When Taking a Shower and Getting Dressed Wears You Out

Image Courtesy of winnond
/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sunday, on my Facebook page, Chronic Fatigue and Creative Decluttering, I made the statement:  Sometimes, I have to "make" myself do things like getting dressed, when it seems like it should be the simplest thing in the world. It would be dishonest for me to make it sound like everything I do is easy... There were several comments that let me know I am not the only one that feels that way. 

It takes energy to dress, to take a shower, to fix hair, and to put on makeup. It isn't that people with illnesses don't care about how they look.  It is just hard to have enough energy left to do housework or go shopping when we spend much time on how we look.

Image courtesy of  nuchylee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of my readers had a great suggestion for starting the day.  Since I love the way she worded her suggestion, I got permission to quote her. Nicole Whittaker says,  Sit in a comfy chair for twenty minutes.  Drink a glass of water.  It gently gets your body energy [flowing].  Use a shower chair, loverly smelling body wash.  Then something simple for breakfast.  Cereal and milk.  (Gently wakes you up, removes stress and gives you something to look forward to instead of dread, because you are taking your time, but doing something.)

If you start out your morning rushed with somewhere to go, Nicole's method is hard to do.  However, if you prepare, it is possible.  One has to prepare to work around one's needs.  If I have someplace I need to go in the morning, I take my shower the night before.  I dry my hair with my styling tools, so all I have to do in the morning is simple touch ups.  Also, I plan what I am going to wear the night before.

Rushing is an energy killer.  When you feel rushed, it's like a vacuum cleaner has sucked out all the energy, and left you feeling stressed and nervous. Therefore, think ahead when you know you have to go somewhere and prepare.

Image courtesy of graur codrin
/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Some  cleaning gurus are real sticklers about getting dressed, but good looking lounge clothes, yoga pants, as well as comfortable leggings and tunics are comfortable everyday wear.  You can even crawl back into bed if necessary. However, there is something to be said for getting dressed.  It helps you to feel ready for the day.  Also, you are ready to walk out of the house at a moments notice.

However, there is nothing wrong with cleaning in pajamas.  I have done it before, and I will probably do it again.  And it is lovely taking a shower after cleaning, usually sitting on my shower chair, because I am so very, very tired.  You know the feeling--more than fatigued.  Finding language that helps a healthy person understand the bone-deep post exertional malaise is often difficult.  Most of us do not entirely understand, unless we have experienced it.  And once you have experienced what people with CFS/ME or Fibromyalgia have experience, you would not wish it on anyone else.

Here I Go Again! My Nest Needs Some Work.

Hello Everyone!  I hope you have been having a good weekend.  Mine has been a quiet one, because last week I got pretty worn out, which I should have figured would be the case.  However, I was overtired and rebelling against the fact that is usually what happens to me when I am out of my little nest.  I went through that blaming it on other things, when the fact I was not handling things well, because of the fatigue.  So I have rested.  

But now, I have to deal with the fact I let things go this week and still haven't unpacked.  What is my plan?  Baby steps are the way to go.  I plan to work on one room at a time, and I will rest when needed.  Each day, I am going to post what I plan to do for the next day.  You are welcome to follow along.  However, I realize your home may need to be worked on in different areas, or maybe you have another agenda this week.  

Moreover, realistically, I may not get everything done this week.  That is the way it is with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and other chronic illnesses.  The point is:  I am not ready to throw in the towel and give up.  One, two, three -- I will work on the principle of threes, and I know the house is going to look better by the end of the week.  Who knows?  I may even take pictures.  

In With the Positive, Out With the Negative

Image Courtesy of [graur razvan ionut ]/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Routines are great.  That is one of the things that FlyLady encourages people to have;  however, chronic fatigue and illness often seems to to be the antithesis to daily rituals. When you want to forge on ahead, life seems to be an endless cycle of malaise, rest, and pushing ourselves harder than you should.  Chronic fatigue and pain from Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and autoimmune illnesses slow you down.

