65+ Ways to Hone Your Craft and Reach More People for Bloggers, Writers, and Chronic Illness Advocates
If you are doing anything online, one of your goals is to be more effective and reach more people. But let’s face it: staying on top of trends and algorithms while you are producing quality content is exhausting. For those of us who live with chronic illness and limited amount of energy that means cutting…
January 2021 Chronic Journeys with My Guest Toni Bernhard
I was so honoured (and fangirling) when seminal chronic illness author Toni Bernhard agreed to join me on the first Chronic Journeys of the year! We talk about Toni’s new pocket version of How to Be Sick, the magic of the three breaths technique, and other ways to make life with chronic illness just a…
Boundaries Start with U: Protecting Your Health with RA
It was my nap that taught me about boundaries and my role in maintaining them. Years ago, my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progressed to the point that I needed a daily rest to manage fatigue and pain. And that’s when I banged hard up against other people’s preconceptions. “It must be wonderful to have a nap…
7 Ways to Build a Chronic Illness Emergency Fund
Having a chronic illness is expensive. Struggling financially is so common, you might even call it normal. Those of us who live with chronic illness have the usual expenses, but your health condition cranks up the strain on the budget even more. Having a cushion of savings can make all the difference. Whether it’s paying…
Try #3Things for Lasting Change with Chronic Illness + Free Tool
Failing on your New Year’s resolutions within a few weeks is normal for anyone, but when you have a chronic illness, life is already overwhelming enough. Why add another thing that makes you feel bad? One year ago, I decided to not make a resolution. Instead, I created a way to gradually create change was…
Patterns are Key with Chronic Illness Or The Mushrooms Did It
Updated April 14, 2021 When you live with an unpredictable chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, migraines, or any of a multitude of conditions that play havoc with you every day, figuring out triggers — things that make your symptoms worse — can be an important part of improving your life. Also feel…
#3Things FAQ: Small Steps to Build a Better Life with Chronic Illness
You may have seen me talk about #3Things on various social media channels. In case you don’t know what I mean, here’s an FAQ. What, exactly, is #3Things? #3Things is a gentle way to build a better life with chronic illness. I wanted to help people with chronic illness accomplish goals in a positive way that respects…
The 30-Day Lipstick Adventure and What I Learned
I learned a number of things during the 30-Day Lipstick Adventure. One was understanding why a lot of female YouTubers have long hair. Because when you shoot out of sequence several weeks apart, having short hair makes it very obvious what you are doing. Especially if you get a haircut somewhere in the process….
In which I Get Croup and Learn a Lesson
My vocal cords swelled so much I had to have a an emergency tracheostomy. And it has been haunting me since. By last Thursday, things had deteriorated from severe voice strain. I was reduced to only being able to whisper, the breathing was worse and so was the cough. Back to my doctor I went…
High Anxiety and Jumping in the Deep End
“Relax,” he said. “Hi!” I replied. “Have you met me? I am not a relaxed person.” I have lived with anxiety since I was a child. My first memory of being really anxious was the first day of Grade 1. I remember the red dress I was wearing. I remember being one of only two…
Learning to Undress My Stress
Something had to change. When I went to the ER in an ambulance for a suspected heart attack for the second time in eight months, it was clear that something wasn’t right. When I, for the second time in eight months, was diagnosed with nasty GERD mimicking the symptoms of heart attack, it was time…
#LivingARTHfully: Connection and Inspiration
I spent Friday of last week at the Art Gallery of Ontario for the Living ARTHfully Blogger and Online Influencer Event. Canadian bloggers who write about RA, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis arthritis came together to make connections, learn tips and information, and brainstorm about increasing online conversations about arthritis. Hosted by GCI Group for Janssen…