Radical Self Care to Manage a Chronic Illness
Otters spend a lot of time grooming themselves, aka performing self care, to stay warm. They basically have to groom their fur consistently in order to stay warm in the icy waters they live in. I think otters are great role models for self care, especially for people who live with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Self care is important for everyone, and these tips are universal, though as I learned with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis: it was impossible to ignore the consequences of not making time for self care.
When I talk about radical self care I’m not talking about massages and mani/pedi days (those these are nice too), this is radical self care: what can you do in the 5 minutes you have to yourself to care for yourself? What self care routine will help you make it through hard days?
I don’t like generic lists because they’re not always applicable to an individual’s circumstances, and as a coach I think the more personalized your self care plan is, the more effective it will be for you. So I prefer to share open ended ideas and then to invite you to make them your own.
Two of the books I’ve found most helpful in managing a chronic illness are How to be Sick by Toni Bernhard and A Resilient Life: Learning to thrive, not just survive with rheumatoid arthritis by Kat Elton.
In A Resilient Life, Kat suggests making care lists and I love this idea. Making a few lists for yourself ahead of time, when you’re more calm and creative, so that when you’re having a tough time and struggling, instead of having to think of self care (if that even happens) you just need to remember to look at your lists.
Some examples of lists that would be helpful (and again, these are examples, but the more custom they are the better they will work for you):
If you don’t have a lot of time for yourself, make a list of self care tips and tricks that you can do in 5-10 minutes. A few examples are: lay down for 10 minutes, play a short guided meditation, play a favorite song, go outside and breathe in some fresh air
A list of people to call when you need support - when you need a pep talk, to vent, cry, laugh.
A list for what to do if you’re having a flareup or otherwise feeling physically unwell. This can be anything from a quick stretching session, grabbing a TENS unit or heating pad, lotions and potions that help you feel better, medication, or meditation.
A list for how to support yourself if you’re struggling emotionally or psychologically, which can also include people to call for support.
What other topics around chronic illness would you like to see me write about? Let me know in the comments.
As someone who has coped with chronic pain, I really appreciate working with clients who want to set realistic and enthusiastic goals for themselves, while still maintaining self-care and self-awareness. Schedule a free discovery session with me to discuss how I can help you achieve your goals sustainably.