11 Self-Care Practices In My Daily Routine - I Have A Chronic Disease

 

Having a Chronic Disease Means I Need a Self Care Routine, and So Should You. Here are 11 Things I Aim To Do Every Day For Whole Health. 

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid. This affects my entire system, since the thyroid controls the hormones. Although I'm medicated, I still experience symptoms, and have flare-ups. Self care routines have been something I've wanted to do, but felt like it was too much. 

After experiencing my lowest low, I decided I needed to make taking care of myself my priority over everything else. It would be the only way I could take care of my family, and create my passion, i.e. writing, videos, photography. It's still a process, one I'm fine tuning as I go. Listening to my body, mind and soul through this whole thing is showing me just how much my body needs disconnected from anything fast, sudden, overwhelming. In this disconnect I become connected to the slower nature, the single tasked life.

Depression also holds a big slice of my pie, anxiety not too far behind. Between the three, I knew I needed something to help me do the basics for living my life. I also knew that checklists and timers help motivate me when not much else does. With a chronic disease, most things feel insurmountable. 

Cue the daily routine checklist of self care, with time limits on the tasks that need them.

1. Meditate - any length of time, sometimes it's guided sometimes I choose a few songs to play and allow myself to observe my thoughts and relax anything in my body that is tense.

2. Journal - I set up a journal template in Notion, and use that to write every morning. It's one accommodation I've made.

3. Yoga or walk - any length of time, honestly just moving is enough for me.

4.Medications - self explanatory, but this also means that I take time once a week to refill my container to make it easier each day.

5. Supplements - I have to set this up better, but for right now it's by the coffee machine, since I drink coffee a few times a day.

6. Brush teeth - I can forget to take care of personal hygiene, so having this here helps tremendously.

7. Hydrate - another reminder needed!

8. Positive affirmation - I really want to focus on changing limiting beliefs, and the best way I know how, besides journalling, is positive affirmations.

9. Shower or bath - more hygiene things I can forget to do when my mental health is poor.

10. Read 10m of non-fiction book - I have many NF books, and want to work through them. I'm starting with Paganism, and it's been great for spiritual growth and grounding.

11. Write 10m - I want to show up every day, and do the bare minimum. Meaning I just want to show up and guard my energy. Ten minutes isn't long, but it's long enough to get some progress made on my writing. Which is all I want.

You'll see different areas addressed in there, like hygiene, medical, mental, spiritual, self reflective, action based. I'm started with baby steps. Keeping it easier, rather than harder. Keeping it something I can accomplish, not something that wants to demolish me.

I've also given myself permission to journal on the computer, use music to focus and relax (instead of quiet), though quite is great when I can get it. The key to my progress is allowing myself to take something 'they' say is great for health, and making it mine. Making it doable and consistent for me. In the perfect world, I'd hand write my journaling. Reality is that for me to do it, it's through typing.

Making things work with what I'm capable of RIGHT NOW is the key to how I'm doing better now than I have been. Realistically, seeing where I'm at, and then adjusting things to accommodate myself, has been the best change in my thought process. 

I'm also building an evening routine. I'll share when I find what works for me. I need to move slowly and carefully. Always monitoring my energy levels. This is a blessing, not a curse. I've thought it's a curse... but this morning's journaling session revealed just how much it was a blessing. Going slow means I make progress. Going slow means I can smell the roses as I walk past them. Taking my time means I can pivot easier when things happen, or change.

I encourage you to consider your practices right now, evaluate your energy levels and adjust as you need too. It's okay to change things so they fit you. Don't let the proverbial 'they or them' dictate what is healthy for you. Only you know that.