Ponder with Pamela

Tag: #ChronicIllnessAndWork

  • Tai Chi and Remote Work: Finding Balance in Rainy Weather

    Tai Chi and Remote Work: Finding Balance in Rainy Weather

    June 14, 2025

    Sometimes a good day doesn’t mean everything goes perfectly; it just means you show up anyway.

    Today was one of those rainy days that seems to settle into your bones, and my knees definitely felt it. That familiar ache that reminds you your body has its own weather system. But I still rolled through my morning routine, and when it came time for exercise, I chose Tai Chi instead of my usual workout.

    There’s something about Tai Chi on days when your joints are protesting. Those slow, flowing movements that work with your body instead of demanding things from it. It felt like exactly what I needed.

    I managed a full day of work for RWS, and even had an afternoon meeting. It’s such a gift to work for a company that actually gets remote work. They provide so much helpful information and support for their remote employees. Not everyone understands that working from home doesn’t mean working in isolation, especially when you’re managing health stuff alongside everything else.

    Days like today remind me that “good” doesn’t have to mean pain-free or perfect. Sometimes it just means adapting, showing up, and appreciating the support systems that make it all possible.

    The rain is still coming down, but I’m calling today a win. 💜

    The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜

  • How Working from Home Enhances Mental Health

    How Working from Home Enhances Mental Health

    June 10, 2025

    Today was a good day, boring, but good. And honestly? I’m learning to really appreciate boring good days when you’re managing chronic illness. Boring means no crisis, no flares, no unexpected challenges. Boring can be beautiful.

    Morning Routine Success

    I enjoyed my morning routine, which continues to set such a positive foundation for everything that follows. The consistency is becoming automatic now, and I can feel how much my body and mind have come to depend on this gentle, nurturing start to each day.

    There’s something deeply satisfying about having a routine that actually serves you rather than feeling like another obligation to check off a list.

    Professional Development Progress

    I spent most of the day continuing my onboarding at RWS, which consisted of watching training videos, reading policies, and taking tests on all the information they’ve provided. It’s methodical work, but I’m making steady progress.

    I still have one more section to complete tomorrow, and then I’ll be finished with the onboarding process and hopefully getting to actually start doing some real work. There’s anticipation building around transitioning from preparation to actual productivity.

    The Gift of Working from Home

    Today was a beautiful, sunny day, and I absolutely love that I can sit at my dining room table, look outside, and feel the fresh breeze coming through the windows while I work. This is such a dramatically better work environment than being stuck in a stuffy office or trapped on a production floor with no windows.

    The mental health benefits of working from home can’t be overstated, especially when you’re managing chronic conditions. Being able to control your environment, including the lighting, air flow, noise level, and seating arrangement, makes a difference in how your body feels throughout the day.

    Natural Light and Well-Being

    Having access to natural light and fresh air while working feels like a luxury, but it’s actually essential for my well-being. The sunshine streaming in helps with my ongoing battle against Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the breeze keeps the space from feeling stagnant.

    When you spend years working in windowless environments or offices where you can’t control the temperature or air quality, the simple pleasure of fresh air becomes something you never take for granted again.

    Appreciating the Mundane

    There’s something to be said for pleasantly uneventful days. No drama, no health crises, no major obstacles, just steady progress on necessary tasks while feeling physically comfortable and mentally calm.

    When you live with chronic illness, you learn that boring days are actually precious. They’re the days when your body cooperates, your energy is steady, and you can simply focus on moving forward without having to manage symptoms or navigate unexpected challenges.

    Building Sustainable Work Life

    This combination of working from home, having flexible scheduling, and being able to maintain my morning self-care routines feels like the foundation for a sustainable work life that actually supports my health rather than undermining it.

    Tomorrow I’ll finish the onboarding and hopefully start the actual work. But today’s “boring” progress feels like exactly what I need, which is steady, manageable, and peaceful.

    Here’s to more boring good days and the appreciation that comes from knowing how valuable they really are! 💜

    Sometimes the most beautiful days are the unremarkable ones where everything just works quietly and smoothly in the background.

    The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜

  • Managing ADHD and Chronic Illness: My Journey to Better Mornings

    Managing ADHD and Chronic Illness: My Journey to Better Mornings

    June 9, 2025

    Today was another genuinely good day, despite the rainy weather that usually brings challenges. But here’s the amazing thing: I’ve started noticing that when I wake up, I’m not nearly as stiff and sore as I used to be. I honestly can’t even begin to tell you what a relief that is!

    The Gift of Better Mornings

    Starting your day feeling miserable makes everything that follows so much more difficult. When you wake up already fighting pain and stiffness, it’s like beginning each day from behind. But lately, I’m waking up feeling more like a normal human being, and it’s transforming everything.

    This change has to be connected to the consistent gentle exercise routine I’ve been maintaining. A week and a half of daily 10-minute sessions of Qi Gong, yoga, Tai Chi, and strength training, and my body is already responding with less morning stiffness. That’s incredible progress! I would never have thought that such a minor thing could make such a major improvement!

    Morning Routine Mastery

    I completed my full morning routine and got my Qi Gong session done, and even managed to meditate for 10 minutes afterward. For someone with ADHD, sitting still and concentrating solely on breathing is genuinely challenging because my mind wants to race off in a million different directions at once.

    But I’m learning that meditation doesn’t have to be perfect. Even when my thoughts are bouncing around, the attempt to focus and breathe mindfully seems to have value. It’s about practice, not perfection.

