A Quick Update of my Progress: on ME Awareness Day

Most of you who read this will know I am working pretty much full time now (well, over a 30 hour week anyway). In July 2014 it will be a full three years since I was diagnosed.

I felt like I should blog on today of all days, but I'm not going to be political, or waffle on; this is just a short bullet point list of a few things that I do to maintain my health currently:

• Drink 8-10 250ml glasses of water/juice per day
• Drink a smoothie/green smoothie most mornings
• Eat simple, simply prepared food including lean meats and fish
• Get a regular bedtime and have a bedtime routine
• Exercise in the gym once a week
• Walk in the fresh air if only for 10 minutes
• PACE and switch my daily activities
• Meditate
• Do some gentle yoga/stretches
• Journal/document my thoughts through words and art
• Listen to my body and learn to know when it needs to rest

I know this might look like a REALLY basic list, but start with the simple things first and the rest will follow. The three basic, key elements that I always return to if I have a flare up or setback are:

• GOOD NUTRITION
• PACING
• REGULAR SLEEP PATTERN

Speaking from first hand, personal experience, I strongly believe I would NOT have recovered had I not learned, through much trial and error I might add, to get just these three things right; the rest came later. And different approaches work for different people, depending on the severity and variety of symptoms.

As I always say, this blog is NOT medical advice. It's simply a record of things that have worked for me in my own personal recovery journey.

I do hope, though, that it can offer comfort and inspiration to others that are dealing with the many and varied symptoms of ME/CFS.

Happy Monday all, look after yourselves.

J x