Quick change of plans for July...I have been unable to finish the blog post about the flowers used in my brother's wedding so I called in reinforcements. Today I have a guest post from Cadence McManimon, a good friend of mine and an author who is suffering with chronic illness. You can find her at cadencemcmanimon.wordpress.com (no seriously, check it out!) Enjoy!
Hi everyone! My name is Cadence and I have chronic illness. Today I want to give you something for those times when you just can't take yet another day that was the same as yesterday. Often this happens when you're chronically ill, and it's too easy to get into the same-old routines. Change it up with these ten ideas!
1. Find a way to help someone around you. Helping someone else is the best way to feel better yourself. Don't believe me? Prove it. I'm not wrong.
2. Read a new book. Reading expands the mind in every direction. Pick up something you haven't read before. Try a new genre. If you need ideas, check out some of my upcoming book reviews. Categorized for your comfort and ease. Such organization. Such skill. Or just OCD tendencies coming out. Yeah, probably that.
3. Draw a picture. If you don't have any ideas, try copying. Jump on Pinterest, find a picture you like, and repeat it on paper. You will probably be angry at it for a while, but in later you'll see all the things you did right. Creative process, people.
4. Organize your sock drawer. That's always useful and your socks will thank you.
5. Go outside. Walk around your backyard. Being outdoors is always good for the mind and soul. Especially if you're dizzy--the fresh air really can make a difference.
6. Light a candle in a dark room and pray. The change of lighting and a soft, small light can help bring you peace and a meditative mindset.
7. Talk on the phone to someone. Anyone. Even the wrong number that you picked up--or salesmen. They probably have pretty depressing jobs. Who knows, they might appreciate a real conversation! Texting also works if you can't talk.
8. Listen to a new style of music. Or if you play an instrument, learn a new song. Or pick up a new instrument, if you have one handy. My point is, change up the audio in your vicinity.
9. Connect somewhere online. Email a friend. Find some new blogger online to follow. Look up some new recipes. Research something completely unrelated to your current life--you'll rule at trivia. (Just don't Google even more ideas about how to treat your illness again--stop focusing on how to get better, just for a little while!)
10. Do something that's immediately available. Anything on your to-do list, or something that's not. Did you need to clean up that bookshelf? Weed the garden? Smash that dish? Destruction can be therapeutic. Burn something in a bowl. Light that old candle and roast a marshmallow. Sing loudly and off-key. Melt coconut oil and crayons together for homemade face paint. Play hopscotch on a tiled floor. Double points if you do this in public.
Just do something. ANYTHING. Your brain needs new material to gnaw on. Take a few minutes to figure out what is within your grasp to handle, or cover your eyes and blindly point to this list. Wherever your finger lands, go do it.
We can help each other out with this! Put your ideas in the comments: What helps you on those days when you just need SOMETHING to change up the monotony of pain?
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