    Professional Progress

    I got all my email sorted and started my onboarding process at RWS! It feels so good to be moving forward professionally while also taking care of my health. The combination of feeling physically better and having new opportunities creates this upward momentum that’s been missing for so long.

    Having sustainable morning routines in place makes handling new work responsibilities feel much more manageable. I’m starting from a place of strength rather than trying to catch up from exhaustion.

    Productive Energy

    I even managed to complete three loads of laundry between everything else today. For anyone managing chronic illness, you know that’s not a small accomplishment. It’s running up and down stairs to wash, dry, fold, AND put away multiple loads while handling other responsibilities.

    I’m feeling genuinely productive today, and it’s the good kind of productivity. Energizing rather than depleting. When your body feels better, everything else becomes more possible.

    The ADHD and Chronic Illness Intersection

    Managing both ADHD and chronic illness creates unique challenges. The hyperactive mind that wants to do everything at once, combined with a body that has limited energy reserves, requires careful balance and realistic expectations.

    But I’m finding that gentle, consistent routines actually help both conditions. The physical movement supports my chronic illness management, while the structured routine helps my ADHD brain stay focused and organized.

    Hope for More Days Like This

    I’m feeling incredibly hopeful about having many more days like this one. The combination of reduced morning stiffness, successful meditation despite ADHD challenges, professional progress, and sustained energy throughout the day feels like a new normal I could actually maintain.

    The best part is knowing that these improvements are coming from sustainable changes. Gentle exercise, consistent routines, and realistic expectations, rather than pushing myself beyond my limits.

    Here’s to waking up feeling human and building on this momentum! 💜

    Sometimes the biggest victories are the ones that happen before you even get out of bed. Waking up without that familiar morning battle against your own body.

    The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜

  • Finding Balance: Yoga, Work, and Problem-Solving

    Finding Balance: Yoga, Work, and Problem-Solving

    June 8, 2025

    Today was a pretty good day despite starting with rain this morning. Fortunately, it cleared up in the afternoon, giving us some of that sunshine my body craves. There’s something about seeing blue sky after gray morning clouds that just lifts the spirit.

    Sunday Yoga Success

    I got up and completed my daily routine, and I did follow through with yoga this morning as planned. Adding gentle movement to what was supposed to be my rest day felt exactly right. My body was asking for it rather than needing to skip it.

    A full week of consistent 10-minute exercise sessions, and I’m still amazed at how much better I feel overall. The yoga was the perfect choice for today because it was gentle, restorative, and energizing without being demanding.

    Productive Work Day

    I spent a significant portion of my day working on tests and qualifications for different job opportunities online. It’s encouraging to have multiple irons in the fire now, especially after landing the RWS position yesterday. Building options feels like building security.

    Then I spent some relaxing time doing surveys on Branded Surveys and InboxDollars. I don’t make much money from them, but they’re easy to complete while watching TV with my daughter. It’s the perfect low-energy activity that still feels somewhat productive, quality time plus a little extra income.

    Appliance Adventures

    The universe decided to test my problem-solving skills today: both ice machines in my refrigerator have decided to stop working properly now that the weather has warmed up. We have an ice machine in the door and another one down in the freezer, and both are acting up simultaneously.

    It’s particularly weird because they’re both filling the trays and freezing the ice just fine, but they won’t drop the ice unless you manually hit the reset buttons. Murphy’s Law strikes again! Appliances always seem to break when you need them most!

    Practical Solutions

    I’ll be calling for a repair service tomorrow to get this sorted out. In the meantime, thankfully we have old-fashioned ice cube trays, so we’ve been freezing ice manually. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most reliable ones.

    It’s funny how dealing with minor household inconveniences feels so much more manageable when you’re feeling physically better. A week ago, this kind of problem would have felt overwhelming. Today, it’s just a minor blip that needs handling.

    Flexibility and Adaptation

    Today reinforced some important lessons about flexibility, both in exercise routines and in daily life. Adding yoga to my planned rest day felt right, just like adapting to ice machine problems with manual solutions feels manageable.

    When you’re living with chronic conditions, learning to roll with unexpected challenges while maintaining your self-care routines becomes an essential life skill.

    Here’s to problem-solving, productive days, and the reliability of good old ice cube trays! 💜

    Sometimes the best days are the ones where you handle whatever comes your way while still taking care of yourself first.

    The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜

  • When You Know the Answer… and Still Fail the Quiz

    When You Know the Answer… and Still Fail the Quiz

    May 9, 2025

    Today was frustrating.

    I’m in the middle of training for a new company I’d really like to work for. There are four training modules, each with a quiz, and after that, I get two detailed manuals to study before I take a final test and (hopefully) start working on projects.

    I passed the first two quizzes, but honestly? I thought I would do better. This company is a lot more detail-oriented than I’m used to.

    So when I got to the third module, I slowed down. I took notes. I double-checked everything. I even did great on the two practice questions.

    When I went to take the quiz, I felt confident! I thought I nailed it. But then? I didn’t pass.

    When I looked at the results, I was stunned. I could’ve sworn I clicked the correct answers. My notes matched. My understanding was solid. And yet… There it was. Wrong.

    I’m disappointed in myself — even though logically, I know I shouldn’t be. I knew the answers. I just don’t know what went wrong. I’ll probably try again tomorrow, but today? I’m letting myself feel it.

    Sometimes it’s not about failing. It’s about feeling like you did everything right and still didn’t get the result you deserved.

    The dogs are snoring. I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. 💜