Working with chronic illness
Working with chronic illness. It is so hard. I feel like all I can do is work, sleep, and eat bit other stuff has to get done. But it doesn’t. House is a freaking mess and I have no energy. Ugh!
@intuitiveSpring6586 it is very challenging indeed to navigate a chronic illness while working, Spring - you can see the work pile up but feel overwhelmed by it. The first thing I would ask is, do you have enough support in place? Do you have reasonable adjustments at your workplace to help you manage your workload? What resources - internal and external - would help take the pressure off a little at home? I came across the concept of 'overcompensating' with chronic illness, wherein those affected feel they need to put on a front to show they aren't being worn down by their illness; equally they double-down on their efforts when feeling a little better. Both approaches lead to exhaustion. I've linked below to the article that discusses helpful strategies from a writer who's navigating both autoimmune conditions and housekeeping. They also mention that we don't have to 'earn rest' - this is a very valid point.
https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/cleaning-when-you-have-chronic-health-issues/
Thank you this! What you say definitely describes me. I don’t want people to think I’m lazy. I don’t want people to think I’m like a big baby either. Because I’m neither.
@intuitiveSpring6586 you don't come across as either of those Spring; but rather as someone fighting a battle on the literal 'home front' as it were. I've just seen that blogger has a YT channel where she talks more about strategies for triaging tasks: start with the low-energy ones, and clean your favourite spot first as it gives a sense of accomplishment and somewhere to relax. Overcompensation is real, as you've mentioned; you've only got so much energy.
