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If you’ve been living with a chronic illness, you know how difficult many nine to five jobs can be. We’re not just talking about a particularly active workplace, either. There are a number of hurdles to employment for individuals who suffer from symptoms like joint pain with fibromyalgia or fatigue. That doesn’t even touch upon the emotional and mental strain of certain professions or work environments. We’ve rounded up a few ideas for unconventional jobs for people living with a chronic illness.

Customer Service

This can come in many forms, but many companies are adding customer service positions as they grow. Some will even offer remote employment options, allowing you to work somewhere that sully supports your needs. Your physical activity levels are relatively flexible (sit or even lay down when you need to or walk and talk on the phone). The downside is that you’ll be customer-facing, which can be stressful for many people in the industry.

Writing

Copywriters, journalists and other writing-focused jobs are great due to their general flexibility. This is another remote-capable job, but instead of having to work directly with people day in and day out you can receive assignments to work on at your discretion. If you’re having a particularly bad flare-up you can rearrange your schedule to suit your needs.

Substitute Teacher

If you have or are willing to get the credentials for it (they vary by state) substitute teaching is a great way to keep your work schedule as light as you need it. Subs are able to turn down work when they’re not feeling well, and they aren’t necessarily penalized for taking weeks or months off. Depending on the classes and ages that you’d be teaching, your day to day might look pretty different. Working with kids can be difficult, but it’s also rewarding in its own way. Plus, at the end of the day, you get to hand them right on back to their regular teacher!

Personal Assistant

With plenty of platforms for freelancers popping up, there is an increasing number of job opportunities out there for people struggling with their chronic illness. Online personal assistants aren’t the haggard and harried people you see in movies. They’re often doing research and taking care of small but time-consuming tasks.

Remember that there are always options for people who need an unconventional schedule or work environment. Don’t give up just because you can’t do the exact same role you were before your chronic illness.

Peer Health can connect you with a personalized peer community to share provider recommendations, treatment options, and define your best life. Sign up for our beta and newsletter today.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash