Hello guys! 👋🏼🥰 How are you all doing? I hope you’re all doing well and having a lovely week!💗 It feels like it’s been a little while since I’ve had a proper catch-up with you all, so I thought I’d start today’s post by filling you in on what I’ve been up to lately — although, if I’m completely honest, there’s not actually been that much happening over the past couple of weeks because, unfortunately, I’ve been so poorly. 😷😔 Ever since my mum’s birthday, I’ve gradually been feeling worse and worse, and it’s definitely been one of those periods where my body has basically decided that it wants to take things very slowly! 🛌🏼💗 When you’re already dealing with ongoing health problems, having a particularly bad spell can really knock you sideways, and sometimes there just isn’t the energy to be doing lots of exciting things or ticking things off your to-do list. So, rather than fighting against it, I’ve mostly been taking things day by day and trying to give myself the rest I need. 🌿 Sometimes life really does have to become about the little things — resting, getting comfortable and just making it through the day.
I did, however, have a birthday amongst all of that! 🎂🎉 Last Friday was my birthday, and, surprisingly, it was probably the one day during all of this when I felt semi-okay! 😂 Honestly, the timing couldn’t have been better because it meant I was actually able to enjoy my birthday rather than spending the whole day feeling completely awful. And I have to say, I definitely felt — and still feel — like a very lucky girl because I was so spoilt by my family! 🥹❤️ Birthdays aren’t necessarily about the presents themselves, but there’s something really lovely about knowing that the people around you have thought about you and wanted to make your day special. And after feeling so poorly, having a little bit of happiness and something to look forward to was definitely very welcome! 🎁🥰
My parents also took me out for the day to the National Videogame Museum in Sheffield, which was such a fun way to spend my birthday! 🎮🥳 If you’ve never been, it’s basically a huge celebration of video games through the years, and one of the best things about it is that you don’t just look at everything behind glass — you can actually play more than 100 different games! 😍 There were games from Mario throughout the years, Sonic, Ms. PAC-MAN, and loads of other classics and consoles that brought back so many memories. 🎮🕹️ It was really fun getting to have a go at different games and seeing how much gaming has changed over the years. But, for me, the absolute highlight had to be completely THRASHING my dad at a tennis game! 🎾😂 I’m not going to lie, I was rather proud of myself! It definitely became one of those little birthday moments that I’ll remember — especially because beating Dad made it even more satisfying! 🤣🏆
I also haven’t actually mentioned this on here yet, but I’ve been doing a course online! 📚💻 I don’t want to say too much about it just yet because I don’t want to jinx myself — you know that feeling when something is going really well, and you’re almost scared to say it out loud?! 😂🤞🏼 — but so far, it seems to be going really well! I’ve been quietly working away at it in the background, and I’m really hoping that by the time my next blog post comes around, I’ll have completed it and can finally tell you all a little bit more about what I’ve been doing. 🥰✨ It’s always nice having something to work towards, especially when you’re having a difficult period health-wise, because even making a little bit of progress can give you something positive to focus on. So fingers crossed I’ll have some exciting news to share with you very soon! 🤞🏼💗
And I think that’s probably the biggest thing I’ve been reminded of over the past couple of weeks: life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes you’re feeling poorly, and your plans have to go out the window. Sometimes you have a lovely day that gives you a much-needed boost. Sometimes you’re quietly working towards something in the background, even if nobody else knows about it yet. 🌸 Life can be a mixture of difficult days, little victories, and unexpected happy moments — and perhaps that’s what makes those good moments feel even more special. ❤️
Which actually leads me really nicely into this week’s post, because after having a particularly difficult few weeks health-wise, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to look after yourself when you’re living with ongoing pain or health difficulties. 🌿 It’s very easy to see the word “wellness” and immediately think of exercise, healthy eating, being productive, and having the perfect routine — but what does wellness actually look like when your body doesn’t always allow you to do those things?
