Meet Madelyn
Madelyn (@chronicallymadelyn) is a disability and chronic illness advocate. Her goal is to inform and educate about disabilities and chronic illnesses while also helping others feel less alone in their journey!
Continue reading to learn how she overcomes self-care challenges during the summer months.
Self-Care Challenges
As someone with a chronic illness, summer brings unique challenges for self-care. One of the biggest issues I face is heat intolerance due to my Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The summer heat can be hard for my body to handle, making me feel dizzy, tired, and generally unwell. This makes it tough to stick to my usual self-care routines. I have to plan my days carefully to avoid getting too hot and making my symptoms worse.
Essential Summer Self-Care Practices
To manage these challenges, I rely on a few key self-care practices, especially during summer. Staying hydrated is crucial. Drinking plenty of water is important for everyone, but it's especially vital for those of us with POTS. It helps reduce symptoms by keeping my blood volume up and preventing dehydration. I also make sure to pace myself and listen to my body. It’s tempting to join in all the summer activities, but I need to check in with myself often. This helps me avoid overdoing it and triggering a flare-up, allowing me to enjoy activities without risking my health.
Lessons Learned from Summer Self-Care
Through my summer self-care practices, I’ve learned important lessons about myself. One key lesson is that even though these practices can feel limiting at times, they actually help me in the long run. By staying hydrated, pacing myself, and being mindful of my limits, I can prevent severe symptoms and have a better quality of life. These practices teach me patience and remind me to put my health first. In the end, taking these steps helps me enjoy the summer more fully.
A Summer Self-Care Ritual That Brings Joy
One summer self-care ritual that brings me a lot of happiness is tending to my little garden. Watering and growing my plants is a calming activity that connects me to nature and gives me a sense of accomplishment. On days when motivation is hard to find, seeing my garden thrive reminds me of my own resilience. Gardening involves gentle physical activity and spending time outside, which boosts my well-being. Nurturing my plants and watching them grow brings me joy and reinforces the importance of self-care.
Leave a comment (all fields required)