So, what is there to talk about now that cancer is done? Oh my gosh! I don't even know where to start. Never mind. Yes, I do.
I've really been struggling with fatigue. I think this is common not just to cancer patients but women in general. For months I have been absolutely bone-weary, and no amount of rest makes it better. After talking to my doctor this week, I now know that this is part of the game. When our bodies go through something traumatic, we have to give it the same amount of time to recover as we gave it to be sick. I'm only two months out. I've been playing the cancer game for almost 2 years now. I have a long way to go, but I'm going. That's all that matters.
So, here are my tips for fighting fatigue.
1. It is super hard to be active when you feel tired all the time, but the days that I work out, I really truly do feel better. So, tip number one: exercise. You'll sleep better, your body will get stronger, and you will have more energy in the long run.
2. Make choices about how you spend your time. I set small goals for each day so that I can stay on top of my housework. I used to be a cleaning machine, but work really takes it out of me these days. By the time I get home, it is difficult to find the motivation to cook and clean. So, small goals. Spend 1/2 an hour in the garden, sweep and mop, OR dust . . . not all three . . . and not every day.
3. Cut back on commitments. It is not your job to make sure that every body is happy. It is your job to be the best you you can be. That means that you can't spread yourself too thin. Say, "No" sometimes.
Common sense, right? This isn't as easy as it seems though. For those of us who see ourselves as super women, it is difficult to set aside things we feel our bodies SHOULD be able to do. There is no should. There is only be. I know, I know. I'm no Yoda. Yet, I guarantee that if you follow these three simple steps, you will feel your fatigue ease and your energy increase.
Happy Spring, my friends. Bloom where you are.