TL;DR
When you feel like you may not be able to do something or have the energy or brain ability to do something, don’t push yourself to do it. If it is something that you really want to do, think about whether it will actually be worth it.
There isn’t an engagement picture this week, but if you want to share a picture of something you cooked, take a picture and share it with me on Facebook or twitter at @ill_chef
Tip Expanded
I have mentioned before and I will probably mention it every single post that when you are chronically ill, you need to learn what your body is telling you. I’m going to do a future MiniTip on different ways of doing that, but essentially, it comes down to being aware of every sensation in your body. This takes a lot of time to practice and get right.
Once you are able to do this, you will know whether you are in any shape to cook, clean, or whatever task you are wanting/needing to do. If you find that you are on the edge of energy pool and you don’t have enough left to cook or clean, don’t push through it.
If you push through it, you may end up in a worse state than if you hadn”t done it in the first place. So, this might mean that you can only cook once a week or once a month. That’s okay, listen and respect what you body is trying to tell you. Because if you push through it, your symptoms may worsen. They may not, but they may, and you need to decide for yourself whether it is worth it.
We unfortunately live in a society that is obsessed with productivity, and this negatively affects people with chronic illnesses because sometimes we can’t push past or through something. If I am stumbling around and not able to understand what I am seeing ahead of me, I am not safe in the kitchen. I don’t push past it because it isn’t something that can be pushed past.
Here’s an example of this tip; tonight, I thought I had enough energy to cook fish balls. And I did, but I may have overdone it because in addition to the fish balls, I had to make the breading that goes into the fish balls and the tartar sauce. I couldn’t do the tartar sauce because the world was beginning to spin and I was starting to stumble all over the kitchen. So, I told my mom that she needed to make the tartar sauce because I don’t have enough energy.
I may have had enough energy if I hadn’t made the breading mix as well, but I might have run out anyways. But ultimately, I didn’t try to push past that wall of fatigue. I got the help I needed.
Looking back, I think I should make a big batch of breading and store it in the freezer so I don’t have to make it the day that I also make the fish balls. In addition, make a big batch of tartar sauce when I am not cooking anything else. That way, the only step is to make the balls. Hindsight is 10/10 (because 10/10 is better than 20/20, I think).
Call to Action
This week, if you feel like you are right on the border or on the precipice of fatigue or brain fog, whatever you are dealing with, I encourage you to make a decision for yourself whether it is worth actually pushing past whatever you are dealing with.
There isn’t an engagement picture this week, but if you want to share a picture of something you cooked, take a picture and share it with me on Facebook or twitter at @ill_chef
The Chronically Ill Chef 