Go Ahead. Break Your Routine.

In recent months, uncertainty has dominated the global world. It’s been said thousands of times already, but we’re living in historic times. As an immunocompromised individual who lives with other immunocompromised people, I knew COVID-19 was important to monitor. However, I don’t think I could have ever predicted how abnormal life would become due to the pandemic.

Living through COVID-19 is like living in a movie

To live through an experience where every single aspect of existence is influenced by one factor, in this case, COVID-19 can feel so real and unique that ironically it starts to feel artificial. It’s like living in a movie, but the border between fiction and reality is dissolved entirely.

Even the most mundane and routine components of daily life have become an adventure. For instance, I stopped to get gas and was shocked to discover that the cost per gallon was only .99 cents. As a twenty-year-old, I have never lived in or remembered a world where a gallon of gas was cheaper than a candy bar.

With ulcerative colitis, life is often defined by uncertainty. Thus, the reality of the past several weeks has led me to reflect on the nature of routine in the lives of patients.

Strategies to cope with the complications of UC

Personally, since being diagnosed, I have implemented several different strategies to cope with the complications and challenges that can arise from IBD. For example, in my car, I have an emergency kit for the unexpected. In it, I pack a change of clothes, medication, baby wipes, and IBD-safe foods for a snack. It’s not fool-proof, but it serves as a comfort.

With it by my side, I feel less limited in where I can go and what I can do. After all, I’ve always got the resources I need to launch a backup plan. Another advantage is that a solid 80 percent of the time when I am asked by someone if I have a random toiletry, I am able to lend a helping hand. Plus, I get to feel like MacGyver or Batman.

What happens when we can't prepare for changed plans or obstacles?

While I’m grateful for my emergency kit, the truth is that it's an easy solution. But what do you do when you can’t plan, or at least adapt to unforeseen obstacles lurking in your path? It doesn’t take a global pandemic to throw us off our game, whether we’re chronically ill or not.

An unexpected traffic jam, computer crash, or unexpected rainstorm are just a few things that can force us to change our course. While it can be difficult to make compromises, I think it’s an important step towards adopting a healthier relationship with ulcerative colitis and your routine.

Let go of expectations and routines

More and more, I am realizing that my expectations don’t always align with reality. Moreover, I’m learning that it’s okay to raise or lower the bar that I set for myself. It’s good to challenge yourself to complete goals, but it’s also okay if every box on your to-do list doesn’t get checked off in one day.

Naturally, routines will fall apart, but as long as you can avoid getting knocked out by the debris, you’ll be alright. Instead of forcing yourself to excel, I challenge you to forgive yourself when you procrastinate and to celebrate your successes.

In the end, I think you’ll be surprised by what you can achieve when you worry less about your expectations or routines.