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Loading...3 Things You Can Do to Simplify Life with Chronic Illness
- Ann Pietrangelo
- May 17, 2010
- 1:04 pm
- 92 comments
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3) Streamline Your Chores and Errands: Ask for Help/Delegate
If you have a chronic illness and your energy levels are low, work smart. Are you doing chores or running errands that someone else in your household could do? Perhaps it is time to delegate — maybe to children or siblings — or ask for help from other family members.
- When it comes to chronic illness, other people don’t necessarily know when you are not well. It is perfectly acceptable to ask for assistance or to ask that others simply do their share.
- Don’t set unrealistic expectations for yourself. Break chores down into small parts. You may not have the energy to clean the whole house, but you might be able to manage one room a day, or even one section of a room. The key to this method is to focus on what you accomplished rather than what you did not.
- If you follow the tips about decluttering your home, you may find yourself less intimated when it comes to cleaning. Much less time and effort will be required.
- If you follow-up your cleaning/chores/errands with fifteen minutes in your sanctuary, you will begin to feel the pleasurable effects of simplifying your life.
Writer Ann Pietrangelo embraces the concept of personal responsibility for health and wellness. As a person living with multiple sclerosis, she combines a healthy lifestyle and education with modern medicine, and seeks to provide information and support to others. She is a regular contributor to Care2 Causes. Follow on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo
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Read more: Blogs, Conditions, Family, Health, Living with MS, Mental Wellness, Multiple Sclerosis, Self-Help, chronic illness, clutter, disability, minimalist, sanctuary, simplify
Ann Pietrangelo
Ann Pietrangelo is the author of No More Secs! Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Multiple Sclerosis. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and a regular contributor to Care2 Healthy & Green Living and Care2 Causes. Follow on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
love Mills End Park :)
Thanks for sharing, this is very important info!
Very interesting , thanks
Great article. Thanks.
Debby, I don't think it's fair to tell Linda what she should be lecturing on, just because the sight…
92 comments
+ add your ownUseful stuff for people without chronic illness too.
Thank you
THANK YOU
I never thought of my books as clutter but I do have a lot.Otherwise Im pretty clutter free.I try to do as much as I can when Im well so its not so hard for other family members to look after when Im not.
Good idea
Living in a motor home (as I do most of the year) instead of a house makes clutter a BIG issue. You will honestly be amazed what you really need to get by very comfortably. Three people need three plates........ if you don't drink coffee you need only one glass. Sounds outrageous, doesn't it? Honest, it works out fine and you'll love not having a kitchen filled with dishes to wash and put away. It feels good to give your books, magazines and games you no longer play to the local Friends of the Library to resell, too. They use the funds to buy goodies for the public library so your gift will enrich the minds of others!
I wish I had room for a 'sanctuary' in my small studio apartment, but I don't. In fact, there is little room here for the things I actually 'need',so surplus is out the door immediately. I thought caring for a smaller space would be easier, but I was wrong actually. I'm now looking for a larger house or apartment, but it cannot have stairs. I hope I can try some of these suggestions out, but since I live alone, finding someone to share tasks with is out too. Well, at least I have my computer and my music and the books I love. I DO count my blessings, every single day. Most of us could be a LOT worse off than we are. (Imagine being sick AND homeless!)
Thankyou for shareing this usefull info Ann
As I am disabled, this article really helped me. I am removing all loose rugs, giving away clothes, dishes, etc. I don't use, freeing up space. Will find someone to help with extension cords in my way, etc. Thank you very much.
thanks so much! Happy weekend to all :). Greetings from sweet Aaisha and Aarif!
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