And that’s exactly what I wanted to explore in this week’s post: “Health & Wellness for People with Chronic Pain.” 💗
So, if you live with chronic pain yourself, know somebody who does, or you’ve ever wondered what looking after yourself can actually look like when your body has other ideas, then hopefully today’s post will give you something to think about. 🌸 Because wellness doesn’t have to mean pushing yourself harder — sometimes, it can simply mean learning how to be a little kinder to yourself. ❤️
Today I’m talking about something that I think is really important, but isn’t always talked about in quite the right way — health and wellness when you live with chronic pain. 🌿 When we hear the words health and wellness, it’s very easy to picture green smoothies, long walks, going to the gym, doing yoga every morning, eating a perfectly healthy diet, and generally having this very organised, energetic lifestyle. 🥗🏃🏼♀️🧘🏼♀️And whilst those things can absolutely be part of wellness for some people, the reality is that wellness doesn’t look the same for everybody.
If you live with chronic pain, fatigue, limited mobility, or a disability, even the simplest everyday activities can sometimes require a lot of energy. Something that might seem small to somebody else can be a huge task for someone living with a chronic condition. So, I wanted to write today’s post from a slightly different perspective. 💭 Because looking after your health doesn’t have to mean pushing yourself until you’re exhausted, and wellness doesn’t have to mean trying to become the “healthiest” version of yourself overnight. Sometimes, wellness is simply about learning how to take care of yourself in a way that works for the body and life you actually have. ❤️
🌸 What Does Wellness Actually Mean?
I think one of the first things we need to do is change the way we think about the word wellness. Wellness isn’t just about physical fitness or what you eat. It can include your physical health, mental wellbeing, emotional health, rest, relationships, environment, and how you feel about yourself. For one person, a “wellness day” might mean going for a long walk in the countryside. 🌳🥾 For somebody else, it might mean getting comfortable on the sofa with a cup of tea and watching their favourite programme because their body needs a rest. ☕📺 Neither person is doing wellness “wrong.” Sometimes looking after yourself means doing less, not more. And I think that’s something that people with chronic pain need to hear more often. ❤️
⚡ Learning to Work With Your Energy
One of the hardest things about living with chronic pain or fatigue can be learning that you can’t always treat every day as though your energy levels are the same. You might wake up one morning feeling slightly better and think:
“I’m feeling okay today! I’m going to get everything done!” 🙌🏼
So you clean the house, catch up on jobs, go out, answer messages, do all those little things you’ve been putting off…And then your body reminds you that you probably should have slowed down. 😩 Learning to recognise your limits can be really important. This is where pacing can be useful for some people. Rather than using all of your available energy on one task, you can try breaking activities into smaller pieces and giving yourself opportunities to rest. That might mean doing one small job and then taking a break. Or spreading several tasks throughout the week rather than trying to do everything in one day. And sometimes, pacing might simply mean saying:
“Actually, I don’t have the energy for that today.”
That’s okay. ❤️ Resting before you’re completely exhausted isn’t giving up. It’s listening to your body.
🛋️ Movement Doesn’t Have to Look the Same for Everyone
Exercise is another area where chronic pain can make traditional wellness advice feel incredibly unrealistic. We’re often told to exercise for a certain amount of time or get a certain number of steps every day. But what happens when walking is difficult, painful, or simply isn’t possible? That’s where I think it’s important to remember that movement can look different for different people. For some people, gentle stretching might be appropriate. For others, seated exercises or wheelchair-based movement might be more suitable. Some people might be able to stand for a short period, whilst somebody else may need to remain seated or lying down. And on a particularly difficult day, even changing position, moving your arms or legs gently, or doing a few small movements when you’re able to may feel like enough. The important thing is not to compare your movement to somebody else’s. Your body isn’t failing because you can’t do what another person can do. ❤️ If you’re considering starting a new exercise or movement routine while living with chronic pain or another health condition, it’s worth discussing it with an appropriate healthcare professional so that you can find something suitable for you.
