Managing an illness brings with it a whole range of new responsibilities. As such, you’ll need to strategically approach the handling of your life. This can be thoroughly challenging as you’re not in peak condition. Added strains include physical weaknesses and discomfort, cognitive issues, and mental health struggles. Just getting through the day can be a chore when you’re feeling unwell, let alone depressed, anxious, sluggish, and needs regular rest.
Taking control of your life and managing your illness does not have to be an impossible task. By keeping your spirits up, you’ll be motivated to carry out simple steps which will bolster your mood and give you the boost to further manage your condition. Your new normal is complex and confusing but once you understand more about your condition, you’ll be empowered to cope better. We invite you to consider the following suggestions which could help you:
9 Suggestions for Daily Coping
1. Rest
This is a vital component of coping with chronic conditions because you need to obtain the energy necessary to get through the day. Whether it’s taking naps in bed or just sitting on the couch, getting adequate rest will ensure that you feel less sluggish and maintain the mental clarity needed to focus on your tasks.
2. Have a Daily Routine
Formulating a routine will enable you to automatically know what you must do each day. It will enable you to eliminate the guesswork and allow you to function more efficiently. Make sure though that your routine is simple and easy enough to manage.
3. Minimise
This means owning less, doing less and even thinking less. When you have too many things to manage, activities to do and thoughts weighing you down, it will convolute your schedule and drain you of the energy needed to cope.
4. Get Help
If you have more responsibilities to take care of than you can handle alone, turn to those closest to you. This may include a partner, spouse, kids, parents, other family members or close friends. If none of these is available, speak to your medical provider about alternative support services they may know.
5. Find Emotional Support
There will be times when you may be feeling vulnerable and just need someone to express your feelings to. You may receive this from close family or friends. Alternatively, illness support groups are another great option.
6. Know Your Limits
Overextending yourself is one of the worst things you can do when it comes to coping day to day. Whenever you do too much, you run the risk of needing extra time to recuperate, which can lead to other tasks becoming neglected.
7. Modify and Abbreviate
Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well. While that quote may have worked for Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, it is out of date for those of us living in the age of hacks and shortcuts. It’s okay to modify and still get the job done. It’s ok to take shortcuts if it makes life easier. You have a lot on your plate, whatever hacks you can incorporate into your day to day the better off you’ll be with energy to manage and care for yourself. This is not laziness. This is using your time and energy intelligently. Some great day to day hacks includes having ready meals or simply getting the groceries delivered instead of wasting energy cooking or going to the supermarket.
8. Set Reminders
Doing this will reduce the risk of you forgetting anything important. For example, you may wish to write out a medication schedule and stick it on the fridge, so you remember which pills to take and on what day. You may also try setting alarms on your phone, with a note attached to jog your memory of any vital activities you must do at the time.
9. Keep Spirits Up
Keeping optimistic will help provide you with the energy you need to get through the day. Why not put on some of your grooviest tunes, burn some candles or incense or turn on the party lights to boost your mood throughout the day. Reward yourself with a bubble bath, Netflix binge or stargazing at the end of the day, so that you have something to look forward to.
We invite you to share your feedback with us. Have you tried any of these before? Have you tried anything different? What has worked for you? What has not worked?
Is there anything else you would like for us to cover?
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As always, if you are experiencing any severe medical or psychological symptoms, we always recommend you speak directly to a qualified professional.
Thank you for checking in with us and we’ll see you again soon.
