Summer Reading Guide: How to Have a Great Vacation with Chronic Illness

When you think of Summer, chances are pictures of beach holidays, camping in nature or exciting road trips come to mind.

But sadly, traveling and staying at unfamiliar places can be (too) challenging for those of us living with chronic illness. As much as you crave a vacation, you might not be able to go (far) from home or enjoy (many) outings.

And more importantly –  you cannot take a break from your own body. Not even for a day. Because, like this article from The Mighty reminds us, even if you’re at home most of the time, being unable to work is not a vacation. Quite the opposite; managing your health when you’re sick can be a full-time job.

That’s why you deserve to have that sense of novelty and relaxation too, and have a good time when you can.

So no matter if you’re staying at home or traveling this season, get inspired by this summer reading guide filled with ideas to have a great vacation with chronic illness.

Traveling with Chronic Illness

Most of us love to go on holiday, to relax on the beach or explore new surroundings. At least, in theory. Because traveling with chronic pain, fatigue, limited mobility and other symptoms can pose some serious challenges.

Have a look at these first-class tips to make your journey and stay a little more comfortable.

• Got a long drive ahead of you? Read these 12 Tips for Going on Long Car Trips When You Have Fibromyalgia to hopefully have a better experience.
• No matter if you’re going by car, plane or train, traveling often puts a lot of stress on your spine with hours of sitting down and carrying luggage. Here are some short exercises you can do for your back on route and at you destination to avoid back problems.
• Travel often disrupts your regular routines, from meal times and physical activity levels to medication schedules. These changes can affect blood sugar management, leading to fluctuations in glucose levels. A nutritionist shares how you can keep your blood sugar levels stable while traveling.
• Are you staying in an area near wildfires, smog or other sources of pollution? Here’s how to understand the Air Quality Index and what you can do to protect yourself against dirty air.
• If your wellbeing benefits from natural remedies, learn how you can take your herbal wellness routines on the go.
• Do you feel well enough to take a dip in the pool? Take advantage of the natural resistance that the water provides with a low-impact, strength training through these 8 pool exercises.
• Dehydration can be a disaster for your gut health – here’s how a gastro stays hydrated in the heat.
• Do you have a fun day out planned to the zoo, an amusement park, a cool museum or beautiful national park over the summer? Check out these 10 tips to enjoy day trips with chronic illness to have the best experience possible.

Staycation: How to Create Vacation Vibes at Home

Let’s be honest: The FOMO is real when you see your friends having cocktails by the pool or sightseeing cool cities on Instagram while you are stuck at home as usual. But just because your health problems stop you from joining in on all the fun, doesn’t mean you can have any fun.

Let’s see how you could create some vacation vibes at home!

• Want to set the scene for a fun staycation? Get yourself some staycation essentials and have a look at these 55 ways to have an amazing summer, even if you’re stuck at home.
• Explore the world from the comfort of home by going on an armchair journey with these 9 travel memoirs. You could also bring other countries to your doorstep by having a travel themed day. Imagine you’re in Paris by having croissants for breakfast, reading a novel set in France, enjoying bonbons and watching Amélie, Intouchables or the Tour de France on TV.
• With limited energy, chronic pain, mobility issues, brain fog and sensory overload, it’s hard to pursue pleasures like making music, rollerblading, taking martial arts classes or arranging flowers. How can you still make room for hobbies when you’re sick? Plus, 25 hobbies you can start at home right now, and 30 entertaining things you can at home alone.
• Stuck on the couch today? Grab your binoculars—Bird-Watching Is Now a Gen Z-Approved Way To Unplug and Better Your Mental Health.
• Of course you love spending time with your kids, but it’s hard managing your own health and your kids needs all summer long. If that’s you, these summer survival tips from Wanda Belisle can help you to still have a nice summer break, while the Stay at Home Summer Camp ideas from Mama’s Facing Forward will keep your kids entertained while you rest.
• Have you hit the sticky, sweltering stage of summer? Read How to Cool Down a Home Without Cranking The AC.
• You don’t have to go to the spa for some serious self-care. These 8 transformative wellness rituals can be done from the comfort of your bed.
• If you’re a book lover, get inspired by the the summer reading guides from Modern Mrs. Darcy and Everyday Reading. When brain fog’s making it hard for you to focus, try these spoonie-proof tips to get back into reading again.
• Are you craving some real rest? Learn how to practice yoga nidra for deeper relaxation or check out these 13 Ways to Regulate Your Nervous System.

True Happiness

No matter if you’re healthy or sick, you just want to have a good time in summer and make happy memories. That’s easier said than done when you’re in pain, but here are some simple ways to boost your mood.

• What does true happiness mean to you? Take inspiration from these 12 uplifting quotes and consider choosing contentment over chasing happiness.
• Have you heard of the TikTok trend ‘therapy dupes’? Therapy dupes are not real replacements of talk therapy, but short-term mood-boosting strategies that can increase your motivation and get you started with authentic self development. Try one of these 50 therapy dupes to brighten up your day.
• Being diagnosed with depression doesn’t indicate the root cause of your depressive symptoms, and it doesn’t help target treatment. Here are 6 surprising but common biological factors that contribute to depression – and how you can start healing.
• Microjoys are joyful happenings that are easily accessible with little effort on your behalf. How can you tap into them in times of need?
• Caught the buzz about ‘dopamine detoxing’? This is a popular method of refraining from any kind of stimulation to gain more control over impulses like emotional eating, gaming or recreational drug use. Psychiatry experts explain why a full dopamine detox isn’t possible, and what to do instead. 
• 27 Simple Things to Start Doing for Your Happiness This Summer. Which one will you try?

What do you need to have a great vacation with chronic illness? 

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