Resting up after Christmas

So I'm definitely having a post Christmas crash. Also, I think I may have picked up a cold because my throat is hurting a lot worse than usual and I have some post nasal drip. Fun! I definitely pushed myself way too much in getting ready for Christmas. And now I'm paying for it.


I didn't realize I had the extra bonus of a cold until Steve and I came back on Sunday. I sent Steve to the foodstore with a list. I was planning on making him his favorite chicken and chickpea soup because at the time I thought he was the only one with the cold. I just felt my "normal" CFS symptoms. However, once I sat down in my comfy chair to rest, I realized it was more.  When I got up to make the soup, I was feeling super achy and it hurt to swallow. After dinner, I rested and went to bed super early. I think I slept 10 hours that night.


Monday I was able to rest because Steve stayed home. So he helped me by taking Raven out. I think I stayed in my pajamas most of the day. I tried to ignore the Christmas gift clutter situation and just get some rest. Monday night I also went to bed super early. I believe I was falling asleep in the lazy boy chair around 7:30. I finally got up to get ready for bed at 8. I was sound asleep by 8:30!


Yesterday, I was feeling optimistic. I was definitely getting caught up on my sleep. I still didn't feel great so I agreed that today, since I was still snowed in, was going to be a rest day. However, I somehow managed to finish the laundry, unpack my suitcase, and then before I knew it I felt horrible again. What was I thinking? I went to bed early and hoped I would feel better the next day.


I was so disappointed when I woke up this morning still feeling terrible. I felt so weak, fatigued, achy, and my throat killed. I really wanted to visit with my family today, especially since my brother's family only had a few more days in NJ. As hard as it was to say no, I told them I couldn't visit. I had to stay and rest. Luckily, my family is super supportive and they totally understand. Today I was determined to really rest. I wasn't going to try and tackle the Christmas clutter, or take out boxes to recycling. I was just going to rest.


So this morning I thought I was "resting" while searching online about CFS, probiotics, vitamins, diet, reading blogs etc. You know, trying to find the cure for my health problems. All this did was stress me out. Should I take that vitamin? Oh, maybe I should add that vitamin back in. Oh this person did well on a raw diet, maybe I should try that.


Finally, I closed my laptop. I decided to really truly rest! I heated up some soup and made a salad. I had a relaxing lunch and then I took a nap. After my nap I did some gentle yoga stretches. I stayed in my favorite pose for a while- Viparita Karani (or legs up the wall pose) While I was there I even took my legs out into a V and then I brought the soles of my feet together in baddha konasana up the wall. Then I did some pranayama to try and tame my monkey mind with some meditation. (Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "restraint of the prana or breath". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to suspend or restrain. It is often translated as control of the life force- prana.)


I was so well rested, I finally had the energy to write a blog post. Although now it's 5:00, and I just realized that I still need to take Raven out and make dinner. I'm going to make myself rest in between. Oh wait, I forgot to unload the dishwasher and my sink still dishes in it. :( I can't do it all.  I must be too calm and relaxed after my yoga practice because I'm feeling slightly less type A. A good thing!