THE FIBROMATES JOURNAL

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

Living with fibromyalgia can often feel like a never-ending roller coaster of fatigue, pain, and frustration. The unpredictability of flare-ups and the emotional toll of chronic illness can leave fibromates feeling depleted and disconnected from themselves. But summer, with its longer days, gentle warmth, and slower pace, offers a perfect opportunity to reset, refresh, and realign with what truly nourishes body and soul. By creating personalized self-care strategies, fibromates can regain a sense of control and prioritize their wellbeing.

Why Self-Care Matters More for Fibromates

Self-care is often misunderstood as indulgent or selfish. But for those living with fibromyalgia, self-care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Because fibro affects the nervous system, muscles, sleep, and mental health, an intentional approach to daily care can reduce symptoms, boost resilience, and create a more balanced life. Without some form of self-care strategy in place, it’s easy to fall into cycles of overexertion, flare-ups, and emotional burnout.

So, what does resetting with self-care look like for fibromates?

1. Start with Self-Compassion

The first step to creating a helpful self-care plan is practicing self-compassion. Many fibromates struggle with guilt around rest, especially when comparing themselves to others or their pre-fibro selves. But resetting your mindset to include kindness and understanding toward yourself is essential. Remind yourself often: Rest is not laziness. Slowing down is not failing. It’s an act of strength to listen to your body.

2. Create a Weekly Rhythm, Not a Rigid Routine

Rigid schedules can add pressure and stress, but a gentle weekly rhythm can be grounding. Think of a rhythm as a flexible pattern that honours your energy levels. Include daily anchors like morning stretches, hydration reminders, a nourishing meal, or a wind-down ritual at night. Let your schedule reflect your needs, not the expectations of others. You might even plan in “low energy days” to give yourself margin when flares occur.

3. Plan Micro-Moments of Joy

Resetting doesn’t require big changes. Sometimes, the smallest joys have the greatest impact. Take 5 minutes each morning to sit in the sun, sip your tea slowly, or write one thing you’re grateful for. These micro-moments create a sense of peace and presence. Over time, they become powerful reminders that life holds goodness, even in the midst of pain.

4. Develop a Rest-First Strategy

Fibromates often wait until they crash to rest. A reset means flipping that script: Plan your rest before anything else. Add “quiet time” or “gentle rest” into your calendar like an appointment. Use tools like guided meditations, soft music, or body scans to make rest more restorative. And if sleep is elusive, try calming bedtime rituals like aromatherapy or a warm bath.

5. Connect with Supportive People

Isolation can make fibro symptoms worse. As part of your self-care reset, identify who uplifts you and gently make space for those connections. Whether it’s a weekly check-in with a fellow fibro warrior, joining an online support group, or simply texting a friend, community is healing. You don’t have to face this alone.

6. Reflect and Recalibrate Regularly

Your self-care strategy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Check in with yourself weekly or monthly. What’s working? What’s not? What needs adjusting? Self-care should evolve with your body and your life. Use a simple journal or voice memo to track how you feel and what supports your wellbeing best.

The Takeaway

Resetting with self-care isn’t about perfect plans or magical cures. It’s about creating space—space to breathe, to rest, and to reconnect with your inner wisdom. As a fibromate, you deserve a life where care is not something you squeeze in, but something you prioritize. Summer is the perfect time to begin this gentle reset. Start small, stay kind to yourself, and remember: You are worthy of the care you so often give to others.

Let this be your season of reset and renewal.

Enjoy!

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

Summer is often seen as a season of rest, renewal, and a fresh start. The warmer weather, longer days, and slower pace can offer the perfect opportunity for those of us living with fibromyalgia to step back and gently reset—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

One powerful way to do this is by applying the insights from Joseph Nguyen’s book Don’t Believe Everything You Think. This transformative read offers a compassionate yet empowering perspective on how we can change our inner dialogue and break free from the mental suffering that often accompanies chronic pain conditions like fibro.

Here’s how Nguyen’s key messages can support your mindset reset this summer.

1. Recognize That Not Every Thought Is True

One of the book’s central teachings is that our thoughts are not always facts. For fibro warriors, this is a liberating idea. Pain often generates negative or fear-based thinking: “I’ll never get better,” “No one understands what I’m going through,” “I’m lazy because I can’t keep up.” These thoughts can feel very real—but they are not necessarily true.

This summer, try observing your thoughts with a sense of curiosity. When you catch yourself thinking something discouraging, gently ask: Is this absolutely true? Is this helping me? By stepping back from automatic beliefs, you create space for healing, self-compassion, and possibility.

