Notes from ThriveNinety
You don’t need big changes to feel better — you need the right small ones, delivered with care. These weekly notes share simple tools, steady encouragement, and clear next steps you can take without overwhelming your system.
What Hobbies Has Long COVID Taken From You?
When energy disappears, the small joyful moments disappear too. One story about loss - and the small moments that can return.
Post-infection conditions and neurological symptoms can leave people feeling like a shell of their former selves. Even when someone is technically “functioning,” their wor...
by Katie Brennan —
Mar 22, 2026
symptom management
When You’re Not “Sick Enough”… But Not Yourself Either
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 exerc...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Mar 15, 2026
symptom management
I Thought I Had 5 Years to Live: My Long COVID Story
A personal story of Long COVID recovery and the small nervous system practices that helped rebuild health and hope.
At one point in her Long COVID journey, Katie had a sobering thought: Unless something changed, she might only have five years to live.
It didn’t feel dramatic. It simply felt factu...
by Katie Brennan —
Mar 08, 2026
symptom management
Why Recovery and Resilience Don’t Require Motivation
How steady decisions override fleeting motivation to keep improving with Long COVID and post-infection recovery.
Many people searching for relief from Long COVID or post-infection symptoms look for the right thing to get started — and are often highly motivated to try everything. They read arti...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Mar 01, 2026
resilience
symptom management
Recovery Requires Two Things
You found something that works — so why is it so hard to stick with it?
You try something new — a pacing shift, a breathing exercise, a small change in how you move or fuel or move your body — and for a moment, it helps. Your energy lifts. Your head feels clearer. You feel a bit more like yoursel...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Feb 22, 2026
resilience
symptom management
Olympic Secrets to Recovery - And Why They Matter for You
Recovery Isn’t Rest -It’s a Strategy used at the Olympics - and you can use it to help reclaim energy and function.
The Olympics begin this week. And as someone who has competed at four Olympic Games and brought home four medals, Andrea understands not only what these athletes are focusing on rig...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Feb 15, 2026
resilience
symptom management
Why Recovery Feels So Big — And Why It Doesn’t Have To
A gentle look at why rebuilding can feel overwhelming — and how small steps truly change your capacity.
Many people living with infection-induced chronic conditions have already tried so much.New tools. New routines. New hopes. And still, progress can feel fragile — hard to sustain, hard to trust...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Feb 08, 2026
resilience
symptom management
Groundhog Day, Long Winters, and Taking the Future Into Your Own Hands
From Groundhog Day traditions to real-life change, explore how small, intentional actions can build resilience and forward momentum.
Groundhog Day is coming up this week. In many ways, it’s a lighthearted tradition—looking to a very large rodent to predict whether winter will linger or if an earl...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Feb 01, 2026
resilience
Why Connection Matters (Even When You’re Not Feeling Well)
Social connection is significant for health. People with stronger social ties consistently show better mood, immune function, and reduced health risk factors.
When you’re not feeling well — physically, mentally, or emotionally — pulling back can feel like the most natural thing in the world. Less...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Jan 25, 2026
resilience
symptom management
Why the Sense of Smell Matters for Health and Recovery
The olfactory system connects the nose directly to the brain—and affects more than scent alone.
When we think about health, recovery, or resilience, smell is rarely at the top of the list. Yet the olfactory system is one of our oldest sensory systems—and one of the most directly connected to the ...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Jan 18, 2026
resilience
symptom management
The Quiet Power Behind Symptom Relief
The habits you return to gently and consistently often make the biggest difference in how you feel.
We often expect too much from a single day and far too little from a full year.It’s understandable — when symptoms are unpredictable or energy feels limited, of course we hope for a quick fix that...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Jan 11, 2026
resilience
symptom management
A Calmer Start to the Year: Simple Choices That Support Your Health
Begin the month with steadier energy and less overwhelm by choosing what truly helps your brain and body—not what the internet tells you to “fix.”
As we settle into the first week of January, many of us feel the pull to do something for our health. The world is full of detox promises, long lists...
by Andrea Henkel Burke, Katie Brennan —
Jan 04, 2026
thriveninety support
Notes from ThriveNinety