One of my husband's favorite sayings is "Don't over-do."  He has seen what happens to me when I try to do too much.  The fact of the matter is I am unable to keep up the schedule I did in the past.  It took me too many years to admit that, partly because I did not understand how to work within the parameters of my illness.  It took me becoming a bedridden invalid for almost a year, before I figured out how to get stronger and pace myself better.  It also took that drop to the bottom to stop letting guilt of what I thought I should be doing go.

Not everyone reading this is at the same level of pain and fatigue.  Thirty years ago, I pushed through much of my pain and fatigue.  However, more stress and additional illnesses have taken me beyond the point that I can push myself and lead the life I did when I was younger.  FlyLady's BabySteps work for many people;  however, I admit to not being able to keep up.  I've had to learn to be flexible and work around my illness.

 It is helpful to develop your own routine:  in fact, you probably already have one.  However, I have found routines can be improved with small steps.  Decide what things work for you.  I have suggested ways to do this in previous articles.  Also, I  make suggestions on my Facebook Page, Chronic Illness and Creative Decluttering several times a week.  When I learn a new way to manage my day, I share it.  Hopefully, you will make comments, as well as sharing your ideas.  We can learn from one another.

Remember, there are not many things we use in life that are one size fits all.  I think this applies to our routines and chores as well, especially when dealing with a disability or an illness.

Finally, it takes time to make changes in your life.  Slow and sure makes a difference, even when you have a flare-up or relapse.  Habits don't change overnight, nor does clutter simply disappear.  Give yourself some positive self-talk, and throw out the negative.  It's time to find out what kind of routine works for you. 

God bless you.

Gentle Hugs,

Deborah

(Updated) Digressing from Needing a Vacation: Hot Topic

Update:  Every once in a while, I catch myself in such a badly written post, I have to do some editing.  While I would not pronounce this perfect, it is more readable.

This blog is supposed to be about needing a vacation, but it digressed into something else, which I think needs to be said.  And hopefully, it will help you understand someone in your life that suffers from Chronic Illness.

Warning Before Reading This Blog Post

The hot topic of suicide is mentioned in this blog post.  I do not approve of suicide, nor am I being judgmental toward anyone who has ever had the thought or tried the act of suicide.  These are my personal thoughts, and I am in no way responsible for anything you or a loved one might do.  I have never, nor do I ever want to do such  a thing.  But the word is in here more than once, and I  want you to know; just in case it is a word that will set off anxiety or anything else in your life.

What I Need Is ... a vacation

Right now, I absolutely need a blog vacation:

I have already slightly indulged in it without the guilt!

A willingness on my part to only write 

only that which can be written quickly without angst
is my mantra for the summer.

Please indulge me, as the summer progresses,

And forgive me if I'm not often here

With an encouraging word. 

Wish I was there right now, but I'm here at home.
This picture was taken at Amelia Island, a few years ago.

I need it to get me back on track if that is possible.

 I really don't know for sure I can gain ground physically,

Because I lost a lot this past winter.

 But, I am going to try to not worry about it.

Instead, I am continuing to do a little more gradually,

which is quite exhausting.

  

Well  perhaps, you don't know how this fatigue thing works, 
and I'm not speaking of the kind of fatigue fairly healthy people have.

Moreover, I forgive you if you cannot even imagine what it feels like 

to have a plethora of symptoms that mount and wane, but it feels
kind of like having influenza all the time and you can never 
quite get over the aches and low, draggy feeling.
And that is only part of the symptoms
 FM - CFS patients deal with.

I would never want anyone to suffer

 through these stupid, hard to explain symptoms 

We Fibromites and ME/CFS people have.
It is by God's Grace and Mercy, I am not totally  mentally disabled 
by the frustration of it all.  I had been in pain for 30 years or
more before I  ever knew I had syndromes.

If it were not for God, I admit that I would probably 

give it up -- everything.

Please don't worry, 

I am not depressed or about to

do anything like suicide.

I know what that is like for family.  

And even though I think the Lord probably forgives those Christians,

Who have momentarily lost their minds and do themselves in. 

I do not think it is right, or fair, or what He would choose for me,

Or anyone for that matter.  It makes me sad to think of it.

But sometimes, I do get very tired of trying

To be healthier,

To keep a strong heart and mind,

Which I know is a gift from God.