🥗 Food Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
Food is another part of wellness that can become unnecessarily complicated. There seems to be a new “perfect diet” every five minutes! 😂🥑 One week it’s one thing, the next week it’s something completely different. But when you live with chronic pain or other health conditions, food can be particularly personal. Different people tolerate different foods, have different nutritional needs, and have completely different relationships with eating. For me, I think a healthier approach is to focus on what is realistic and sustainable for you. That could mean trying to include more vegetables where you can. 🥕🥦 It could mean making sure you’re eating regularly. It could mean finding a few easy meals that you know you can manage on low-energy days. And it can also mean accepting that sometimes convenience is necessary. Not every meal needs to be homemade from scratch with seventeen different ingredients. 😂 If you’re struggling with nutrition, digestive problems, or you’re unsure whether your diet is meeting your needs, speaking to a doctor or registered dietitian can be much more useful than following random advice from social media.
💧 Don’t Forget About Hydration
Drinking enough fluids is another simple part of looking after yourself, but when you’re tired or in pain, remembering to drink can sometimes be surprisingly difficult. Keeping a drink nearby can make things easier, especially if getting up frequently is difficult. And if you don’t enjoy plain water, you don’t necessarily have to force yourself to drink glass after glass of it. You can explore other suitable drinks or add a little flavour if that helps you drink more. Sometimes the little practical changes are the ones that make the biggest difference.
😴 Rest Is Not Laziness
I really wanted to include this one because I think rest is something that people with chronic health conditions can sometimes feel guilty about. We live in a world that often celebrates being busy. We’re told to be productive, get things done, keep going, and make the most of every day. But your body doesn’t always work according to somebody else’s schedule. If you’re in pain, exhausted, or simply having a difficult day, resting is a form of looking after yourself. 🛌🏼❤️ You don’t have to earn your rest by completing a list of tasks first. You don’t have to justify why you’re tired. And you don’t have to feel guilty because somebody else has managed to do more than you today. Your body has its own limits. Listening to those limits isn’t laziness — it’s self-care.
🧠 Looking After Your Mental Wellbeing
Living with chronic pain isn’t just physically difficult. It can affect your emotions, confidence, independence, social life, and the way you see yourself. There can be frustration when your body doesn’t allow you to do something you want to do. There can be sadness when plans have to be cancelled. There can be loneliness when you’re unable to go out as much as you’d like. And there can be days when you’re simply fed up with being in pain. Those feelings don’t make you negative. They’re human. ❤️ Looking after your mental wellbeing could mean talking to somebody you trust, spending time with people who make you feel comfortable, writing your thoughts down, listening to music, watching something that makes you laugh, getting outside when you’re able to, or simply giving yourself permission to have a difficult day. And if you’re struggling with your mental health, please don’t feel as though you have to deal with everything alone. Reaching out to a healthcare professional or someone you trust can be an important step.
🛁 Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
When we hear the word self-care, we might picture expensive skincare, spa days, candles, and fancy bath products. 🛁✨ And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying those things! But self-care can also be incredibly simple. It could be:
🩷 Taking a warm shower or bath if you’re able to.
🩷 Putting on your favourite pyjamas.
🩷 Watching your favourite film.
🩷 Listening to music.
🩷 Reading a book.
🩷 Doing some photography.
🩷 Spending time with a pet.
🩷 Talking to a friend or family member.
🩷 Sitting somewhere peaceful.
🩷 Having a cup of tea.
🩷 Taking a break from social media.
🩷 Saying no to something when you don’t have the energy.
Sometimes self-care is simply making yourself as comfortable as possible and allowing yourself to rest. And honestly, I think that’s just as valuable. 🌸
📅 Bad Days and Better Days
Something I’ve learned is that it’s important not to judge yourself based on what you can or can’t do on one particular day. Chronic pain doesn’t always follow a predictable schedule. You can have a day where you manage quite a lot and then another where getting through the basics feels difficult. That’s why I think it can be helpful to have a “bad day plan.” 💗 Think about the things that make difficult days slightly easier. Maybe it’s having easy meals available. Keeping medication or essentials somewhere accessible, where appropriate. Having your favourite comfort items nearby. Having a list of things you can do from bed or the sofa. Or simply knowing which people you can message when you need a little extra support. A bad day doesn’t erase everything you managed to do on a better day. And a better day doesn’t mean you’re suddenly “cured.” They’re simply different days.
