A couple of weeks ago, I had an email from Leonie Dawson titled ‘100 things I did in 2021’ and it made me think. As a chronically ill person, whose functioning has be worse than it’s been for years, could I list 100 things I’ve done this year? So I thought I’d try. I can … Read more
This article was originally written for ProHealth and first appeared on their website in November 2021. Many people find winter a dark and miserable time, a time where motivation wanes and it seems harder to attack life in the same way, harder to enjoy. Sometimes, we can also feel a hard to pinpoint sadness, perhaps … Read more
When you have a chronic illness this time of year can be full of challenges and hardship. There’s more contact with people who don’t understand what you’re living through, more pressure to push past what’s healthy for you, and more to miss out on. In case you don’t know me, my name is Julie, and … Read more
My father and I recently did a jigsaw puzzle together. I really enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, but I can also get really caught up in them. I’ve discovered that I need to apply my chronic illness life skills to how I approach the jigsaw, but at the same time it serves as a great practice … Read more
Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, fearful or anxious? Take just 5 days to explore a variety of tools that will give you control over your response to difficult circumstances and help you feel more at ease! Dealing with a misunderstood chronic illness with limited energy can be extremely stressful. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed … Read more
This is the original version of a post I wrote especially for the ProHealth website and first appeared there on 12/09/21. When you have a chronic illness like ME/CFS, long COVID, Fibromyalgia or Lyme disease, resting becomes a very big part of your life. Before I got ill, I didn’t even understand the word rest. … Read more
When you have a chronic illness, wellness means something altogether different than when you live with health. A chronic illness doesn’t go away, especially one where medical research is underfunded and there are no effective treatments. However, I have learned how to be well most of the time with ME/CFS. I don’t always succeed, and … Read more
Since my baseline took a nosedive following the Covid vaccinations, I’ve had to tighten up on my daily routine, to keep my energy more safely within my smaller energy envelope. My afternoon rest has become an even more crucial part of that. Even when I was relatively well, my afternoon rest was pretty non-negotiable, but … Read more
And how difficult it is to stay there! During the last few weeks I’ve managed to truly enter into a state that I recognise as crucial to my wellbeing. It’s very reminiscent of my way of being, that led to my first recovery. It’s a lovely way to be. Very peaceful, very present and very … Read more
This week I can’t get the idea of running a retreat out of my mind. I’ve always wanted to be running retreats but this week it feels different, less of an ephemeral idea and more of a reality in the making. In the past the idea of running a retreat was all about offering opportunities … Read more
