Long COVID doesn’t look the same for everyone, and doesn’t always mean being severely ill. Many people still work and function - but feel different.

Long COVID Is a Spectrum!

When people hear the term Long COVID, many imagine someone who is extremely unwell — someone who cannot work, cannot exercise, and struggles to get through daily life. And for some people, that is the reality.

But what we also see is that Long COVID exists on a spectrum.

On one end are people whose lives are dramatically disrupted. On the other end are people who are still working, still training, still able to show up every day. From the outside, they may look fine. Yet internally, something has changed.

Let’s first share a tangible example from athletes and then translate it to other high-performing individuals.

Athletes with Long COVID are one group that outwardly seems very high functioning, but can be described as “the walking wounded.” It sheds light on the experience of those who are still competing at a high level, still pushing, still trying to perform — hoping the body will eventually respond the way it once did.

Last week, Lake Placid (where both of us live) hosted the IBU Cup (International Biathlon Union), the level below the World Cup. While the IBU Cup is a strong international competition, many athletes racing there ultimately aim to be on World Cup teams, where they can qualify for the World Championships and the Olympics.

At the IBU Cup, athletes need to show coaches that they are capable of competing at the highest level in order to earn a spot “up” on the World Cup circuit. It is highly competitive, and the margins are extremely small.

Being a fraction slower can mean missing qualification standards. Missing those standards can mean missing out on selection for major competitions. And missing those competitions can eventually mean losing sponsorships and even needing to step away from a career built over many years.

Over the last couple of weeks, we met two IBU competitors who are struggling with Long COVID. Their condition may be at least part of why they were competing in the IBU event in Lake Placid instead of Kontiolahti, Finland, where the World Cup was being held that same weekend.

While they are high functioning from the outside, their bodies are still impacted - and they know it. Both described a familiar set of symptoms like fatigue, heart rate spikes, brain fog, inability to really push their bodies without crashing. For them, their activity threshold is clearly greater than that of many with Long COVID, but the impacts are still felt and have negative ripple effects on all aspects of their lives.  

One athlete has already decided to end their career after this season. The other hopes to stay competing, but may ultimately be facing early retirement.

In elite sport, even a small shift in the body’s capacity can have major consequences.

Just like with others who have their lives and ambitions cut short by long COVID. It’s heartbreaking, especially when the athlete is working hard, but their body systems can no longer handle the kind of training needed to reach the highest level. The training they can do requires serious effort on their part, but is not giving them the outcome it would give other athletes.

This pattern is not limited to athletes.
The same thing is happening with people in the workplace.

Highly capable people - people who are motivated, intelligent, and used to performing at a high level - begin to notice that something feels different. Something is off.

They may still be working full time. They may still be meeting their responsibilities and delivering good work. From the outside, other people may not notice anything is wrong. But their concentration takes more effort. Energy drops earlier in the day. Stress that once felt manageable suddenly feels overwhelming.

They are still functioning, but not fully themselves. And that gap that leaves can be incredibly difficult to manage - especially over the long term.

Because when your brain and body are no longer supporting you the way they once did, it can start to feel as if the distance between your effort and your results keeps growing. You are still trying. You are still committed. But the system that used to translate effort into performance no longer responds in the same way.

Frustration grows. Confidence may begin to shake. The constant effort of trying to keep up can leave people feeling exhausted, disappointed, or discouraged.

This doesn’t only affect professional performance, it impacts all aspects of life.

People who once expected to move into larger leadership roles may suddenly feel grateful just to maintain the position they worked so hard to build. Instead of planning the next step upward - perhaps toward senior leadership or C-level roles - they quietly shift their focus toward simply trying to hang on to where they are.

At the same time, the nervous system is often under more strain, which can make people feel more emotionally vulnerable than they used to. Some even begin to worry about whether they will be able to sustain the career.

All of this is part of a ripple effect.

Both of the athletes we met last weekend have been carrying their symptoms for about two years. They had received support - including breathwork guidance and even regular psychology sessions - and while those helped to a degree, they only took them so far.

That illustrates the complexity of Long COVID.

Even for people who seem to be high functioning and are “just” the walking wounded, the impact is real, and the domino effect across a career and life can be painful to experience.

So, how are you doing today?

Even if you feel almost normal, it is often surprisingly simple to introduce small tools that support nervous system regulation. When the nervous system begins to settle and recover, it can create the kind of positive ripple effect most people are hoping for - the one that reduces symptoms, restores body function, and improves capacity - letting you move in the direction you want your life to go.

Warmly,  
Katie & Andrea

PS. As part of Long COVID Awareness Month, we want to make sure people know they have options — and a way to explore them without pressure.

You can access Unit 1 of our program for free to experience the approach, understand how a sustainable recovery process can begin, and see what feels relevant for you before deciding on anything further.

Sometimes the first step isn’t committing to a full program.
It’s simply committing to testing something supportive and giving yourself permission to try.

If and when you’re ready, this door is open.