Pacing Yourself in Late Winter When You’re Chronically Ill

By February, the sparkle of January has worn off. The days are still short, the light still thin, and my body feels the weight of it all. Late winter always feels hard with the grey, raining weather being so draining and hard when you are looking forward to spring. Pacing yourself in late winter when you’re chronically ill is even harder, with the damp making pain worse and mental health screaming for more self-care. This time of year, is about sustainability, not productivity, and this is what I feel we need to think about this time of year.

Why Energy Dips in February Feel Worse with Chronic Illness

There are many reasons why pacing yourself in late winter when you’re chronically ill feels harder. One can be seasonal factors like less sunlight, or the cold making your pain or stiffness worse. It can also be the aftermath of the holiday season, the excitement and lights have gone, and we are left with a (crazy and scary) reality.

The reality of life with chronic illness is already hard, with limited energy to begin with, and bugs that can trigger flares. January can also be a challenging time with a lot of pressure to change and set those goals.

It is completely normal to feel behind when you struggle with these issues, so needing more time to rest, worsening brain fog or flares you didn’t account for are okay. None of these things are a failure, it’s part of the season and how our bodies work, so let’s face these issues without guilt or blame.

Letting Go of January Expectations When You Live with Chronic Illness

Letting go of January expectations is so powerful, these goals made in high-motivation moments can be hard to sustain. This is especially true when we remember that adrenaline, and social media constantly talking about it, can carry us through. It is important that we stop comparing ourselves to able-bodied people and productivity culture.

February is a time for thinking about what actually matters right now, what can wait until spring, and what is held onto because of guilt not desire?

You are allowed to adjust your goals, to see what is working and what isn’t and to adjust or shrink your plans. It is okay to rest more than you thought, to slow down and to take a breath.

Practical Pacing Strategies for Chronic Illness in Late Winter

Let’s be real, pacing yourself in late winter when you’re chronically ill is hard, it feels overwhelming but there are several ways we can make it easier.

• The 60% Rule – Making plans for your day at 60% of what you think you can manage is a brilliant way to leave yourself some wriggle room. This allows for symptom flares, unexpected surprises and spikes in your fatigue.
• Built-In Rest Before You “Need” It – Resting after each task not just when your fatigue flares is a great way to not push yourself to your limits. Use timers if needed, and schedule intentional ‘do nothing’ times. This has really helped me this year and I have noticed such a big difference because rest is needed so why not account for it?
•  The Three-Thing List – Instead of setting up a long to-do list each day, this idea is set around doing one thing that is essential, one that is supportive and one that is nourishing. The day is instantly easier to manage, and feels as if it really counts, with a lot of time to rest in between.
• Weather-Based Energy Planning – The idea here is to check the weather before planning the tasks you want to tackle. If a cold day makes your legs painful, plan seated tasks. If it is a low light day, do what you can outside or by windows to try and avoid mental health dips. This way you are spending time listening to nature and seeing what your body needs.
• The Gentle Carryover – This can be difficult, but if you cannot do a task on the day you arranged, gently move it to another day. No need for guilt or worry, it will get done but if you need to rest then that should be the priority. Being flexible enough to move your week around when needed so the schedule does not become overwhelming is important with this one.

Emotional Pacing: Protecting Your Mental Health in February

One part of pacing that can be easy to forget is the emotional aspect, limiting doomscrolling, reducing comparison, and protecting your peace. These are all important, especially not over-explaining your limits. Sometimes pacing means disappointing other people so you don’t disappoint your body.

So, unfollow accounts that don’t bring you joy, it is okay to stop supporting someone if their posts cause you to feel depressed. You are allowed to cultivate your friends, in real life or online so you only have supportive people in your life. I did this a few years ago and I am far happier now though I have fewer people around me, and that honestly has made me so much happier.

Living Seasonally with Chronic Illness

February is a liminal time, a time to hibernate like a bear, waiting for the weather to improve. Pacing yourself in late winter when you’re chronically ill can often force us into seasonal living which can be so refreshing and wonderful.

For me, this has meant curling up on the sofa with my puppy Twig and reading more and having slower mornings. I see more magic in smaller rituals and having a softer structure to my week instead of rigid goals.

It is so important when pacing yourself in late winter when you’re chronically ill to remember that you are not behind. February is not a test, nobody is grading you on what New Year goals you failed in. Resting now is about preparing for the year ahead it is not a failure. Spring will come. For now, we pace. We soften. We survive February gently knowing we are worth the time to rest.

Thank you xx

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