5 Reasons We’re Set Up for Success in the Final Months of COVID
We’re in the home stretch. COVID-19 infection rates in the US are still hovering just under 60,000 each day, about the same as the spike last summer. Yet the end feels near — case numbers have plummeted since January, as have hospitalizations and deaths. The long-awaited vaccines are working tremendously, and warmer weather means we […]
Get Ready to Get Vaccinated
Friends, it has finally happened — I got my second COVID-19 vaccine today! It was not easy getting here. Being pregnant, sick, immunocompromised, and prone to vaccine overreactions, the decision to get vaccinated was certainly complicated. It involved not only internal struggles but consults with multiple specialists. And then came the waiting: waiting for my […]
How (and Why) to Effectively Apologize
After a year of restrictions, quarantine, and everything virtual, life returning to “normal” seems to be drawing closer. While this news is a source of joy and relief, it is also a source of anxiety for many. So common, in fact, that it has been named “reopening anxiety” or “reentry anxiety.” Mental health experts worry […]
5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness as the World Opens Up
Spring is here, vaccines are flowing, and states are loosening restrictions. For those of us with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems, these changes come with extra concerns. What is deemed safe by some may not be safe for all. As the world begins to venture out again, we all need to take stock of […]
Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence and Safety
The world seems to be holding its breath, preparing to get back to life. For those of us with chronic illness, disabilities, and compromised immune systems, the idea of back to “normal” can carry complex feelings. What if life before COVID-19 wasn’t actually as accessible as life now? What if our immune systems aren’t ready […]
Four tips for living it up after vaccination
We’re getting there! After months of the highest COVID-19 surge yet, cases are finally falling, largely thanks to vaccination. In many states, large portions of the population have been offered vaccines: healthcare workers, adults aged 65+, teachers and some other essential workers, and medically vulnerable adults of all ages. President Biden has instructed states to […]
Vaccine Complications With Chronic Illness
The COVID-19 vaccine is finally here, and ramping up quickly. More than two million doses are being administered daily, expected to reach three million soon thanks to the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine approval. The chance to get vaccinated is a shot of hope for many Americans. All three vaccines have been thoroughly studied, deemed […]
Spread love, not germs, this Valentine’s Day
This Sunday is Valentine’s Day, the time for showering others in love! And what a year for it… we could all use a little extra appreciation and affection right now. But with COVID-19 still affecting hundreds of thousands of people each day, plus new variants with higher transmission rates, it’s time to be smart about […]
New CDC Guidelines on Double Masking
Federal health officials updated the CDC’s COVID-19 masking guidelines yesterday. They reiterated important steps we can all take — wearing a mask whenever around people outside of our household, washing hands for 20+ seconds after handling used masks, and staying 6+ feet apart whenever possible. The guidelines also stressed that masks should still be worn […]
POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of COVID-19 “long-haulers” has baffled doctors and researchers. Some patients, regardless of age or severity of COVID symptoms, never fully recover. They continue to have crushing fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, headaches, racing heart rate, and an inability to exercise, even to climb a few stairs. For some […]
Looking Towards the New Year With Hope and Self Love
The new year is always a great opportunity to take stock. What made this year special? Challenging? Hopeful? What has emerged as important priorities for the coming year? Where do you hope to be, a year from now? While we are all eager to see what comes with a new year, there have also been […]
Holiday Recipes
As I sit on my couch, watching a flurry snowflakes drift lazily by, I can’t help but feel excited for the upcoming holidays. Sure, this year it’s going to look different. Instead of time together by the wood stove, my family will be gathering by video chat. The different format, however, does not mean that […]