I cannot do any of this alone, 

And for those of you who say, 

"God is a crutch!";

I say that He is always Who I have needed, even when I was healthy.

So if you think you don't need Him,

You better think real hard about Eternity.
I am being honest and politically incorrect here, because I care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am sorry this is such a long post, 
but the next part has relevance in getting to my main points.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday, I went to the eye doctor.

The whole morning started badly, brought on by poor sleep,

and having to get up when my body only wanted to rest.

I couldn't find my keys, because I had put them in my Bible Carrier.

They were not in my purse, because I have not driven for

?????????????

many weeks.  I don't remember the last time I drove. 

I know it has been more than a month.

Anxiety ridden, I got to my appointment.

(I called first -- the receptionist was kind and gave me a later time.)

By the way, for all my dear friends who would quote

Philippian 4:6-7 to me.  

I have known this verse by heart, since I was twenty,  

And it has carried me through many a moment.
I know He guards my heart and my mind.
The Holy Spirit has spoken to me when my heart was broken.
Not in an audible voice, so anyone could hear it, but He has spoken
to me when I least expected it and I am thankful.

The uninitiated often do not understand that
there is an anxiety caused by the broken brain and nerves, 

That will not be squelched.  

I have learned to deal with it.  I know how to visualize, 

contract and relax muscles,

breathe slowly, hold my breath, and breathe again.

My amygdala has been rested,  retrained, and upset again.

I have a flight and fight response that is all ready to go;

but I cannot jog or run anymore to help reset it.

I cannot dance like I used to.

My physical body is broken and battered by illness;  even though,

I worked hard to not be caught by a body that kept me
 from living an active physical life in my more mature years. 

Unfortunately, it caught me earlier than I could have possibly expected.
But, I had fought it, because I knew it was in my genes.

However, I did not expect it, because I exercised and ate very healthily;

also, I  kept my weight down.  

But sometimes,
People get sick anyway.  Oh darn!

That's not fair!

Back to the eye appointment...

My eye appointment was like no other I have ever had:  I was up and down, 

In a chair and out of a chair,

down the narrow hall and back to the same room,  several times.

I never knew so many machines for checking your eyes existed.

And they want me to come back in six months -- really?? 

Maybe, I should call and ask if I have to do all those machines again.

It was way too much
 for a ME/CFS - Fibromyalgia patient to go through 

without someone to drive him or her.

What I Wanted to Do after the Eye Appointment

I had planned the things I wanted to do when I was out by myself in the car.

Ha!  Didn't happen.  After that appointment, 
I didn't look at flowers to plant or go any place, 
Except 

The three most necessary .

I got a grilled chicken sandwich, real lemonade (needed a treat).

Thank you Chick-fil-A.

 I have to put a plug in for them, because they helped pay 

For our eldest daughter's education through their 

Winshape scholarship program, which believe me she earned.
But, it was also God's gift to her. 

Sometimes, I have to do a little wave my wings, mommy fluttering.

 With a grateful heart, I went to the new Chick-fil-A restaurant;

and I experienced their typical good cheer and kindness, 
which is comforting.

Then, I went to my pharmacy to pick up my prescription,
 but ended up with more frustration -- due to my own mistaken idea my doctor's office had called in my colonoscopy prep.

At least, I got the pills I had run out of.  My thyroid will appreciate it.

And then I went home, driving while upset -- never a good idea.

I had not been so anxiety-filled in a long time.

That was when I had the "driving off the road thought."

Remember, I told you I am not suicidal,
 but there is an Enemy out there, 

who would like us to be thinking and doing wrong things.
Should you not believe in the supernatural,
 I'm sorry, because it is there.  
God is real and so is the Enemy and His cohorts. 
 I really don't like saying the name.  Read C.S. Lewis and the Bible,
then you will know what I am talking about.  
I would much rather talk about God.

Anyway, as I drove home,
 This was a simple run-down of my thoughts.

I am so sick of feeling like this -- it never ends. 
 I can't do  anything.  I could run into one of those trees.

