Living Well
Working for Yourself: Pros and Cons of Being Your Own Boss
Kathy Reagan describes the challenges and benefits of working for yourself when you live with a chronic illness.
November 28, 2023
Care for your body, mind, and soul as you navigate everyday life with IBD.
Content created for the Bezzy community and sponsored by our partners. Learn More
Popular Stories
Living Well
How Solo Travel Helped Me After a Crohn's Flare
I had the freedom to follow my own desires — and diet! — as well as the chance to reconnect with myself.
January 31, 2023
Living Well
How I Navigate Professional Life While Living with a Chronic Illness
When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I was terrified that my career was over. These tips helped me adapt my work life so that I could excel.
October 11, 2022
Living Well
Confronting Isolation and Self-Doubt When You Live with an Invisible Chronic Condition
Living with a chronic condition comes with a lot of emotions. It’s incredibly isolating, frustrating, and sometimes leaves you questioning your own body and its experiences.
April 18, 2022
Living Well
6 Journal Prompts to Promote Mindfulness with IBD
Journaling helps us process experiences and emotions as they happen, keeping us in the moment and out of the anxiety spirals. Here are the journal prompts I use.
December 16, 2022
Living Well
How Modeling Empathy to My Toddler Helps Me Navigate Chronic Pain
Learning to practice self-compassion when pain or emotional triggers arise can be a beautiful teaching moment for children.
February 14, 2022
All stories
Join the always free community to get full access to all stories.
Living Well
Mindset Matters: 5 Reasons Acceptance of Your Chronic Illness Isn’t Synonymous with ‘Giving In’
Truly accepting your chronic illness can feel scary, but it can also open up new ways of living. Here are 5 ways acceptance can benefit your life and how to get started.
October 13, 2022
Living Well
Workplace Stress Worsened My Chronic Illness
My Crohn's disease came out of remission after 10 years, and I believe workplace stress played a major role. Here's how I handled it.
November 20, 2023
Living Well
7 Tips That Help Me Stay Hydrated in Warm Weather with IBD
Try these flavorful options instead of guzzling massive amounts of H2O.
June 29, 2022
Living Well
The Importance of Being a Hustle Culture Dropout When You’re Chronically Ill
The constant pressure to go-go-go took a toll on both my physical and mental health. Then I realized I could opt out.
February 21, 2023
Living Well
If You Experience Health Anxiety, You’re Not Alone
Health anxiety is common in people living with chronic conditions — and your fears are real and understandable. Learn tips for reducing anxiety and how to get help if needed.
May 03, 2023
Living Well
How I Manage Summer Travel with IBD
Planning might be the least fun part, but it means I get to enjoy my vacation more and stress less.
July 19, 2022
Living Well
Mindset Matters: Who Am I with Chronic Illness? Acceptance and Letting Go
Mindset Matters is a space to learn about the mental and emotional aspects of living with chronic illness. Nat Kelley, a certified life and mindset coach, shares how coming to terms with her ulcerative colitis diagnosis was hard, but it allowed her to build a more compassionate relationship with herself.
July 25, 2022
Living Well
The Mindflight Journal: A Journal for Chronic Illness
Meet Nicole and Aisley, the mom and daughter partnership behind the Mindflight Journal. Building from their own experiences, they've designed a journal for those living with chronic illnesses. Trust me, it's a game-changer.
April 04, 2023
Living Well
What I Learned While Applying for Disability Insurance to Manage Life with Crohn’s
I wish I'd applied for disability the minute I was eligible. I also wish I didn't try to do it all on my own the first time.
February 27, 2023
Living Well
Top 7 Yoga Poses for IBD Relief
These slow, gentle movements can help even absolute beginners ease some of their IBD-related discomfort.
July 28, 2022
Living Well
How to Live in the Moment When You’re in IBD Remission
Living with inflammatory bowel disease can be unpredictable, but you shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying the good moments while they're here.
April 14, 2021
Living Well
Should You Disclose Your Diagnosis at Work?
The decision of whether or not to share your chronic condition diagnosis with an employer or potential employer is personal. Here's my story and some things to consider as you make the choice.
May 25, 2023
Living Well
How to Go Green When You Live with IBD
Even though folks with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis may use more of certain resources (like toilet paper) than the average person, you can still take steps to reduce your environmental impact.
