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...
9 days ago • 1 min read
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...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Reader! There’s a difference between being kind and being accommodating at your own expense—but it took me a long time to learn that. Especially when you’ve been raised to be agreeable. Easygoing. Helpful. Someone who doesn’t “make a fuss.”And when chronic illness enters the picture? That conditioning doesn’t just stay—it digs in deeper. Before I got sick, I was the person everyone could count on.After I got sick, I still tried to be that person… until my body made it impossible....
23 days ago • 2 min read
Hi friend, I used to think success meant doing everything—checking every box, finishing every task, and showing up the same way every day. But that version of “success” wasn’t made for people like us. It wasn’t made for bodies that crash without warning or brains that fog over before noon. It certainly wasn’t made for chronic illness. When I finally gave myself permission to stop doing things that drained me just for the sake of appearance or routine? Everything shifted. In this week’s post,...
30 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I used to believe that if I couldn’t get through a full hygiene routine, I was failing at self-care. It didn’t matter if I was in pain, dizzy, or too exhausted to stand—if I skipped a shower, left my hair unwashed, or didn’t brush my teeth, the shame hit hard. And that shame lingered, making me feel even worse. But here’s what no one tells you: When you live with chronic illness, hygiene isn’t just about cleanliness. It’s about energy, safety, and dignity. The reality is, some days...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey there, Reader - Let’s be honest: self-care advice isn’t made for people like us. It’s made for people with consistent energy, stable health, and flexible schedules. People who don’t need to plan rest days or track their symptoms before deciding what kind of breakfast they can handle. So if you’ve ever felt like a failure for not keeping up with a routine, or wondered why even simple habits slip through the cracks—you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. This week on the blog, I’m...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey there, Reader - Before I was diagnosed, I thought I just needed to “get organized.”But chronic illness taught me that most organizing advice just isn’t built for bodies like mine. I didn’t need matching bins and color-coded closets.I needed a home that supported my energy limits and helped me function on flare days. This week on the blog, I’m sharing how I reimagined my space to make that possible: 👉 How I Set Up My Home to Conserve Energy With Chronic Illness—Even in a Shared Space...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi, Reader! You know that inner voice that pops up when you need rest?The one that says, “You’re just being lazy,” or “Other people have it worse”? For years, I thought that voice was just…me.My inner critic. My realistic side. My tough love voice. But it wasn’t. It was internalized ableism—and once I started recognizing it, I couldn’t unsee it. The guilt I felt for canceling plans?The shame that crept in when I needed help?The constant pressure to “keep up” even when I was running on empty?...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
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,“Am I doing enough?”“Is this what thriving is supposed to look like?”“Am I falling behind?” If you've ever asked...
2 months ago • 1 min read