Heading Into 2026: My Plan for Managing Pain and Embracing Life

As 2025 draws to a close, I have been thinking a lot about heading into 2026. For me, the new year is not just a fresh calendar, but a chance to reflect, reset, and plan ways to make life with chronic illness a little easier and a lot more joyful. I am waiting for a few important appointments and a jaw operation, but as always, I am left waiting. No dates yet, no confirmations, just the usual uncertainty. It can be frustrating, and at times it feels like life is on hold. But I also know that planning how I will navigate the year ahead, with the tools and strategies I have and those I hope to introduce, is empowering.

Managing pain remains central to my day-to-day life. I have routines that work for me, and I intend to continue them, but I am also looking to add new strategies to make my body feel better and my days more manageable. At the moment, my daily pain management includes pacing myself carefully. I know my limits, and I try to avoid overdoing things even if I feel capable in the moment. I take regular rests, use heating pads and heated throws when my muscles ache, and make sure I am hydrated and nourished. Gentle stretching and yoga have been life-changing. My slow flow yoga practice, done carefully and with mindfulness, eases tension and stiffness and helps me feel more in control of my body. I want to be more consistent with this in 2026. The benefits it gives my painful body are massive, and I truly feel the difference on the days I practice compared to the days I do not.

In 2026, I also want to introduce new methods of managing pain, including using infrared therapy. I have been reading about the benefits of infrared heat for soothing sore muscles and joints, and I am excited to give it a proper place in my routine. It is another tool to complement the things I already do, another small way to care for my body that feels gentle and nurturing rather than invasive or stressful.

Mobility is another area I want to embrace fully in the coming year. A few months ago, I used a wheelchair for the first time. The difference it made was remarkable. I was able to move around more freely without exhausting myself or causing a crash that left me bedridden for days. At first, my husband was pushing me, but it gave me travel sickness, so my daughter kindly took over. We did have a few mishaps, crashing into walls a couple of times, which made us laugh despite the minor chaos. Clearly, we need more practice, but I want to continue using the wheelchair when necessary and accept that it is not a sign of failure or weakness. It is a tool that allows me to participate in life more fully and conserve my energy.

At the same time, I want to continue using my walking stick. Even though my mobility is gradually declining, using my legs as much as possible is important to me. Walking gives me a sense of independence and normality. It also reminds me of the strength I still have, even if I must balance it carefully. I am aware that overexertion often leads to a crash, leaving me bedridden for several days, so it is a delicate balancing act. I plan to continue using my walking stick when I feel strong enough, but combine it with the wheelchair when needed. Finding that balance between using my legs and conserving energy will be a key focus in 2026.

Another goal I have for the new year is to blog more consistently. Writing is something I truly enjoy. It gives me an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, a way to process what living with chronic illness is like, and it is incredibly good for my mental health. Sharing my experiences helps me feel connected and reminds me that I am not alone. Consistency has been a challenge at times, but I want to make blogging a regular part of my life in 2026. Even if it is just a few posts a month, writing regularly will give me structure and purpose.

Reading is another area I want to prioritise. I love supernatural novels, and while I have been lax with reading lately, I want to make time to escape into those worlds that I love so much. Books have always been a source of comfort and joy for me. They allow me to rest my body while stimulating my mind and imagination. In 2026, I want to make reading a regular habit again, even if it is just a few chapters each day.

Finally, I want to continue and deepen my yoga practice (including bed yoga). Gentle, slow-flow yoga has become essential to my wellbeing. The stretches and movements help relieve tension and manage pain in a way nothing else quite does. In the new year, I want to be more disciplined, practising consistently and incorporating yoga into my daily or near-daily routine. I want to listen to my body, move slowly, and appreciate the ways yoga helps me maintain flexibility, strength, and peace of mind.

Heading into 2026 will not be without challenges. I am still waiting for appointments, and the jaw operation, and the uncertainty that comes with chronic illness remains. There will be difficult days, fatigue, and pain. But I am determined to approach the new year with a plan, using the tools I have, embracing new strategies, and taking care of myself both physically and mentally. By combining careful pain management, consistent yoga, regular reading, blogging, and accepting the wheelchair as a helpful tool, I hope to make the year ahead feel more manageable, meaningful, and even joyful, where possible.

Life with chronic illness is unpredictable, but with patience, planning, and a willingness to embrace what helps, I feel ready to step into 2026 with hope, intention, and self-compassion.

About me

I am a married mother of four children. One of those four children is our granddaughter, for whom we are SGO (legal guardians)/kinship carers. I run a small business and enjoy writing, so I blog. My blog focuses on my family life as well as my experiences of living with chronic illnesses and disabilities such as ME/CFS, spinal stenosis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia.  Oh, and I am only in my mid-40s.