April 17, 2023
Living Well
Consistency Is Overrated
Consistency helps us feel safe and reduces anxiety. But it also can create unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to redefine consistency (and success) so you’re OK with the ebbs and flows of life.
April 20, 2023
Living Well
Which Exercise Is Best for People with Crohn’s?
Crohn’s disease. Learn about the benefits of aerobic activity, resistance training, yoga, and tai chi.
May 30, 2020
Living Well
Your Holiday Gift Guide for Spoonies, by Spoonies
These gift ideas, from seven small businesses run by people living with chronic conditions, will help make this holiday season even more festive.
November 10, 2022
Living Well
What Moving to South Korea Taught Me About Managing Life and Health with IBD
Through new habits and high quality healthcare, I discovered what it’s like to feel strong and confident in my body.
November 24, 2021
Living Well
9 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays When You’re Living with IBD
Increased stress and indulgent meals can make the holidays tough when you're living with IBD. A writer living with ulcerative colitis shares her best holiday tips.
November 22, 2022
Living Well
How to Create Holiday Boundaries When You Have a Chronic Condition
When you're living with a chronic condition, understanding and communicating your needs is imperative. These boundaries can be especially important during the busy holiday season.
October 26, 2022
Living Well
Living with a Chronic Illness Can Be Isolating — These Tips Can Help
Even when it feels hard to reach out, taking small actions can help us feel more connected to others.
November 12, 2021
Living Well
7 Tips for Navigating the Stages of Grief After a New Diagnosis
Grieving a new diagnosis is complex. Hearing from others who have been there can help.
July 22, 2021
Living Well
8 Tips for Coping with ‘Reopening Anxiety’ When You’re Living with a Chronic Condition
Ready or not, the world is reopening around us. Here's how to reengage on your own terms.
June 10, 2021
Living Well
How to Be Your Own Best Advocate When You’re Living with a Chronic Illness
Good self-advocacy in medical settings requires a complicated balance of confidence and humility.
May 13, 2021
Living Well
How Embracing the Inevitability of Suffering Can Help You Thrive with Chronic Pain
While some things help, for many chronic illness diagnoses, nothing fixes. This is where changing your mindset may help more than changing your treatment.
March 12, 2021
Living Well
The Benefits of Gratitude When You’re Living with a Chronic Illness
Shifting to an attitude of gratitude can be the difference between surviving and truly thriving.
January 25, 2021
Living Well
What Living with Crohn’s Disease Has Taught Me About Trusting My Body
There are always factors within your control, whether you’re aware of them right now or not.
April 23, 2021
Living Well
5 Reasons Everyone with IBD Should Be Offered Therapy
Therapy helped me process the life changing reality of being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and I think it should be a standard offering for everyone with IBD.
March 24, 2021
Living Well
How I Created Joy Through Chronic Pain and a Pandemic
This past year taught me that there is a resilience inside me that circumstances, including chronic migraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, cannot touch.
March 05, 2021
Living Well
Realistic Approaches to Setting Resolutions When You Live with a Chronic Condition
Living with a chronic condition often means working within your body’s parameters, which can mean editing your expectations. Always give yourself grace and remember that your New Year’s resolutions — if you choose to set them — don’t have to “match” anyone else’s. They only have to feel helpful to you.
December 24, 2022
Living Well
How I Created Flexible, Remote Work While Living with a Chronic Illness
I was productive, I had purpose, and I was bringing in an income, all while taking good care of myself.
September 16, 2020
Living Well
9 Ways to Make Long-Haul Quarantine More Sustainable
These tips may help add some ease to your quarantined days.
December 08, 2020
Living Well
How to Reimagine What Fulfillment Means to You When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
Life’s uninvited challenges, like illness and loss, can help us find deeper fulfillment in the present moment.
October 28, 2020
Living Well
Why I Choose Positivity in the Face of Chronic Illness
My mantra, 'living a positive life while chronically ill,' feels more necessary now than it ever has.
September 08, 2020
Living Well
How I Transformed My Mindset About Life with IBD
I learned to use the power of my mind to feel hope, gratitude, and even joy instead of spiraling into darkness.
