Chronically Optimistic
I am sure you know this feeling! Everything sucks, you are not getting better or are even getting worse. In my case, I was hit by asthma when the snowfall began just a week ago here in Germany. Consequently, this triggered a resurgence of my ME/CFS condition. I wanted to do so many things, and […]
Unplugging for Rest: Embracing Sleep Hygiene In my blog post about sleep hygiene, I emphasized the importance of keeping electronic devices out of your sleep space when dealing with chronic illnesses and trying to get better sleep. But what are the reasons for this? Blue Light and Melatonin Suppression The screens of electronic devices emit blue […]
We are slowly preparing for Christmas. This year, I am making our Christmas cards myself because my teenager wasn’t convinced to have his picture taken for our usual card design. I am slowly progressing with them, here is my first batch in gold and red. I listen to music or a podcast while doing them […]
Setting Limits, Prioritizing Self-Care, and Choosing Commitments Wisely Amidst Chronic Illness It’s time to embrace the magic of a tiny yet mighty word: “No”. Lately, I’ve been feeling much better and have been eager to say “yes” to every opportunity, request, or invitation that comes my way. After all, spreading positivity and accommodating others’ needs […]
The Healing Power of Being Creative I started to create in small spaces again. I’m too busy and tired to do any large art projects due to work and my family feeling sick. But I love the “daily pages” created by rukristin, so I do them very often. Or I learn to draw a Zentangle! […]
I’m not a medical expert, but I hope my experiences can help and inspire others with chronic illnesses. Because living with a chronic illness can be incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally. It’s a constant balancing act, and for a long time, I struggled to find that balance. In the past 18 months, my husband […]
How often have you been to a doctor, only to leave the practice frustrated? I think we all got stories to tell from horrible visits to a doctor. Luckily I have found some really good ones over the years and worked on my communication with them. You can find my 10 tips for effective communication […]
I try to skip at the moment are the news. More fighting, more people getting hurt or killed. This is all too much for me. That’s why I wrote this newsletter about how to cope with the news when you are chronically ill. Because it can rob you of spoons, you desperately need to get […]
I have been using a bullet journal for over 7 years now. It evolved, changed and changed again over the years. Currently, I’ve deviated from the initial idea and now prefer using a weekly spread, as it suits me and my thinking style better. But that’s the beauty of bullet journals. You can tweak and […]
On the weekend I had a strange encounter on Instagram. This person told me that if I think positively, all my problems would disappear. I blocked her as I didn’t want to waste my precious energy on that person. I wrote this essay about toxic positivity because it is important to learn how to cope […]