Living in Between Appointments

Much of illness is spent in between. In between appointments. In between results. In between decisions and next steps. These spaces often receive the least attention, even though they make up most of daily life.

Why the In Between Can Feel So Heavy

Appointments create structure. They offer dates, plans, and moments when questions can be asked. In between those moments, time can feel unanchored. There is space to think, worry, and replay conversations. Without clear markers, the mind may drift toward uncertainty. The in between is where anticipation and imagination often take over.

The Pressure to Live Normally

During the time between appointments, many people feel pressure to live normally. They may return to work, care for others, or resume routines while internally feeling unsettled. From the outside, life may appear steady. On the inside, attention remains fixed on what comes next. This disconnect can be exhausting.

How Time Feels Different in the In Between

Time can behave strangely in these periods. Days may feel slow and heavy. At the same time, weeks may pass without clear memory. Waiting can stretch moments while blurring entire stretches of life. This altered sense of time is a common response to ongoing uncertainty.

The Quiet Work That Happens Here

Even when nothing seems to be happening, important work is taking place. The mind is processing information. The body is recovering from stress. Emotions are shifting and reorganizing. Meaning is being slowly rebuilt. This work is invisible, but it is real.

Gentle Ways to Navigate the In Between

The in between cannot be rushed, but it can be supported.

Some people find it helpful to:

• Create small routines that mark the day

• Limit how often upcoming appointments are revisited mentally

• Ground attention in physical or sensory activities

• Set aside specific times to think about what is coming

Allow days to be quieter without labeling them unproductive. Presence often matters more than progress here.

A Quiet Closing Thought

Life in between appointments may feel suspended, but it is still life. Even in the waiting, days are being lived, strength is being rebuilt, and adaptation is occurring beneath the surface. The in between is not empty time. It is part of the journey.