There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes not from your symptoms, but from the fact that you’re still struggling with them. You’ve read the books. You’ve tried the routines. You’ve adjusted, adapted, started over more times than...
You’ve tried the planners. The apps. The color-coded systems and the Sunday resets and the habit trackers that were supposed to finally be the thing that worked. And some of them did work, for a little while. Until they didn’t, and you were back to square...
Originally published in 2023, this post has been updated with new content and a fresh perspective — because how I think about this has grown, and I wanted this to reflect that. Does managing your chronic illness feel like an uphill battle, making everyday life...
You know the moment. You’re mid-task — maybe you’ve been upright for two hours longer than your body asked for — and somewhere between the laundry and the emails, you start negotiating with yourself. Just a little longer. I’ll rest after this....
You’ve been told, in a hundred different ways, that consistency is the answer. Wake up at the same time every day. Stick to your routine. Show up even when you don’t feel like it. Build the habit and the results will follow. And you’ve tried....
Most people think they understand pacing with chronic illness. They’ve heard the advice. Take breaks. Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body. The language is familiar, almost obvious. And yet, if pacing with chronic illness were truly clear, so many of us would not...
This post was originally published several years ago and has been fully updated to reflect my current lived experience and perspective. When I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in 2018, I walked out of the doctor’s office with a prescription in...
If you’ve ever thought, I’m just bad at boundaries, you’re not alone. It sounds self-aware. Responsible, even. But underneath that sentence is usually something heavier. A quiet belief that if you were stronger, clearer, more confident, or less emotional, you wouldn’t...
One of the hardest parts of living with chronic illness is how much effort happens quietly. You can spend an entire day managing symptoms, anticipating limitations, and navigating other people’s expectations, and still feel like you have nothing tangible to show for...
There was a long stretch of time when my default response to almost everything was yes. Yes, I can handle that. Yes, I’ll figure it out. Yes, I’ll rest later. Not because I actually had the capacity, but because saying no felt heavier. Saying no felt like...
a queer chronic illness blogger and digital resource creator. I make low-pressure tools and compassionate content for chronically ill and disabled folks navigating life with pain and limited energy.
When I’m not creating for The Thriving Spoonie, I’m a spouse to the best partner a spoonie could ask for, and a pet parent to an adorable & anxious rescue pup. You’ll usually find me crocheting, curled up with a library book, or playing cozy PC games—with coffee in hand, always.
