Taking a slower, more deliberate approach might not give you the same immediate satisfaction, but, in the long run, it can lead to greater gains and more sustained recovery. (witten 09/08/2024)

If you don’t feel well, chances are you’re looking for solutions to help you feel better, even if something only offers short term relief. With Long COVID and post-viral conditions, we know a lot of the things we reach for to help us feel better in the near term, are not helping our long-term improvement, and can even set us back once the initial boost wears off. Feeling better, even for a brief period, has value. It can remind us what it’s like to feel better again and let us get through the day. This is true even when the positive effects wear off or can cause us to crash afterward. 

This means not all quick fixes are created equal. Tools that support instant relief are great, as long as they also support long-term improvement. What you need is something to use to get back some energy and reduce symptoms in the near-term, that also helps build your foundation for recovery and improvement in the longer-term. Knowing what this does for you, and having the right tools available, makes it easier to manage energy level drops or when symptoms flare up. And using these tools regularly means you can develop resilience and reduce symptoms over time to feel better and better.    

We want to keep this email short this week because we wrote a whole blog article about Quick Win vs. Lasting Impact. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, but we want to be targeted about things that let us experience short term improvements and make sure they also support a lasting positive impact. 

As you find things that help you feel better in the near and longer-term, and that fit into your life, please keep in mind that pacing is essential. For a successful Pacing approach, it is important to support your body and its ability to heal through both rest AND activity, while making sure to keep activity slow, gentle, and well within your body’s comfort zone. 

The tensions and balance points outlined in this newsletter give a feel for some of the nuance around finding a successful recovery path. It sounds tricky to find those points that are just right, but our experience from working with clients, and using these techniques ourselves, shows that they are easier than you think to understand and put into action for yourself. Enjoy the blog post, which dives deeper into the topic of Quick Win vs. Lasting Impact, and learn more about finding a balance point that supports improvement and healing. 

Warmly,  
Katie & Andrea

PS. We share a new blog post every other week. Content takes a deeper dive into specific topics related to Long COVID and post-viral conditions and recovery. This week, we discuss Quick Win vs. Lasting Impact, how both are beneficial, and ideally, you will find tools and resources that support near term wins and also help your body build a foundation for future symptom reduction and healing.