The Dreaded Grocery Store: Tips on saving time and energy while grocery shopping

Out of all the areas my illness kills the joy for-grocery shopping is number one on the top ten list! Just the mere thought of grocery shopping makes me want to crawl into bed and declare myself on a fast! I simply cannot stand grocery stores. The very bright, awful lights hurt my eyes. The sensor

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Easy Food Prep for the Chronically Ill Person

As a professional organizer faced with several chronic conditions, I do my best to eat fresh foods- don’t we all? But there are days when you just don’t have a single brain cell available to think about “What’s in the house?”or. “What do I have energy to fix?” or “What am I interest

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The Necessities of a Well Stocked Sick Pantry

The cabinet Dried Pasta: Preferably a pasta product like Barilla Plus which has added protein and nutrients. (Rice, brown specifically, is also a decent source in this same category.) Jarred Pasta Sauce: A plain basic garlic and basil sauce is perfect. It's versatile, helps you make shortcuts and

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Stepping into the Shower with Chronic Illness

Ah, showering. That major task that, for those of us with a chronic illness, ranks right up there on the energy scale with oh, lawncare? Home renovation? Maybe car repairs? Why, I have to schedule personal hygeine days right along with doctor appointment days, grocery shopping days, and all those da

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3 Steps to Maintaining Friendships through the Chaos of your Illness

I was sixteen when I was first diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. At that age, most teenagers are at the height of self-expression and feelings of invisibleness. Making friends and sharing who you are with your friends is one of the most cherished parts of youthfulness. But when you are teenager with a

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Breaking the Ice on Sex, Intimacy & Chronic Illness

I was diagnosed with SLE in my teens, long before I'd become sexually active. When sex became a part of my identity, instead of being a glorious whirlwind of sloppy kisses and knock-your-socks off orgasms, I viewed it as yet another physical activity, I had to worry about! My bones popped so often,

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Zen Cleaning

I am a packrat. There, I admitted it! I love pretty knick-knacks and doing a variety of crafts, and my "stuff" tends to end up everywhere. Last January I started a project I call "Zen Cleaning." Get out your digital or regular camera, and play along! Pick just one room or area to work on at a ti

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Product Zen

I admit it... I have been having a love affair my whole adult life... with PRODUCTS. Want to get me excited? Just show me the newest bathroom cleaner, bath gel, furniture polish or hairspray! It doesn't matter if I have three cans of furniture polish already. I can't resist the new kind! Yes, I know

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Micro-Zen Organizing

Do you know that frustrating feeling of looking for some tiny object, and thinking "Darn it! I just saw that yesterday!" Sure you do! Homeless objects floundering in some drawer are the problem, Micro-Zen is the cure. Let's say for the sake of argument that every object in your home (after finis

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Saying No…Without Saying No!

Do you have a hard time with saying no, and find yourself agreeing to a task or responsibility you know you won't have the energy, time, or even physical ability to do? Are you so over-committed that you can't see a free space in your calendar for weeks? If so, read on!! I recommend you learn the

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