👩🏼⚕️ Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up
Another important part of wellness is being able to communicate with the people involved in your healthcare. You know your own body and your own everyday experiences better than anyone else. If something has changed, if your symptoms are affecting your life, or if you don’t understand something you’ve been told, it’s okay to ask questions. You can write things down before an appointment if remembering everything is difficult. You can make a list of symptoms or concerns. You can ask for something to be explained again. And if something isn’t suitable for your circumstances, you can explain why. Being your own advocate doesn’t mean being difficult. It means making sure your needs are understood. ❤️
🌱 Small Things Still Count
I think this might be my biggest message from today’s post:
You don’t have to completely change your life to look after yourself.
Wellness can start with one tiny thing. Drinking a little more. Getting some fresh air when you’re able to. Having a proper rest. Eating something nourishing. Doing a few gentle movements. Talking to somebody. Taking your medication as prescribed. Going to an appointment. Taking a break. Getting dressed. Brushing your teeth. Opening the curtains. Or simply getting through a particularly difficult day. Sometimes we underestimate these little things because they’re not dramatic enough to look impressive on social media. But they still matter. 🌷
❤️ Stop Comparing Your Wellness Journey to Somebody Else’s
Social media can make it very easy to compare yourself to other people. You see somebody exercising every morning. Somebody else has completely transformed their diet. Someone is travelling the world. Someone is constantly out doing things. And you might find yourself thinking:
“Why can’t I do that?”
But you’re only seeing a tiny snapshot of somebody else’s life. You don’t know what happens behind the scenes. And, most importantly, you aren’t living in their body, and they aren’t living in yours. Your journey doesn’t need to look like anybody else’s. Your version of wellness might involve things that other people don’t even notice. And that’s okay.
🌸 Wellness Without the Pressure
I think we need to take some of the pressure out of the word wellness. You don’t have to wake up at 5am. You don’t have to complete a ten-step morning routine. You don’t have to exercise every day. You don’t have to eat perfectly. You don’t have to be productive every minute. You don’t have to push through pain to prove that you’re strong. And you definitely don’t have to feel guilty for resting. Health and wellness should be about supporting yourself, not punishing yourself for the things your body can’t currently do. Some days you’ll manage more. Some days you’ll manage less. And that’s okay. ❤️
🌿 Final Thoughts
So, if you’re living with chronic pain, fatigue, limited mobility, or a long-term health condition, I hope today’s post has reminded you that wellness doesn’t have to look a certain way. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to involve huge lifestyle changes. And it certainly doesn’t have to look like somebody else’s version of a “healthy lifestyle.” Sometimes taking care of yourself means moving. Sometimes it means eating well. Sometimes it means getting some fresh air. And sometimes it means staying in bed, resting, and giving your body the time it needs. 🛌🏼💗 There is no prize for pushing yourself beyond your limits. There is no failure in having a bad day. And there is nothing wrong with adapting things so that they work for you. Your body deserves kindness on the difficult days just as much as it deserves kindness on the better ones. 🌷 So, wherever you are today, whatever your energy levels look like and whatever your pain is doing, try to be a little kinder to yourself. Because looking after yourself isn’t about becoming a completely different person. It’s about learning how to care for the person you already are. ❤️ And honestly, I think that is what wellness should really be about.
💗 Thank You for Reading
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of another post! 🥹💗 Thank you so much for spending a little bit of your time here on Peyton’s view and for reading today’s post from beginning to end. It genuinely means more to me than you probably realise! 🥰 Whether you’re someone who has been following along for ages, you’ve just discovered my little corner of the internet, or you simply stumbled across today’s post because the topic caught your attention — thank you for being here. 🌸 I hope you’ve enjoyed reading, but more importantly, I hope you’ve taken away even one little thought, idea, or reminder that might make your own day a little easier. And if there’s one thing I’d love you to remember from today’s post, it’s this: you don’t have to do everything, be everything, or have everything figured out to be taking care of yourself. Sometimes, simply listening to your body and giving yourself permission to rest is enough. ❤️ Thank you, as always, for supporting my blog, reading my ramblings, and coming back to see what I’ve been getting up to! It really does mean the world to me. 🥹💕
