This article contains some affiliate links to products you may find useful, at no extra costs to you. All opinions are my own.  Spending time outdoors, especially in nature, can be an amazingly helpful and accessible tool to support your health and happiness. The fresh air, natural daylight and green surroundings fine-tune your circadian rhythm, boost your mood and calm your nervous system (for free!). And if you’re able to gentle move your body outdoors by walking, hiking or cycling, you also get your blood flowing, which increases your energy levels and mental alertness. But when you’re ..read more

Years ago, I read somewhere that the Eskimo language have 50 different words for ‘snow’. Because they live in a frozen landscape every day, the Inuit notice all the small nuances, from soft falling snow to the kind that’s good for sledding. For their daily life, these tribes need multiple terms to communicate and prepare for the different kinds of snow. Immediately after learning that I thought, “that’s how I feel about the phrase ‘I’m tired’!” You see, we use the word ‘tired’ for lots of different sensations, from that satisfied feeling after a successful day of work to the sick tiredness whe ..read more

If you’re a regular reader of The Health Sessions, you might have noticed that I love ideas on how you can make it easier to put healthy and comforting meals on the table when you struggle with limited energy and mobility. From using a slow cooker and putting sheet pan dinners in the oven to prepping freezer meals for sick days, there are several ways you can save energy while cooking. However, many of my go-to strategies that require less effort often do require a long time in the oven/crockpot, or some planning ahead and meal prepping in return. But sometimes, after a long and tiring day, yo ..read more

This article is written by Frankie Wallace.  Dealing with a chronic illness can be both difficult and overwhelming. Depending on the type of condition you face, it could impact almost every aspect of your life, limiting what you can do on a daily basis, as well as how often you can spend time with others. You might think that having a pet would be a daunting task when you’re trying to manage a chronic condition. While there may be challenges, there are also plenty of benefits. The human-pet connection can improve both your physical and mental well-being and add more to your life than ..read more

This article contains some affiliate links to resources you may find useful, at no extra costs to you. All opinions are my own.  The thing that separates being chronically ill from ‘just’ being sick is how long the pain, fatigue and overall malaise impact your life. By definition, chronic illness refers to health problems that persist for 3 months or longer, and do not just disappear. Even if a full recovery is possible, it will take a lot of time and effort. And that’s exactly why you need grit. Grit means staying motivated and determined over long periods of time to reach ..read more

This article is written by Chad Alexander from Fitness Minimalists.  When you live with a chronic illness, how might you summon the energy to consistently embrace your healthy habits? Let’s jump in to see if we can discover some mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical strategies to up your energy levels and make those healthy habits happen consistently. Many chronic illnesses come with physical pain, but they can also lead to unforeseen mental, emotional and spiritual challenges. Research refers to some of the emotional and mental challenges that people with chronic illn ..read more

This article is written by Arnold Bloom.  Have you ever considered how light affects your health and happiness? Light contains several therapeutic benefits for human health. However, natural light contains UV rays that can cause severe damage if one is exposed for a long period of time. Therefore, light therapy was invented to get all the benefits of light without the side effects. So, what can light therapy do for your health? Well, therapy lights can help your skin and physical and mental health exceptionally. Additionally, you will be able to manage several chronic conditions unde ..read more

This article is written by Aaron Smith.  Chronic pain can be debilitating, making even the simplest tasks a challenge. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from chronic pain, you know how hard it can be to wait for a doctor’s appointment. You may be wondering what you can do to relieve the pain until your appointment. You’re in luck—we’ve compiled five pain relief tips that should help make the wait a little easier! Let’s get started. 1. Ice and Heat Therapy Let’s face it, if you’re in pain, waiting for a doctor to be available can be downright torture. You may feel li ..read more

This blog post contains some affiliate links to resources you may find useful, at no extra costs to you. All opinions are my own. We all love to chill out after a tiring or stressful day. But true relaxation encompasses more than lounging on the couch with a game of Wordle. It’s not just about keeping physical activity to a minimum, real rest also means letting go of tension in your body and quieting your racing mind. At the same time, relaxation does have to be – nor should it be – an elaborate practice you only do occasionally, by getting a massage or taking a mental health day. Real re ..read more

This article is written by Ava Roman from Revivalist.  Chronic illness can affect every aspect of your life — even your relationship with your kids. You want to chase them around with boundless energy, but your condition has you sitting on the bench far too often. How can you maintain your bond without driving your little ones crazy with boredom? Fortunately, you don’t have to be an all-star athlete to entertain your children. You still have plenty of options, even if you rely on assistive devices for mobility or need to limit your movement to short bursts. Here are six ways to play with ..read more