@_authormakaylaspencer: Before you get out the pitchforks, I LOVE fall. It’s my favorite season. I live for sweaters, crisp autumn air, bonfires, changing leaves, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and everything else that comes with the autumn season. The problem is the October Slide, the subsequent worsening of symptoms in October for those with chronic illness. For whatever reason, be it more frequent rainstorms, colder temperatures, or barometric changes, many chronically ill people have more severe and/or more frequent flare ups in the fall. Meaning while the rest of the world is excited about sweater weather, many of us are silently dreading it. Some things I do to help ease the October Slide is deep clean beforehand if possible, make freeze ahead meals and freeze some bone broth, stock up on cold/flu meds and remedies, dress in layers, stock up on electrolytes, keep up on vitamins/supplements, and get plenty of rest. Don’t what I did this weekend with cleaning though. I put myself into a flare trying to get all the cleaning done in one weekend. Instead break it up into weeks. One week work on laundry, next week clean/vacuum floors, the week after that wash blankets, etc. Part of the reason that the deadline I gave myself for my WIP draft is at the end of this month is due to the October Slide. I find it easier to draft during the spring/summer when I have more energy. Editing I can do in fall/winter because I already have the bones of my book built. I just need to make it pretty, which for me takes less energy than drafting. Fall/winter is also when I get most of my reading done. I don’t have a goal for the year or anything like that. It’s too much pressure but when I’m too sick to edit, I read. The key to surviving the October Slide is listening to your body. Too tired to read? Listen to an audiobook. Hands hurt too much to write? Read a book instead. It’s all about adapting activities to your energy level. #indieauthor #chronicillness #octoberslide #sweaterweather #potssyndrome

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2026-09-08 21:03:13

2026-09-08 21:03:50

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