What I ask myself every Sunday to stay grounded (even during flare weeks)


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If you’ve ever hit Sunday night already dreading the week ahead—this one’s for you.

I used to spend my Sundays trying to force a plan that looked good on paper. I’d sit with my planner and try to pretend I knew how much energy I’d have, how many things I could realistically handle, or how “productive” I should be.

But when you live with chronic illness, it doesn’t work like that.

You can’t plan your week around certainty. You can, however, pace it around compassion.

What finally helped me wasn’t a new routine or a better planner. It was a mindset shift.
And it started with asking myself a few simple questions.

Not “How much can I get done?”
But: “What do I already have on my plate?”
“What support will I need?”
“What do I want to remember when things go sideways?”

They weren’t revolutionary questions—but they were the beginning of a weekly rhythm I could actually stick with. Not because it was perfect, but because it made me feel more grounded, not more pressured.

In this week’s blog post, I’m sharing the five Sunday check-in questions that completely changed how I enter the week.

They're gentle. They're spoonie-friendly. And most importantly, they're flexible—because you deserve a rhythm that holds you, not one that breaks the moment your energy dips.

→ Read the full post: The Simple Things I Ask Myself Every Sunday to Feel More in Control With Chronic Illness​

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Whether you’re flaring, overwhelmed, or just craving more calm before Monday rolls in, these questions might give you the reset you didn’t know you needed.

No rigid schedules. No pressure to optimize. Just a quiet, supportive moment to reconnect with yourself before the week begins.

I hope it helps.

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Until next time,

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April Smith | Chronic Illness Adaptability Guide
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Owner & Founder of The Thriving Spoonie​
​Email | Bluesky | Pinterest​

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Take control of your energy and routine—grab The Complete Guide to Daily Chronic Illness Management and start thriving today.

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P.S.​
If your daily life still feels like a crash course in unpredictability, you might love The Complete Guide to Daily Chronic Illness Management. It’s packed with simple tools that help you manage energy, set boundaries, and build supportive daily rhythms that actually fit your life.

​You can check it out for just $5.​

April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie

đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.

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