Do The Next Thing: What It Really Means When You’re Chronically Ill

“Just do the next thing.”

It sounds so simple. But when you’re chronically ill, in pain, foggy-headed, or emotionally drained, the next thing can feel like climbing a mountain with no shoes and a backpack full of bricks.

For a long time, that phrase made me feel worse. I’d hear it and think, I can’t even figure out what the next thing is, let alone do it. But over time, I started to see it differently. It wasn’t a productivity hack. It wasn’t a to-do list motivator. It was a lifeline.

When everything feels like too much, when your energy is tanking and your body is in revolt, doing the next thing becomes an act of survival. Sometimes it’s brushing your teeth. Sometimes it’s answering that one email. Sometimes it’s just making it to the couch with your heating pad and water.

“Do the next thing” is not about hustling, it’s about honoring your capacity.

It helped me shift my mindset. Instead of feeling paralyzed by everything I couldn’t do, I started focusing on the one small thing I could. One dish. One call. One deep breath.

Here are a few ways I’ve learned to find “the next thing” when life feels overwhelming:

• Start tiny. If you’re stuck, pick something you can do in under two minutes. That counts.

• Write it down. Brain fog can scramble even the basics. Keeping a short list helps.

• Celebrate it. No shame in clapping for yourself because you remembered your meds or folded a towel. I do it all the time.

• Listen to your body. Sometimes “the next thing” is resting, and that is valid and worthy.

It’s okay if your next thing today is smaller than yesterday’s. It’s okay if your next thing is asking for help.

Forward is forward.

You are not lazy. You are navigating a body that takes more effort to operate than most people understand. And you’re doing the best you can with what you’ve got.

That deserves honor.

So today, let this be your permission slip:

You don’t have to do everything. Just the next thing.

And if you don’t know what that is yet? That’s okay too. Sit down, breathe, and let the moment come to you.

Have you ever had a “next thing” moment that helped you get unstuck? Share it in the comments or connect with me on social media. I’d love to hear your story.