2. Embrace the Present Moment

Nguyen emphasizes that peace is found in the present—not in the future when we feel better, and not in the past before fibromyalgia changed our lives. Mindfulness is a powerful tool for fibromates. Tuning into the present moment—whether it’s the sound of birds, the feeling of sunshine on your skin, or the joy of a cold glass of lemonade—can ground you in calm and clarity.

This summer, let nature guide your mindfulness practice. Go slowly. Spend time outside. Sit in the shade. Feel the breeze. Let go of racing thoughts and reconnect with the now.

3. You Are Not Your Mind

Nguyen makes a profound point: You are not your mind. This means you are not the anxious chatter, the overthinking, or the self-criticism. You are the awareness behind all of that.

Fibromyalgia often clouds our sense of identity. Many of us feel like our diagnosis has taken over our lives. But this summer, give yourself permission to remember: you are more than your illness, more than your pain. Practice being the gentle observer of your thoughts instead of getting caught in them.

4. Reset by Releasing Resistance

When we fight our reality—wishing we didn’t have pain, didn’t have limitations—we create more suffering. Nguyen invites us to release resistance and accept what is with gentleness.

This doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing peace. Resetting your mindset doesn’t require striving or fixing—it simply asks for a soft shift. Acceptance of where you are right now can actually lead to greater emotional freedom and resilience.

So, if this summer doesn’t look like others, that’s okay. Let it be a season of radical kindness toward yourself.

5. Let Summer Be Your Reset Button

Joseph Nguyen’s book reminds us that suffering begins in the mind—but so does healing. You don’t have to wait for the “perfect” moment to change your mindset. You can begin now, with a breath, a pause, a new way of seeing.

Use the slower rhythm of summer to listen inward. Take walks (even short ones), journal under a tree, read something uplifting, or meditate by an open window. Surround yourself with beauty and nourish your nervous system.

Resetting your mindset doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be quiet, gentle, and deeply personal. Joseph Nguyen’s wisdom offers a beautiful path for fibromates to stop believing the thoughts that hold us back and to start living from a place of peace, presence, and self-love.

This summer, may you reset—not by doing more, but by believing less of what keeps you stuck.

You deserve that peace.

Have a Great Summer!

by Irene Roth, Blog Editor/Writer

As the days grow longer and the warmth of summer wraps around us, many of us in the fibromyalgia community find ourselves navigating a mix of emotions. On one hand, the sunshine and change of season bring hope and the promise of lighter, brighter days. On the other, the expectations of summertime activity—travel, social gatherings, family events—can feel overwhelming, especially when living with chronic pain and fatigue.

It’s important for all of us to remember that in the summer we don’t have to keep up with the pace of our family and friends. Instead, this time of year is a chance for us to honor our bodies, our rhythms, and our need for deep restoration. Think of summer not as a season to push through, but as an invitation to slow down and breathe. This is your time to rest, reset, and rejuvenate.

Here’s are a few tips to rest, reset and rejunvenate.

Rest
Remember, rest isn’t laziness—it’s nourishment. As fibro warriors, we know our energy is precious. The heat and humidity of summer can intensify symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog. That’s why listening to your body is essential. Rest may look like midday naps, quiet mornings, shorter commitments, or saying “no” more often. And that’s okay. Every pause is a gift to your healing.

Reset
Summer also gives us space to reflect and reset. With the natural world blooming all around us, we’re reminded that growth happens in cycles—and so does healing. Take time to think about what you need right now: Is it a new routine? A break from screen time? A shift in mindset? A reset can be as simple as journaling for five minutes a day, updating your goals, or choosing to let go of guilt around what you can’t do. You are not behind—you are exactly where you need to be.

Rejuvenate
Rejuvenation doesn’t always mean grand gestures like spa days or vacations (though those are lovely too!). Sometimes, it’s found in the little moments: sipping herbal tea on the porch, walking barefoot in the grass, breathing in the scent of lavender, or curling up with a comforting book. Summer’s beauty is all around you—let it nourish your spirit and remind you of the resilience within.

If you are taking a holiday this summer, remember to plan with care and flexibility. Make room for rest during travel, communicate your needs with loved ones, and prioritize your comfort. There’s no one right way to enjoy summer—there’s only your way, and that’s enough.

As we move into this season, just realize you’re not alone. Whether you’re staying local, adventuring gently, or simply resting at home, we encourage you to embrace summer with kindness and compassion for yourself.

You deserve rest. You deserve peace. You deserve joy.

Let this summer be your time to reset and rise gently into what’s next.