Oh, it probably wouldn't kill me.  I would just hurt worse
and, God would not like it.  
I had a picture of the air bag inflating, as well as 
being laid up in a hospital in pain.

How am I going to heaven, and say I did it to myself to Jesus?
Nope.  I'm not going to run off the road.  
It would not be fair to my family.
That was the gist of my thoughts.

Since I am the very near relative of two someones who committed suicide, 

I want to tell you that it is a horrible thing to do to your family.

Second of all, I want to tell you that 

your child should never see you  threaten to commit suicide.
Even if you don't ever do it,

She/he will not forget:  it will always be there in his or her mind, 

just waiting to be jolted back into present memory.
I know that memory can come back years later in living color,
because I have experienced it.

A word to you who have had 

the suicidal thought go through your mind...

It is not unforgivable to have the thought, 

nor is it unforgivable to have voiced it, 

or to have started to go through the act.
But I think

you need to ask God's forgiveness, 
your family's forgiveness, 

and most of all 

you need to forgive yourself.

Moreover,  it does no good to dwell in the past.

The past is the past.  
Done.  Gone.  Move on.

Trying to brush it under the rug and hope everyone will forget

did not work for the family I grew up in.  

I knew and I don't know how I knew,

that you never talk about 

Family Business.  

Well, it is not just business.

It is life.  And I have a theory that all families 

are at least slightly Dysfunctional,

Because I thought, we were a very normal and good family,  

 well, most of the time I thought that.

And we were, but...
is there really any family that is perfectly functional?

So to move on, it has to be dealt with in the family. 
If that is not possible for whatever reason;

with God's help you have to do it yourself.

I advise moving on whether or not other family members are able to; because it is unhealthy to be living in the debris of their emotions everyday.  

I am not talking about withdrawing one's love, but you cannot live someone else's life.  You cannot force someone else to change.  
That is what I mean by moving on.
That is why it is so good to have a counselor to talk to,
 because it can help you to get through things that are devastating to you mentally and emotionally.

All of this, and

it was just a simple trip to the eye doctor, right?

Now, I will share my sweet husband's
 understanding and kind reactions to all of this.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

He did come home from work to check on me. 

And after I had a nap, 

He took me to get the makeup I had meant to buy that day.

On a second trip that evening, he took me to McDonald's 
for a hot fudge sundae.

He left a TV baseball game to do that.

Wasn't that sweet?

Medicine, Supplements, and Remembering to Take Them

Leftover pills that have not been taken.  These pill
containers were filled about two weeks ago.  How
does a person make it any easier than this?
Obviously, there has to be a concentration on
priorities.  The red pills are a cranberry pill
for helping to prevent UTI's.  They were not
needed anymore.  And this does not even give
you an accurate view of the pills that were in
there, which were left from previous weeks.

Confession Time has arrived for me, and I am wondering if anyone else deals with this.  Taking my medicine and supplements has been getting sporadic in my life.  I am pretty good about the medicine, but I get too busy or too tired and I don't keep up very well with my supplements.

Somehow, I have a feeling there are people out there saying, "Oh, it is easy.  Write it down.  Put them in your divided pill containers for the right time of day, etcetera, etcetera."  And I have done both:  I usually end up with lots of leftover vitamins and other supplements that are good for me.

Is anybody out there saying, "No wonder you haven't felt too great lately."?  Well,  I am sure it isn't helping that I have gotten slack on taking everything.

How To Keep Going When Your World Turns Upside Down

Have you ever noticed that children know exactly
what to do when they are worn out?  Our grandson
came into go potty;  and then, he sacked out in the
bed, wet bathing suit and all.  I love this picture.

Do you ever have a week or two that seems to turn your safe little world around?  Your routine is upside down and your body is gasping for energy.  Your brain is working, but it has slowed down to a 20 minute lag.  Everything seems to be painfully slow, and you know you need to take life at an easier pace.

Even now after years of illness, I get these guilty,  nagging, little feelings when I don't do everything I consider to be my work, my calling, my responsibility.  Does this happen to you, and what do you do about it?  Are you backed into an "I have to do it corner", whether it is detrimental to your health or not?  I have been there, and I ended up getting more ill, because I have never liked giving in to my illness.  At least, that is how I saw it.  I had to be stronger than that.  If my body was not going to cooperate, then I would trust in will over matter.  

