OK. I am going to be brutally honest here– This. Past. Month. Was. Hard.
It was a challenge in a different sort of way. Life was bumbling forward as usual, and then bam. I was knocked out. Well, down. Down in my bed, that is.
Several weeks of pure exhaustion swept in along with the kind of illness where you know something is wrong but you can’t exactly place your finger on what.
With no prescribed cure, and no real idea of what was going on, there was only one thing left for me to do: rest.
But how do you slow down when the world says speed up?
July brought 3 visitors, one half marathon, and one apartment move. It was around the beginning of the month when things started to feel wrong, but I brushed it all off– oh, I’ll get my voice back. Oh, it’s just a cold. A cough. Food poisoning. Headache. I’m fine.
But I didn’t get better. Instead I somehow found myself almost accepting the fact I was always sick or tired.
It took a strongly worded statement from my sister about five weeks in to bring me to my knees: Avery, you are not OK. You are sick. You need to do something about it.
So, over a month after the first symptoms arose– thanks to the prompting of my sister, my mom, and multiple friends– I scheduled a doctor’s appointment. After a plethora of doctor visits and inconclusive tests, I was back in bed at square one with no answers except this: you need rest.
Your body needs rest.
Why does it often take us so long to give our bodies what we need, rather than just what we want?
But I get it, because I’ve been there and AM here. Saying no to fun plans, too-late nights, happy hours, and concerts in exchange for sleep because you just can’t do anything else today– well, it can be lonely.
After nearly two months of this, I’ve learned a few things. Next time your body is feeling worn down or out of sorts or you find yourself seeking respite from a busy season, here are 4 ways you can care for yourself through the process of healing:
Unplug and Sleep
Rest is not all Netflix and sipping tea. Sleep! Let your body nap, curl up in your bed and zone out, feed your soul with a good book until your eyes droop. Make an early bedtime and stick to it.
It can be oh so hard to step away from our obligations and daily schedules. But remember, if you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not able to give your 100% at work or with friends and family. Put down those screens, turn off your alarms, and take a proper sick day — no work emails allowed. You were given sick days for a reason!
Ask for Support
This step is harder for me than I care to admit. I have this need to appear fiercely independent and responsible at all times– clearly, that’s not a real-life attainable goal. I’m very human. Anyone else?
The truth is, we cannot weather the storms are alone. But thank the Lord we are not created to– nor do we have to– do it alone.
This past month has been a lesson in humbleness and reaching out to the support of community. When the constant unwarranted tears kept flowing, or the pain got too bad, or when I needed last minute spin class subs or to leave work early or just plain needed to hear another voice, there was an army at my fingertips.
Ask for what you need. Dinner delivered? Moral support at the doc? Peace and quiet at home? Rescheduling a coffee meeting? All it takes is a quick call or a text message. Don’t be afraid to call upon your army.
Be Your Own BFF
Human beings are complex things. We know this. But I think it can get all too easy to separate our physical bodies from our inner selves. Instead we may see our bodies as hindrances, standing in the way of what our minds and hearts want to be and see and do.
The best advice I received was from my therapist (bless her soul). She suggested I switch up my internal dialogue in order to give myself grace and nurture myself back to health.
In your mind, speak to yourself as though talking to a best friend. What if she was sick? What would you do for her or what advice would you give? Now take your own advice.
Ease Back In
When we start to feel better is where we are at the highest risk of losing it all again. We know how this goes– you finally wake up feeling good again! You schedule your workouts like normal, happy hour with those friends you’ve been missing, plan a camping trip and a weekend away and dive back in to life. This can be a recipe for relapse.
Instead? Pause. Sit. Stay.
Gently ease yourself back into your routine. Start small with your workouts, continue to fuel your body with good foods, and make sure you’re still getting plenty of sleep at night.
Listen to your body. Treat it well. You’re only gifted one, after all.
In need of some wind-down tunes? Turn down your covers and turn up these sweet, sweet melodies >>
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