Chronically Ill. Chronically Employed. Chronically in Need of a Nap.

Somewhere between doctor appointments and deadlines, we’re making it work.But let’s be honest: it’s not easy.

Living with chronic illness while working is like carrying two full-time jobs in one exhausted body. You become a master of managing symptoms in silence, hiding flares behind filters and smiles, and doing what needs to be done even when your whole body is begging for rest.

And yet, we show up.

We show up to meetings. We show up for our kids. We show up to life—even when we feel like we’re running on fumes.

But maybe today, it’s okay to stop for a moment and say:

“I’m tired. Not lazy. Not unmotivated. Just… tired.”

You Don’t Need to Earn Rest

There’s a lie we’ve been told: that we have to earn rest. That we must prove our worth through productivity, hustle, and showing no weakness.

But the truth is—rest is not a reward. It’s a right. Especially when your body is fighting battles others can’t see.

Taking a break isn’t giving up.It’s refueling. Recharging. Reconnecting with yourself.

Courage Isn’t Always Loud

Some of the most courageous people I know are quietly holding it together behind a computer screen—typing with one hand, clutching a heating pad with the other. They keep working not because they feel strong, but because they are committed to making life meaningful—even within limits.

But just because you can do hard things doesn’t mean you always should.

We deserve workplaces—and lives—that honor both our effort and our humanity.

Thriving Isn’t One Size Fits All

Thriving doesn’t always mean leaping out of bed with a green smoothie and glowing skin. Sometimes, it means setting healthy boundaries. Sometimes it means asking for help. Sometimes it means choosing you, even if the world doesn’t understand why.

So if you’re showing up to work while also managing a chronic illness?That’s not just brave. It’s heroic.

Just promise me this: Don’t wait for a full-blown crash to give yourself what you need. The nap. The compassion. The break.

You’re allowed to rest and rise.You’re allowed to work and say, “this is hard.”You’re allowed to feel exhausted and still be enough.