I am not saying that I stopped praying.  I still trusted in God, but I also thought I had to push through to be well and to please Him.  However, at that point, I chalked most of my problems up to my liver, depression, fibromyalgia, and gaining weight.  I did not realize that my thyroid was compromised and I had multiple things going on in my body that added up to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Actually, now when I look back at the onset of my illness, probably most of my problems were Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including the depression.  It took total collapse to finally find out what was wrong with me.

Some people think they are weak because they cannot get well or work through these diseases/syndromes.  I would like to suggest most people are stronger than they realize.

Getting Up Again

My illness has left me depleted and frustrated many times; and as the clutter begins to take over again, I wonder what my solution will be.  You see, I am not ready to give in and give up.  Are you?  Do you want to be stuck in a messy house that preys on your mind and spirit?  I know I don't.  I don't want to feel trapped by my clutter.

Therefore, I am coming up with a public experiment;  and, I would like you to join me if you have a chronic illness that impedes you in the action of keeping house or of leaving the house.   A couple of days ago, I felt sad, because I am so very tired of a messy house and a messy me.  At least, I feel messy.  I have not been able to keep up the FlyLady system.  Her system is wonderful, if you are well enough to clean.

The past month and a half, I have not been well, but I have been  able to make myself throw in a load of laundry or clean the toilet.  I have cooked a few meals;  but most of the time, I have sat in my recliner or I have been lying down in the bed.  I have not gone anywhere, because I have not had the energy.  I didn't even go to see the doctor.  Have you ever considered how crazy it is a sick person has to sit in a waiting room -- a person that needs to be in bed.  I still remember when the doctor came to our house -- when I was a child.

I have been praying, asking for help in this area;  and, I have started a Facebook Page dedicated to creative decluttering.  When you're sick, you have to be creative on those days you feel like you cannot possibly get started.  I will not be writing about decluttering here, because I felt I needed to share it with all who are clutter impaired,.  My first blog post on this subject is Deborah Lynne's Inspirations, Decluttering Encouragement.  The second one is Conquering the Clutter Monster.

My regular readers know that I struggle just like they do.  Perhaps, some readers have things more together than I do.  However, I know I am here to encourage you, we can get up again after we fall down.  Sometimes, we think we are ready to give up:  it seems our hope has left us.  We reach out to God with heartfelt prayers, and He gives us strength to go on -- something clicks.  My prayer is that something helps you to get up and keep on going will click, that your joy , peace, and will to go on will be a palpable thing to you.  If you have fallen, I pray you will be able to get up again, taking baby steps to a life that feels less topsy-turvy and more balanced.

Grandmother's Adventure

I wanted to come home after three and a half days of being with my daughter, son-in-law, and seven grandchildren and tell you I feel great, that I paced myself so well I got all the rest I needed.  I told my husband that I had always promised to tell you the truth;   and I want to give you a glossy, spiffed up me instead of the truth that I am exhausted.  By the time I got out of the car in our driveway, I could barely walk.    After sitting in the car for two and  one half hours, I could barely move my knees.  It's a good thing I took my cane with me.  I needed it for going up steps and down steps, also for getting out of chairs.

The knee thing is a little more than my regular fibromyalgia.  I sat down in a chair Monday to put on my socks and shoes, and I felt something snap on the outside of my knee.  Of course, because I am favoring my right knee, now my left knee hurts too.  Since I am home now, I can rest and have some quiet, but I still miss the pitter-patter of little feet around me.   So this afternoon, I have watched Christmas movies, tried to write, and also almost fallen asleep several times.  Right now, we are watching The Canadian Tenors on PBS, and I have tears in my eyes.  The emotion that wells up in me as they sing in my super-fatigued state is almost too much, but how can I not listen to the glorious music?

