The most exciting and anticipated thing about a New Year is that it brings a fresh start and change (hopefully, for the better). It’s an exciting time! We’re all hopeful about the things to come over the next 12 months. I was never one to get excited about ringing in another year, not until I was diagnosed with my illness. I was diagnosed in October and immediately it felt like the rug was pulled out from underneath me.
I was angry. I was losing a fight I didn’t even start. And I was losing it quickly. I was due to have my second child, a son in January. I had been so excited for what should have been an amazing year, but at the time, it just felt like a big mess. Instead of letting every New Year be a reminder of this, I chose to use it as a time to reset and refocus on all that I have and what I want in the future.
Life with chronic illness can get a little overwhelming, but it’s not all doom and gloom. There are things we can do to take back control of our life and it starts with a positive mindset! Here are some tips on what I do to help move forward with a chronic illness, including how to start the year off right!
New Insurance Cards
Every January when we get our new insurance cards, I swap them out with our old ones immediately before I forget! These little cards become just as important as our ID cards, so make sure to always have the correct and up-to-date version with you. Double check that you are set with your flexible spending account (if you have one).
And if you did have a change in insurance, be sure to call your doctors ahead of time to get all your information updated. It will make things a lot easier and you’ll have less paperwork to worry about when the appointments arrive.