5 Favorite Things for a Bad Day
So you feel miserable and you’re in a bad flare, now let’s preface this with saying that sometimes a flare can last months or years, I know that first hand and it’s awful... but, for the sake of this article, we will assume that you’re having a really bad day or so.
I myself have been in a flare since the end of September, it is now nearing March… there have been times during these past months that I have either felt especially awful and unable to move, or exceptionally great. I’ve had a terrible weekend for example, and then a good week, or vice versa.
Here are a few suggestions to help you get through those tough days/weeks.
Let yourself enjoy your guilty pleasure!
I start with spoiling myself with tea. It can be tough knowing I’ve got a rough few days or more ahead and a delicious hot cup of tea is a guilty pleasure that I don’t allow myself to feel guilty about. Now, this isn’t just any type of tea, a tea latte is the way to go.
The London Fog is a total favorite of mine. It’s Earl Grey Tea with steamed milk (I like almond milk or soy) and optionally vanilla or honey. I usually don’t do the sweetener because I don’t like super sweet drinks, and if you’re like me, you’ll want to specify no sweetener because a London Fog comes with vanilla and sometimes lavender to compliment the Earl Grey. Make sure they make it with at least half the cup steamed milk, not just a splash, otherwise what is the point, I mean really?!
Now trust me on this stuff, I was a barista for many years and know all the great coffee and tea tricks!
The next fave tea is a Creme Brulee Tea Latte with soy from a coffee shop called Crafted in Wichita, KS. Yummmmm! Again, you want foamy delicious milk, that’s what makes it so special!
I’ll be trying more Matcha tea stuff this week too because I want to get into Matcha for the health benefits, I’ll keep you posted!
Ok, now that you have your favorite tea latte ready to go… you need to decide what you’re gonna do with your tea.
Snuggling up with your favorite book, or Netflix or Amazon show and your hot water bottle is a great choice, yes.
I love period pieces, like Outlander, Downton Abby, Poledark, Victoria, Sanditon etc.
But, I also love shows like Grace and Frankie, Friends, Young and Hungry, Agents of Shield…. And I love a good action movie, especially if there are spies involved and such, and if it was done in the 90s, think Lethal Weapon or Heist with Gene Hackman etc.
But, you do you and pick whatever you like… I tend to go for nicer shows and not scary stuff or too intense stuff because my nervous system usually can’t handle it when I’m really unwell and I’m usually fighting a headache or migraine too. So niceness is top priority.
I also loooove to read but often can’t when I’m feeling really unwell… its too much focus for my eyes and my brain can’t handle it. But, if reading is ok for you, by all means, a hot drink and reading is like one of the best things ever!
Podcasts and Playlists
Podcasts are another great option if you can’t look at a screen or focus on a book! I listen to tons of podcasts and they totally help take my mind off how I’m feeling and I can enjoy them when I have to keep my eyes closed but can’t sleep. A few I love are: The Real Life Show: Living with a Chronic Illness (obviously), Straight up with Stassi, MindBodyGreen podcast, Point of Pain with Nitika Chopra, and Manifestation Babe to name a few! Oooo and Chelsea is obsessed with Potterless, you’d probably love it if you also wish you went to school at Hogwarts.
Another great option for when you’re just really feeling miserable and feeling unable to do anything above, perhaps just tuning out and listening to your favorite playlist is the way to go. We’re working on some great playlists on Spotify for you to tune into, one is called Spoonie Chill Time, which is a nice place to start. We’ll be adding more playlists and songs all the time for you too. There have been many times, and even a day just a few weeks ago that I couldn’t do anything but lay with my eyes closed listening to music for hours. And that is TOTALLY OKAY! No pressure.
Snacks & Hydration
Now, we all know how hard it is to eat sometimes in a flare, I know it is for me. So please make sure you’re taking care of yourself to the best of your abilities at that moment. Can you pick up a green juice while you’re out? Rice cakes? White rice? Fish? Bone broth? Yogurt? Fruit? What sits well with you… make sure you always have that in your kitchen, this is non-negotiable. I always have club crackers in the pantry, rice cakes, and bone broth cans. Find what works for you and make sure you always have some! And hydrate as much as possible! I love Liquid IV electrolytes and EmergenC, and honestly, I just love water! So drink up, your body needs it!
Be Kind to Yourself
When you’re in a coping mode to get yourself through the next few hours or days, it is so important that you give yourself a break! Don’t put pressure on yourself. The dishes can wait, the laundry can wait, if you’re out of underwear, it will be okay, you really don’t need any anyway! Rest, calm your nerves, relax, nourish your soul as much as your body. You need it, you deserve it!
-Cassie