BeWell Blog

Picture of a summer evening on a walking path with green trees and green grass. The sun is setting.

Summer Wellness Reset: 7 Science-Backed Habits to Reboot Your Health in August

When August Sneaks Up on You Wow, August already? I swear I was just making New Year's resolutions five minutes ago. Now here I am, sitting in this ridiculous heat, wondering where the first half of the year went. Anyone...

Read more

The Subtleness of Spoonie Dads: Honoring Fathers in the Chronic Illness Community

The Subtleness of Spoonie Dads: Honoring Fathers in the Chronic Illness Community

Father's Day is coming up, and while social media is abuzz with photos of dads driving off at golf courses and firing up grills, there is a group of fathers whose stories rarely make the cut into these highlight reels....

Read more

Chronic Illness and Earth Month: Eco-Friendly Habits That Don't Burn Spoons

Chronic Illness and Earth Month: Eco-Friendly Habits That Don't Burn Spoons

So it's Earth Month again, and my social media is flooded with people showing off their perfect zero-waste lifestyles, homemade cleaning products, and backyard compost bins. Meanwhile, I'm staring at the mountain of pill bottles, blister packs, and medical waste...

Read more

Redefining Easter Holidays with Chronic Disease: Celebration Without the Energy Drain

Redefining Easter Holidays with Chronic Disease: Celebration Without the Energy Drain

The pastel bunnies intrude, supermarkets are filled to the brim with egg-dying kits, and social media feeds are saturated with pristine family Easter schedules. And we, with chronic illness, quietly tallying the energy cost of every tradition and attempting to...

Read more

Spring Cleaning as a Spoonie

Spring Cleaning as a Spoonie

The birds are chirping, flowers are starting to bloom, and everyone's talking about spring cleaning. My social media news feed is flooded with before-and-after photos of tidy closets and sparkling kitchens. Meanwhile, I'm looking at my cluttered bedroom, calculating math...

Read more

Life is Short: Use the Markers

Life is Short: Use the Markers

Growing up, I had this habit that I now recognize in so many others living with chronic illness - saving the "good stuff" for some perfect future moment that never quite arrives. The Story Behind the Markers I remember the...

Read more

Self-Love Isn't Selfish: A Chronic Illness Guide to Valentine's Day—With or Without a Partner

Self-Love Isn't Selfish: A Chronic Illness Guide to Valentine's Day—With or Without a Partner

But in reality, the day of Valentine's may turn out to be pretty tricky once one has been dealing with some chronic illness. Perhaps on social media, one goes through all these couples all cute and stuff, while you are...

Read more

Holiday Cheer When You Have Chronic Pain

Holiday Cheer When You Have Chronic Pain

Written by: Amanda Phillips The holidays are often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for those living with chronic pain, they can also be the most challenging. The hustle and bustle, long gatherings, and even colder...

Read more

How to Cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder: Keeping Your Mind Well When Days are Dark

How to Cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder: Keeping Your Mind Well When Days are Dark

Written by: Amanda Phillips Living with a chronic illness is never easy, but the shorter, darker days of winter can make it especially challenging. A lack of sunlight can leave many people feeling sad, listless, and lethargic—all symptoms of a...

Read more

Finding Joy in Small Moments: How to Practice Gratitude with Chronic Illness

Finding Joy in Small Moments: How to Practice Gratitude with Chronic Illness

Written by: Amanda Phillips If there is anything overwhelming in this life, it is to live with chronic illness—exhaustive and filled with frustration or moments of despair. When the body is in combat continuously with pain or tiredness, little seems...

Read more

Halloween with Chronic Illness: Low-Energy Costume Ideas and Activities

Halloween with Chronic Illness: Low-Energy Costume Ideas and Activities

Halloween can be so much fun, but often, if you live with a chronic illness or cancer, it just might feel overwhelming. The costumes, parties, and all of those trick-or-treaters can be fatiguing activities when your body already seems to...

Read more

Coping with Sensory Overload When You Have a Chronic Illness

Coping with Sensory Overload When You Have a Chronic Illness

Written by: Amanda Phillips Living with a chronic illness is already a heavy load to carry, while the sensory overload just makes life overwhelming. Many of us living with chronic conditions—everything from autoimmune diseases and cancer to other invisible illnesses—are...

Read more