💪I create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
🌻What if your version of thriving is already enough?
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Hey there Reader, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how often we second-guess ourselves when we’re trying to “thrive” with chronic illness. We see other spoonies going back to school, working full-time, hiking mountains, launching businesses, running households—and part of us celebrates that, because wow, yes. Representation matters. But another part of us sometimes whispers, If you've ever asked yourself those questions, I wrote something for you. 👉 Read: Thriving with Chronic Illness Is Personal—And That’s What Makes It Powerful This post is all about giving yourself permission to define thriving on your own terms. Just what works for you, right now. Because thriving with chronic illness isn’t about pushing harder or proving your worth. In the post, I share a few things that helped me release the pressure to “do more” and start focusing on what helps me feel grounded—even when my energy is unpredictable. I also share some practical shifts that helped me build routines that support my needs (not just generic wellness advice that doesn’t consider fatigue, flare-ups, or foggy days). You don’t need a productivity makeover to thrive. And in case you need someone to say it directly today: I hope this post helps you breathe a little deeper and tune out the noise. As always, I’d love to hear your take—what does thriving look like for you right now? (Just hit reply if you want to share. I read every message.) Take care,
P.S. In case you missed it, I recently featured a guest post by fellow spoonie Randi Pullar: It’s a must-read if you’ve been trying to keep up with housework in a way that actually works with your energy—not against it. |
April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie
💪I create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
Sometimes I forget how long people like us have been fighting to be seen. When you live with chronic illness, it can feel like every struggle is new. Like no one has ever dealt with the exact combination of symptoms, doctors, paperwork, and doubt that you’re facing right now. And in a lot of ways, this path is uniquely yours. But this week, I’ve been thinking about the people who walked it first. The ones who didn’t have access to the internet or online communities. Who didn’t have language...
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...
Hey Reader, Have you ever bought a new planner hoping it would fix everything? I have. More than once. Every August, when the back-to-school sales hit and everyone starts talking about “fresh starts” and “new routines,” I used to get swept up in it. I’d spend hours looking at time-blocking templates and productivity systems, convinced that this time I’d finally keep up. But no matter how carefully I planned, I always ended up in the same cycle: Overcommitted. Behind. Exhausted. And I started...