đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
💫You don’t have to keep up with the pace everyone else expects
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​ Hi Reader, Some weeks make it painfully clear that the world moves at a pace many of us simply can’t match. And if you’ve ever felt discouraged by how quickly everyone else seems to juggle work, home, errands, and life in general, you’re not alone. There’s a kind of pressure woven into our culture that tells us we’re supposed to keep up no matter what our bodies are doing. But what happens when you live with chronic illness and that pressure hits up against a body that doesn’t respond on command? What happens when even the simplest tasks take more energy than anyone around you realizes? And what happens when you start believing the myth that your worth is tied to how much you can accomplish? These questions have been sitting with me for a while, especially on the days when my energy is unpredictable and everything feels a little heavier than usual. I’ve been thinking about how easily hustle culture slips into our self-talk, how quickly it shapes the expectations we place on ourselves, and how hard it can be to step back from it without feeling like we’re letting something slip. So this week's post comes from that place. It explores what it actually looks like to resist hustle culture when you have a chronic illness and why choosing a slower, more honest pace isn’t failure. It’s survival. It’s self-respect. And it’s a powerful form of advocacy. You can read the full post here when you’re ready: How to Resist Hustle Culture When You Have a Chronic Illness​ ​ ​ ​ I hope the post gives you a little breathing room, or at least helps you feel less alone in the pressure you’re navigating. If it resonates, take your time with it. Let it sit with you. And most of all, let it remind you that your pace is valid, even when the world tries to rush you.
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April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie
đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.
Hi Reader, There’s a phrase I hear all the time in the chronic illness space, and I’ve said it myself more times than I can count. “I’ll catch up when I have more energy.” It sounds reasonable. Responsible, even. And yet, if you’ve been living with chronic illness for a while, you’ve probably noticed how often that plan quietly falls apart. The catch-up day takes more out of you than expected. The next few days feel harder. And suddenly you’re behind again, wondering why this keeps happening....
Hi Reader, If self-compassion has felt distant lately, awkward, or just plain unavailable, this is for you. Not in a “you should be kinder to yourself” way. More in a “there might be a reason this feels hard right now” way. A lot of chronic illness advice treats self-compassion like a skill you can strengthen if you just try harder or practice more consistently. But when you’ve spent years overriding your body, managing symptoms, and staying functional under pressure, kindness doesn’t always...
Hey Reader,If you’re feeling more wiped out now than you were during the holidays, this is for you. There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that shows up once things finally slow down. The plans are over. The expectations ease up. And instead of relief, your body seems to… drop. Energy dips. Emotions feel heavier. Routines that usually help feel harder to restart. That moment can be confusing, especially when you’ve already done so much work learning how to pace, rest, and adapt. It’s easy to...