Good self-care pays off, but it takes time and energy – two things that can be in short supply for someone who’s living with a rare or chronic illness
“There are many reasons why people with chronic illness will neglect self-care, from feeling as though they simply don’t have the energy to engage in the exercises to feeling undeserving or helpless to create a positive impact on their physiological and/or emotional well-being,” said Dr. Felecia Sumner, a family medicine doctor in suburban Philadelphia and the author of “Fill Your Cup: A Physician's Guide to Caring for Yourself, Creating Your Purpose, and Masterfully Managing Your Condition.”
Self-care can begin by focusing on how to make life more enjoyable. Here are seven steps to help you get started or refresh your self-care habits.
![Infographic featuring a woman in a red superhero cape with tips about sleep, nutrition, exercise and spending time with friends and family](https://www.csl.com/-/media/shared/vita-2023/selfcare_infographic_900w_final.jpg?h=1289&iar=0&w=900&hash=867AEA2CC33787C86A2E0C4248E2BA03)