When you have a chronic illness, working for someone else can be very difficult. Many chronic illnesses are massively misunderstood or not recognized, which makes explaining to your boss and colleagues why you really can’t come in that day much more difficult. It can take all of your energy just to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, let alone face a crowded commute and deal with all the stress of the job.
This is a contributed post. Please refer to my disclosure for more information.
Because of this, many people with chronic illnesses take the plunge and launch their own businesses. It means that theoretically, they can work when they feel well and take the time that they need to attend medical appointments or rest and recover when feeling particularly unwell.
Theoretically being the key word.
Sure, you do not have to call in sick and risk losing your job, annoying your boss, or losing out on money, but sometimes, being your own boss can be even harder. You still have projects to finish, client deadlines to meet, and maybe a team to manage. You can feel like you have to push through even when feeling unwell just to protect your business.
While no one can magic your symptoms or illness away, there are things that you can do to make it a little easier on you. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Reassess your diet
If you have been suffering from a chronic illness for a long time, you have probably already done this, but if you have not, it is worth looking at your diet and seeing if you can make healthier changes. It is not going to magically cure your illness in most cases, but it may ease some of the symptoms or allow you to manage them a little better.
Many people find that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, staying hydrated, and cutting out processed foods, refined sugar, and white flour can make a huge difference to the way that they feel.
Also, avoid caffeine as much as possible and monitor your alcohol intake, as these can worsen symptoms and affect your sleep.
Look at your mindset
Chronic illness is hard, and you can absolutely be forgiven for not feeling upbeat, positive, and grateful. However, while a positive mindset is not going to cure you, and probably won’t make you feel better, it can sometimes help you to work through and manage your illness a little easier. If nothing else, it can make you feel a little more cheerful.
Find like-minded and supportive people
There are lots of support groups, whether in-person or online for people who suffer from a chronic illness. No matter how understanding your friends and family and coworkers are unless they have experienced the ongoing pain and discomfort that a chronic illness can cause, they are not likely to know how you feel. Talk to others with the same illnesses and symptoms as you and while everyone is different, just talking to someone can help.
Delegate and outsource
As a business owner, especially in the early days, it can be tempting to want to do everything yourself. It is your baby; you are going to want to keep control of it. However, even someone without a chronic illness sometimes has to let go of control in order to keep balance and to get everything done, and it is even more important when you have a chronic illness.
No one is suggesting that you need to hand over all the reins to someone else or to let someone else take control over your business, but some aspects can definitely be handled by someone else. Why not hire a freelance social media manager to take over that? A website manager to keep your site ticking over? It also means that not only is it one less task for you to have to worry about, but it also means that a professional is helping you – allowing you to focus your moments when you feel great on growing your business rather than the necessary, but often dull administration tasks.
Take any medication or treatments offered to you by the doctor
When you are trying to balance running your own business with living with a chronic illness, as well as other parts of a busy life, it can be tempting not to attend medical appointments, or not take your medication in case of side effects. It is important that even on good days you follow medical advice and attend doctor’s appointments. It may be attending therapy sessions or taking sumatriptan for migraine related illnesses, but whatever it is, make sure you do what is needed.
Focus on your goals
Sometimes, when you are feeling overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) by work or are having a flare-up of your chronic illness, it can be difficult to stay motivated. However, when you feel like this, take a moment to remember why you are doing it. Is it to become a role model for your children? Is it to prove people wrong? Is it to have something for yourself? Focus on what that end goal is.
Learn to say no
Occasionally, you have to say no. You are not superhuman; you cannot do everything, no matter how much you want to. Saying no is not a sign of failing. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is a sign of personal strength to look at what is beyond your capabilities at that time and focus on yourself. If you work yourself to the point where you are too unwell, you will not be able to do anything and that is not going to help you or anyone else.
When you have a chronic illness, running a business can be hard. However, it can also be rewarding and a great way to (hopefully) work around your illness. By following some of the steps we have listed above, you can make your business life just that little bit easier on you so that you can enjoy your personal life.
