Hi there! It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on this blog. It’s mainly because of a struggle I’ve had, which I bet many of you can relate to: the challenge of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
But in my case, there’s an extra layer to the struggle, and that is having an autoimmune condition—more specifically, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Depression and anxiety also play a prominent role in my life.
Although we all have the same 24 hours in a day (unless it’s daylight saving time!), it seems harder for some of us to squeeze out all the tasks we need to manage in that time frame.
If, like me, you’re dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome, another autoimmune condition, or any other condition that causes low energy, you probably find it more difficult to accomplish the things you want to do each day.
It’s felt nearly impossible to check off everything on my to-do list because I’m so freaking tired or brain foggy most of the time.
I manage to get my work done each day, but when it comes to practicing good self-care to support my mental and physical health, the time seems to slip away.
Before I know it, it’s time to make dinner, eat, and get ready for bed. The cycle starts over again the next morning like some not-so-funny version of the movie Groundhog Day.
And it’s been bothering me. A lot. There’s got to be a better way.
One day shouldn’t run into another and another without stepping foot outside. And that’s what’s been happening. Major nature-deficit disorder going on over here!
There are days when the only fresh air I feel on my face is when I briefly open the sliding glass door to throw some peanuts and birdseed out for the animals. That’s nowhere near enough to thrive!
And I’m sure many people out there have experienced the same, especially with the popularity of remote work. I’ll admit being able to work from home now has been a huge blessing, especially when dealing with an autoimmune condition.
But the downside is that if you don’t have to leave your house to commute to work, chances are that you’re spending most, if not all, of your day inside your home. That’s not so great for overall health and well-being.
And I know that some people who still drive to work every day might have lofty ideas of remote workers chilling on their deck with a laptop and enjoying the sun while working.
I’ve tried that.
Unfortunately, I find it tough to work outside with all the glare from the sun, and I keep losing track of my cursor on the screen. And yes, I did try putting an anti-glare overlay on my laptop screen. I still can’t find the darn cursor!
And so I resigned myself to working indoors, setting that Pomodoro timer to ensure I get up and move my body every 25 minutes.
But when that 5-minute break comes up, it’s not to step outside into the glorious sunshine but instead to:
- Run to the restroom
- Make a quick cup of decaf coffee or tea
- Feed my impatient kitties
Then it’s back to the computer. And so on and so on.
But heck, there’s got to be a better way! I’m determined to find it.
So, I’d like to use this blog to explore the journey toward a healthier work-life balance with chronic fatigue. To healthy with love.
Healthy, of course, relates to all areas of life. Doing it with love is important rather than trying to force yourself into healthier habits. No bootcamping yourself into submission. Just gently steering yourself in the direction of the things that serve you and releasing what doesn’t.
And it’s not just about finding work-life balance but more of a balanced life overall, whether or not you’re currently working.
Regardless of whether fatigue is caused by CFS, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, stress, or any other physical or mental health condition or life circumstances, I believe we can all find small ways to make life feel better.
And we deserve that.
I’m committed to exploring and sharing strategies to improve quality of life with chronic fatigue and other conditions that lead to low energy or feeling less than your best.
I hope you’d like to join me so we can support one another on this journey!
