How to Thrive with a Chronic Health Challenge

Thriving with a chronic illness involves building healthy, sustainable habits that will uplift and energize you when you’re not feeling your best. Let’s learn how to implement five incredible habits that make a healthy choice the easiest choice. Did you ever notice that small habits can compound over time and yield great results? That’s the magic of consistency, and it can help you steer clear from feelings of emotional or mental burnout when living with a chronic health condition. Here are some habits that we can all prioritize in our lives.

Habit 1: Prioritize sleep

First, let’s begin with the importance of rest. The National Sleep Foundation states that healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, and if you live with a chronic illness or challenge, you may require even more. A good night’s rest can help our body repair itself, give us energy, and improve our mental health. Getting more sleep can help us get the most out of every day and feel our best, so why not try to get more zzz into our nightly routine?

Habit 2: Movement everyday

We all know that moving our bodies is great for staying healthy and living longer but here are some more reasons to move. Having a “no excuse” movement routine can help you get through feelings of burnout that can be inevitable when living with a chronic challenge. Movement can be everything from strength training to dancing in your kitchen like no one is watching! Moving your body will automatically reduce stress and build confidence as you age gracefully. 

Habit 3: Focus on solutions NOT problems

It’s very easy to focus on problems when you have to live with something you don’t necessarily want, and there is no end in sight. However, if we want to live a long life and thrive, you must be searching for solutions amidst the challenges. This is where reframing comes into play. We can reframe a health challenge by seeing things from a different perspective, immersing ourselves in a favorite hobby, finding the blessings in the situation, and sharing a laugh with others who understand what you’re going through. Sometimes our problems are made bigger the more we think about them. If all else fails, try to break tasks into small baby steps and tackle the problem this way, one day at a time. 

Habit 4: Reach out for help and support

Reaching out for support is not something that is easy but it’s a necessary step. Why? You can gain so much insightful information by being a part of a community of like minded individuals that understand your struggles and day to day burdens. They are going to help you on the days you need to vent or you need a question answered from someone who has been there. You may also find value and purpose in helping others and it can truly be an amazing experience.

Habit 5: Develop a growth mindset

Finally, let’s not forget to embrace the fact that we don't know it all. Developing a growth mindset is key for thriving with any health condition. It’s important to learn from many sources and not just a couple of people within our circle. Having a growth mindset can allow you to find what works best for you and your beautiful body!


Stephanie Colmenares has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 24 years and loves teaching others how to thrive despite living with a chronic challenge. She shares her journey on Instagram to connect with people and stay involved in the T1D community. Find her at @thriving.diabetic

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