Redefining productivity and success in life with chronic illness
Sometimes, just getting through the day requires all the strength I have
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In my childhood, productivity meant going to school, doing homework, getting some playtime in, and ending the day, only to restart the cycle the next day.
As I grew older, productivity took on new meaning. It meant checking every box on my to-do list: excelling at work, keeping up with friends, finishing chores, and pursuing hobbies. Success, in my mind, was defined by milestones such as job promotions, academic achievements, social gatherings, and visible goals met on society’s schedule.
But living with a rare, chronic disease like immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) soon replaces those milestones with a more personal set of measures.
Additionally, the world often equates worth with output, such as how much you accomplish in a day or what you can show for your time. For patients like me, that framework can feel suffocating and even painful.
Sometimes, just getting through the day requires all the strength and “spoons” (a popular metaphor for energy) I have. Some days, my most significant efforts are invisible, such as listening to my body, managing my symptoms, or simply allowing myself to rest.
At first, this shift left me feeling hopeless and often depressed. I mourned not only my old sense of productivity, but also the sudden limitations my body faced. Why couldn’t I keep up with life? How did others seem to accomplish so much, while I felt stuck in place?
Adopting a new perspective
It took time and a few stubborn lessons to realize that true productivity, like success, doesn’t have a universal definition. It’s shaped by our circumstances, challenges, and individual ways of navigating life.
My journey as an IgG4-RD patient has radically changed the way I view my days. I’ve realized that compassion for myself must replace the harsh internal critic that compares me with others. Some days, success is a matter of finding a pace and rhythm that respects my body. Other days, it’s about reaching out for help or making space for some joy among the uncertainty.
This perspective doesn’t come easily. The outside world is full of “shoulds.” You should be more active. You should be able to work full time. You should be grateful things aren’t worse. I’ve learned to gently push back against these expectations and create my own definition of a successful day.
Celebrating small wins
This new perspective opened my eyes to the value of small victories. Small wins, moments that might go unnoticed by others, have become an essential part of my new definition of success. There are days when opening my eyes and getting out of bed feel like major accomplishments. There are times when writing a single paragraph, responding to an email, calling a friend, or preparing a simple meal is a reason for celebration.
When I started sharing these small successes with fellow patients, I discovered I was not alone. In our community, scheduling and finishing a routine appointment without incident, managing pain well enough to enjoy a few minutes outdoors, or completing a personal project over the course of weeks or months are all victories worth honoring. We’ve learned to measure progress in heartbeats and moments, not leaps and bounds.
Recognizing and celebrating these small wins isn’t about lowering standards or settling for less. Instead, it’s about acknowledging the unique demands we face and giving ourselves credit for fighting battles most people never see. Each small step forward is proof of our resilience and strength.
To my fellow patients and anyone else whose journey doesn’t fit a traditional mold, I offer this reminder: Productivity and success are not a pre-set collection of strict rules by which to measure yourself. Instead, they are canvases, painted with the unique colors of your own experience.
Celebrate your small wins, no matter how small they may be. Redefine every day on your own terms. In doing so, you might discover an even deeper victory, a genuine sense of pride and joy not only in your self-confidence, but also in fully accepting and celebrating yourself.
Note: IgG4-RD News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of IgG4-RD News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to IgG4-RD.
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