December 07, 2022
Living Well
Having a Chronic Illness Helped Me Prepare for the Uncertainty of the Pandemic
Managing ulcerative colitis means accepting the unpredictability of life. That skill has become invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 11, 2020
Living Well
The Value of Pursuing Hobbies When You’re Living with a Chronic Illness
Finding activities that you’re passionate about and can enjoy despite your condition can lead to a richer life.
May 25, 2021
Living Well
How Nature-Based Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health
Medication isn’t the only way to treat your mental health when you live with a chronic condition. You might be surprised by all the benefits you can find right in the world around you.
May 27, 2022
Living Well
We Need to Talk About Chronic Pain and Suicide
People with chronic pain are at a higher risk of mental health conditions, which can lead to suicidal ideation and suicide. Several factors can heighten this risk, which is why it's important to speak up about it.
November 16, 2022
Living Well
How Chronic Illness Helped Me Cultivate Better Reading Habits
Through bibliotherapy I've learned that books can offer greater insight and healing than I ever imagined, as long as I pay attention.
January 11, 2022
Living Well
How to Stop Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill with Chronic Illness
Worry and anxiety are common among people with chronic illnesses. These tips can help you slow down and understand your emotions to both improve your mood and your quality of life.
December 01, 2022
Living Well
7 Self-Care Tips for Surviving the Holidays with IBD
Putting your needs first and being kind to yourself can help you enjoy this festive season.
November 22, 2021
Living Well
How to Set and Achieve Your Goals with Chronic Illness
Managing your chronic illness on top of life's everyday tasks can be overwhelming. These tips can help you find the motivation and inspiration you need to reach your goals.
October 07, 2022
Living Well
Planning an Event? Here Are 6 Reasons It Really Needs to Be Accessible
Not only is it the law, but planning an ADA-compliant event shows you care about people living with disabilities.
December 13, 2022
Living Well
Mindset Matters: Mindfulness and Chronic Illness: How to Focus on the Present When the Present Is Full of Pain
Staying grounded in the present might seem awful when you’re in pain. But if you do it with mindfulness, it can keep you from spiraling out.
November 04, 2022
Living Well
How the Spoon Theory Helps Me Explain My Health
It can be hard to explain the way that a chronic condition impacts your daily energy. The spoon theory is a clever way to help get the point across.
January 29, 2023
Living Well
A Public Health Crisis: Preventing Loneliness in Chronic Illness
Loneliness is more prevalent than ever in the U.S. — and people with chronic illness are likely familiar with it. Here's how to stay socially connected even when symptoms or flare-ups get in your way.
June 30, 2023
Living Well
How I Exercise with Ulcerative Colitis — In and Out of Remission
IBD symptoms can make you want to do anything but exercise. Here's why — and how — to keep moving your body.
August 04, 2022
Living Well
5 Tips for Safe Backcountry Adventures When You’re Living with a Chronic Condition
Wherever you're starting out on your outdoor recreation journey, these five tips from experienced, outdoorsy chronic illness warriors will help you find your way.
May 12, 2022
Living Well
10 Ways to Celebrate World IBD Day
Show your body some love, raise awareness (and money!) for the cause, and connect with fellow IBD warriors.
April 29, 2022
Living Well
7 Tips for Making Yourself Comfortable During an IBD Flare
When my IBD kicks in, I rely on these seven habits to feel less pain and stress.
August 09, 2022
Living Well
Mindset Matters: Fostering Self-Love and Rediscovering Yourself Post-Diagnosis
Mindset Matters is led by Nat Kelley, a certified life and mindset coach. This month, she focuses on ways to practice self-love and find the "new you" after a diagnosis.
August 10, 2022
Living Well
35 Date Ideas That Don’t Involve Food
Dating is hard enough without worrying about experiencing symptoms when out and about. Try one of these fun ideas for a less stressful date.
September 02, 2022
Living Well
Mindset Matters: How to Gently Stop the Mental Spirals That Accompany Chronic Illness
It's easy to spiral into negative thought patterns with chronic illness. But with a little self-awareness and reframing, you can start to get your thoughts under control.
September 15, 2022
Living Well
When You Don’t Live with a Chronic Condition, You Don’t See the Full Picture
Some of the most difficult parts of living with chronic illness are the aspects that others don't see.