So what can I tell you about balancing your life and pacing yourself?  Do the best you can;  but sometimes, you have to be the yourself and live with the consequences.  When special moments come to spend with children or grandchildren, it is almost impossible to hold back, unless you are already totally exhausted.  I planned as much as I could, giving myself plenty of time to cook my casserole and pies.  I was totally unstressed the day we left.  I do not remember any time in my life I have felt less stressed, than when we left on Wednesday.    However, my body thought differently.

I had decided to work in my art journal, and all of a sudden
I became the center of interest.  It started with our 3 year old
grandson joining me and painting with markers, then switching
to my watercolors.  A couple of the older children wanted a
demonstration of automatic drawing, which was not what I
had planned at all.   You can guess what happened.  Coloring the
automatic drawing became a kind of free for all.  Know what --
it was absolutely wonderful.  We had fun!

Even though my daughter has quiet times for the children everyday and even though I took naps everyday, the seemingly constant motion of family in and out and around tired me out.  I enjoyed all the special times with them.  We read, we walked  outside, we played with the dog, played basketball, and made Christmas decorations. They even helped me paint in my art journal after some of the children did their own pictures.  We did spread these activities out, and my basketball playing was limited to throwing a few baskets.

One thing that made me really happy was I could not have done the things we did a year ago.  That seems to be the nature of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia;  therefore, I plan to pace myself in my daily life and enjoy the special moments.  Right now, I am saying it is worth the way I feel now, if my grandchildren have good memories of our times with them.  Also, they know that I put out extra for them, that I cannot do the things I did several years ago.  When knees and other parts of the body do not work right and one is using a cane, it becomes an obvious picture of ill health.  Love covers many of the downsides of too much activity, and this was one of those times.

The Dichotomy of Fibromyalgia and Dreams

Saturday, November 10, 2012

While I want to encourage all my readers that have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction, I have to be totally honest too.  That is one thing that I feel is important, so we can be realistic about what we can and can't do.  I don't want to be a bubble buster or a dream stealer;   but I know how it feels to have false expectations, and then fall flat on my rumpus.  If you see some unusual spelling or grammatical errors today, part of it is due to my fibro-fog or brain fog. My Brain Fog is really bad today.  I am having trouble reading and comprehending.  I can write, but there has always seemed to be a connection between my fingers and brain.

I have had my share of ups and downs the last few months, but it seems to be part of my landscape -- having to live within the parameters of feeling Kinda OK or Tired Of Being Tired.  Since I won't ever feel Really Well again, unless someone comes up with a miracle cure, it would be nice to feel KO (kinda ok).   However today, I just had it with feeling TOBT (tired of being tired).  I am tired of being achy, burny, hurty. I am tired of sinusitis and having a urinary tract infection.  And I am tired of me.  Ugh!  Ever felt that way?  So at least you know I am a real person, and I have my fragile times.  I suppose this is one of them, and I know it has been building, because I want to be able to push past my tiredness.  However, that does not work for people who have FM and CFIDS.

Sunday Nov. 11, 2012
For those of you that have been following my FlyLady 31 Days of Beginning Babysteps, I can honestly say that I have made progress because of doing the baby steps;  however I have not been able to do every step every day.  Between flares and illness, I feel like I have done the best I can.  Somedays, I have been able to do all the steps and other days, just a few.  I am seriously thinking about exploring other ways to be successful in continuing the steps--perhaps modifying or coming up with my own schedule.  I  may not be able to have complete control over how my body is going to react and be everyday, but I am convinced I can find a way to improve on how I manage housekeeping.  I also realize one of the main ingredients is getting rid of clutter.  FlyLady is right about "clutter attracting clutter."

I guess you noticed the dates.  Yesterday was tough, but I survived.  My night was restless:  I could not get comfortable, and I am staying away from pain meds, because of the warnings on my antibiotic.  The brain fog is better and the shaky feeling I had last night is gone.  My blood sugar went up to 194 last night.  My body notices those kinds of changes right away.  Today, I started my day out right, with the mindset I am going to pay better attention to my moderate low carb way of eating.  However, I am still trying to make up my mind about splenda.  Splenda was helping me to follow this way of eating, because I could still have my homemade chocolate balls.

God bless you all.  Have a wonderful new week.

