own version, because mine won’t be yours. ​Read: The Simple Hygiene Tips That Help Me Survive My Worst Chronic Illness Days​ If you’d like to figure out your own bare minimum before your next flare, the post links to my free Hygiene Help Sheet for Flare Days. It’s a better-day project, and your future self will be glad you did it. |
April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie
đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
Hi Reader, If fall has felt heavy lately, you are not alone, and you are not being ungrateful. Maybe it started with the first cooler morning, or a store aisle already stocked for a season you are still catching up to. Maybe someone asked what you have left to do before the year ends, and your stomach dropped a little. For a lot of us, the shorter days and the year winding down quietly ask how much energy we had and what we hoped to do with it. That can ache, even when nothing dramatic...
Hi Reader, I want to start this email with a little transparency, because it’s something I value here and something I hope you feel in this community. First, a change to how I’m running the blog. Going forward, I’ll be publishing two new posts a month, plus two updated posts. I’ve been wanting to refresh a lot of my older content anyway, and this gives me a steadier, more sustainable rhythm. You’ll still get fresh content, and your favorite older posts will get a little extra care. Honestly,...
Hi Reader, Can I tell you something? The money side of chronic illness might be the heaviest thing we carry and the thing we talk about least. I know how it feels to put off opening a bill because you do not have the energy to face what is inside. I know the quiet math, the guilt over a smaller paycheck, and the way the holidays can make all of it louder. And I know how lonely it gets when it seems like nobody else is doing that math. You are not bad with money, and you are not alone in this....