September 15, 2022
Living Well
Gardening Is My Mindfulness Practice of Choice — Here’s Why
Watching my plants grow and bloom, as well as the benefits of grounding, are just some of the ways gardening teaches me to be more mindful for my chronic illness.
August 23, 2023
Living Well
The Pain-Energy Cycle and How to Pace Yourself with Chronic Illness
It can be hard to resist the urge to do everything at once when you have energy between flare-ups. But it’s important to remember to rest.
September 28, 2022
Living Well
Surviving Holiday Stress with IBD
With all the events focused on food and alcohol, plus the general busyness of the season, it's easy to feel stressed and fatigued. Here are some strategies to make the holidays feel special again.
December 12, 2022
Living Well
9 Products Everyone with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Absolutely Needs
Even the little things can make a big difference when you're living with IBD.
June 11, 2020
Living Well
Are Stress and Routine Changes Aggravating Your IBD Symptoms? Here’s How to Deal
It can be tricky to create and stick to a new routine, but there are ways to create a sense of calm amid chaos.
June 12, 2020
Living Well
7 Tips for Learning to Love Your Body After an IBD Diagnosis
There is no right way to come to terms with learning you have inflammatory bowel disease, but there are some strategies that might help you do so — and learn to love your body along the way.
November 30, 2020
Living Well
Uncover These 3 Superpowers to Reduce Pandemic Stress
We can't control the ongoing pandemic, but we can control how we react to the stress it's creating in our lives.
February 28, 2022
Living Well
How I Rebuilt Strength at Home After a UC Flare-Up
Before a year-long ulcerative colitis flare-up, I was in the best shape of my life. Here’s how I got it back.
December 01, 2020
Living Well
Mindset Matters: Moving Through the Strange Feeling of Grieving Your Old Life
Grieving your old self is a little different than grieving a loved one who's passed. Here's how I moved forward.
December 13, 2022
Living Well
How ASMR Can Benefit People with Chronic Illness
If you live with a chronic illness, ASMR may help you feel relaxed, comforted, or even relieved from chronic pain. But triggers aren't the same for everyone.
June 28, 2023
Living Well
How Movement Became My Medicine
I was only 4 years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Slowly but surely I started to understand the consequences of missing playtime and not moving my body.
September 12, 2023
Living Well
Crohn’s Didn’t Stop Me from Having the Wedding of My Dreams
I had to consider my dress, the food we served, and numerous other details in addition to the normal stressful wedding decisions, but it worked out wonderfully.
February 15, 2023
Living Well
How My Fitness Routine Helps Me Better Understand My Crohn's Disease
Working out has helped me understand my body's signals better, and in turn, better manage my IBD.
February 15, 2023
Living Well
17 Great Chronically Ill and Disabled Content Creators to Follow
There are countless chronic condition and disability advocates on social media committed to spreading awareness and breaking down stigma. Here are 17 who are making an incredible impact.
September 20, 2023
Living Well
I’m a Patient Getting Paid — and You Can Be Too
In this column, Kathy Reagan shares advice, resources, and stories to help others navigate the world of work while living with a chronic illness.
September 20, 2023
Living Well
5 Yoga Practices to Consider If You Live with a Chronic Condition
Yoga is an accessible way to get your body moving that can provide a range of health benefits. Here's how to get started.
October 19, 2023
Living Well
Side Hustles to Start Now for Extra Holiday Money
Kathy Reagan shares advice and resources for earning extra income and avoiding scams in this Patients Getting Paid column.
October 26, 2023
Living Well
How to Find Meaning After Grieving the Former You
After my diagnosis, it took time to accept my new life. But I still struggled to understand its meaning. The sixth stage of grief helped me find meaning.
November 02, 2023
Living Well
My IBD Wish List: 12 Things I’d Buy Myself This Holiday Season
The items on my list will all make life with IBD a bit better, whether through improved adulting, self-care, or just plain fun!
November 13, 2023
Living Well
The 5 Best Things About Having Crohn’s
I'd happily give up the pain, expense, and inconvenience of life with Crohn's. But I wouldn't trade its life lessons.
March 30, 2023
Living Well
8 Tips to Find Lower Cost Therapy
Mental health treatment is expensive. Read on to learn about more affordable options that might help you get the support you need.
October 18, 2023