Love,

Deborah  

  

When Games Become Work

It's been too long since I've written here, but I am ba-ack.  God has gotten me through serious surgery and a move.  In fact, I'm still unpacking and putting away.  

Have you ever felt like you

will never be able to find a

place for everything?  That's how I have been feeling for the past year.  Clutter is ugly, distressing and fatiguing.   However, I am taking baby steps and getting my new home in shape.  Now, enough of talking about chores and on to my topic for the day  -- when games become work.

Me, my computer and my dog.  
Since it isn't easy to sit on the floor, my dog has gotten spoiled.

Being part of the computer generation is a great boon for people with invisible illnesses.  We find understanding and support; we are able to connect with friends quickly; and we can play computer games.  Uh-huh!  Did you know that was where I was going?  Many computer games are like hobbies, because you can arrange the pictures they provide however you want.  It is the computer generation equal to having an electric train and building a set for it.   However, like any hobby, this can take up too much time;  moreover, it can be a big energy drain if I  begin to get obsessive about it. 

Energy drain, the bane of the chronically fatigued, is something we have to guard against.  In my own life, I have been taking gradual steps to increase my energy and learn my limits.  I have discovered one of my limits in playing games.   When the game becomes work, I have to step away for a while.  How long depends on my  work schedule.  With limited energy, I have to make a decision about what really needs to be done each day. Now, that I am able to accomplish more and I am sitting less, I have to choose my activities carefully.

Sometimes, I have to let my games go for a while: then, I close my eyes and lean back in my chair, I watch television, or I just read.  Balancing my playtime is just as important as balancing my work.  May your playtime be fun and your work be satisfying.  

Until next time, 

Deborah

My FlyLady Makeover - Day 2 - Dressing to Your Shoes

This is the second day of my FlyLady Makeover--well actually this is very early in the morning after the second day of my makeover--but I had to write this, because I don't want the momentum to fade.  If I start skipping reports on whether I did the babystep of the day; I may start skipping the babysteps. If I can do all thirty-one of FlyLady's beginner's flying lessons, it will be the first time I have gone all the way through them. 

I wore those sandals out.

Today I was supposed to Get Dressed to my Shoes.  That meant I was supposed to get dressed first thing in the morning; do my hair and face; and put on moisturizer or makeup.  My shoes were supposed to be the kind that lace up.  I have to confess:  I did not do number two perfectly.  I got out of my pj's in the afternoon, after I had already done some household chores; and I did not wear shoes that lace up. I do nod to the fact that Cilley (FlyLady) is probably right, that for many people her methods are tried and true;  however, she also says that chores done imperfectly are better than not doing them.

This is what happened to me.  I had a hope, a dream, and a memory of what I could do in the past.  For years, I had this ideal of what should be done in my home, but I couldn't keep up with it.  Therefore, things kept piling up on me, because I would think about all the stuff I should be doing; and if I ever got around to doing it, I would have to hide clutter in closets and under beds.  Finally, I got to the point, that I couldn't walk if stayed on my feet and walked for too long.  The pain increased in my leg and hip, and it would take several days or weeks for me to recover enough from the Chronic Fatigue to do a little again.

So here I am, adapting FlyLady's methods to work for me; wearing supportive sandals in the summer, instead of lace-up shoes, and being satisfied with having gotten dressed in the afternoon.  And I must say, I looked smashing.  I was clean from the top of my head to my toes, my outfit was cute, and I felt good.  I even wore a little bit of makeup.  And I have done things today that amazed me:  I finally started working on my messy dining room table.  It still held paraphenalia  from a project I finished 2 or 3 weeks ago.  I made my bed before I got dressed and tidied up the master bedroom.  It looked gorgeous, just like walking into a hotel with the beautiful bed awaiting me. 

And  I did not feel at all guilty asking my husband to fix some rice and a vegetable to go with the leftover pork chops from yesterday.  Nor did he mind.  I am blessed to have a supportive husband,  If I was alone, I would have fixed a frozen dinner for my supper, because I was in pain and tired. I am happy and satisfied, because I am a few steps closer to a clean house and a beneficial routine.  Ahhh {smile & sigh}, I am still basking in the afterglow of success.