Dealing with the relentlessness of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS / ME), can very quickly deplete are mental reserves along with our already depleted physical ones.
Filling Our Bucket
I often use the bucket analogy when I discuss this topic.
The stresses that CFS / ME puts on our minds, bodies and spirits deplete the levels of physical, mental and spiritual energy in our buckets.
When our buckets are empty, this is when despair, overwhelmed and depression kick in.
So what we need to remember to do is regularly take action to fill our bucket.
And when I say take action, I mean that in terms of mental action, even if it can’t be physical action.
I’ve written two previous posts about filling your bucket while living with CFS and here they are – here and here.
What Does Filling Our Bucket mean?
By filling our bucket, I mean nurturing ourselves in ways that boosts our spirits, and generally help to revive our mind, body and spirit, even in the tiniest of ways.
I’ve written a previous blog on nurturing ourselves but I’m also giving you some more ideas in this post on ways to nurture yourself.
You naturally know best what is nurturing for you, but it never hurts to get a few more ideas or just get a reminder or two.
10 Ways To Nurture Body, Mind & Spirit While Living With CFS / ME
1. Music
If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that music is a constant theme (or at least a regular one).
I use music to boost my spirits on a regular basis, and I use it to nurture myself.
My post 25 Songs That Lift My Spirits While Living With CFS/ME gives you an idea of some of the songs that help boosts my spirits but I’m always looking for more, so please let me know if you have one (or ten) that boosts yours.
I had a couple suggested to my on Twitter – “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, which is a beautiful song of hope for the future. Allan Dickinson also suggested “The Sun’s Coming Over The Hill” by Karine Polwart, which I really enjoyed.
My current favourites that nurture me are James Blunt’s latest album “Moon Landing”, Vampire Weekend’s album “Modern Vampires of the City” (recommended to me by my much cooler cousin), and the songs Geronimo by Sheppard, Brave by Sara Bareilles, and Chandelier by Sia. (the high notes in the chorus just get to me!)
2. Aromatherapy
Using essential oils to either burn in an oil-burner, or to just put on your pillow or in your bath can have an extremely soothing effect if you choose the right oil.
Now, I’m no expert on aromatherapy by any means, but over the years I’ve used essential oils to boost my spirits, and to give me a sense of comfort and nurturing.
I love the traditional favorite lavender and I also love juniper.
And for something quite refreshing, try one of the citrus oils – lime, lemon or orange.
I actually prefer lime in a burner. It leaves the place smelling so refreshed. I seem to remember it’s good to refresh a room during and after you have a cold (but don’t quote me on that!).
It’s been a while since I’ve used a lot of aromatherapy but I think if you find one that smells good to you and that makes you feel good, then just go with it, whether there’s evidence for that or not (obviously look up any contraindications before trying anything new).
3. Get some fresh air
It’s so easy when we’re not feeling well and are in bed so much, to stay indoors (especially in the super-cold and super-hot weather).
And for some of us, it’s not an option to get out of bed or to go outdoors.
But for those of us who it is an option for, I suggest getting out every day in the fresh air for a short period of time or however long you can manage.
Now, it depends where you live how fresh the air really is, but I do still believe that going outside and getting some sun and air, and the getting in the elements, is uplifting and nurturing – or I find it so.
Even if it just means laying on a sun lounge or in a hammock, it’s a change of scenery.
And if you are totally bed-bound at the moment, I’d still suggest opening the window a little so as to get fresh air circulating, even if it’s just for a short time in really cold weather.
4. Spend time in nature
This follows on from the previous one obviously.
If you can in any way spend time in nature, do so. It is so uplifting and nurturing to the mind, body and spirit.
I love going out to our local lake, and when I was particularly unwell last year, driving to the lake was a really big effort (it’s a 10 minute drive)
But sometimes I would make that effort because I knew that it just boosted my mental and spiritual reserves to sit in the car and watch the lake as it rippled in the wind, or watch the swans and ducks on the water.
And when I was really energetic, I’d get out of the car and I’d sit on the ground or on a chair and let the wind clear out the cobwebs.
And even though it took some energy to do that, I always felt that it was worth it.
Sometimes just spending time in my garden – sitting at the top of my hill (my backyard is a hill that’s been terraced) can be incredibly healing and nurturing from a mental and spiritual level.
Whatever nature is around you, whether it’s a tiny little piece of grass in your backyard, a lake, park or the ocean, use it!
Use it to give you energy to fill your bucket. The ocean is one of my favorites but it’s a little far away to spend a great deal of time there. It’s a lovely treat when I can though! 🙂
5. Take some photos
Now photography may not be your passion, but it’s one of my many passions.
These days, with digital photography, it’s so easy to follow this passion (if it happens to be one of yours).
In particular, with the phones these days and the quality of photograph you can take with a smartphone, most people have access to a good quality camera all day, every day.
And even the small digital cameras don’t cost very much these days and provide great quality photos.
I find taking photos and experimenting with my photography is very soul-nurturing – taking photos of beautiful things or taking photos of things from different angles or whatever I find that boosts my spirit.
It may not be your thing, but if it is, it is an easy one to do – and it’s free!!
You can even take photos from your bed or sitting looking out your window. You just need to be a little more creative!
You don’t know what kind of imaginative photographs you can take until you start experimenting!
6. Have a bath, shower or otherwise immerse yourself in water in some way
If you’ve read my previous blogs you’ll be familiar with my love of my bath.
My daily bath is one of my major bucket fillers and major nurturers in my life.
A shower is also lovely, but not as nice as a bath for me personally.
And if you have the energy to go to a swimming pool or you’re in an area where you can be in the ocean or a lake, I think it’s one of the best ways that we can nurture ourselves, as long as it doesn’t take too much energy out of us.
Immersion in water is so incredibly relaxing and soothing. I think it must be the womb-like feeling that it gives us that is particularly calming and peaceful (just my guess!).
7. Do a hobby you love
Energy permitting, whatever that hobby may be – knitting, scrapbooking, playing an instrument, writing a poem – whatever your passion is, whatever you love to do with the energy that you have, use that energy to pursue something that you love.
I believe pursuing our passions and our purpose in life is one of the best ways to boosts our spirits and fill our bucket.
And there are so many ways to continue to follow your passions online, whether it be by writing a blog, joining a forum or a Facebook group, or just by commenting on other people’s blogs.
Stay tuned for a further blog on this topic!
8. Meditate
In whatever way you have learned how to meditate, or even if you haven’t ever learned how to meditate, do what works for you, or if you’ve never done it before, try it.
All you need to do in the simplest form is close your eyes and focus on the back of your eyelids, or focus on your breath.
It may sound boring, but for all those who have made meditation a practice on a regular basis, we all know how beneficial it can be.
I used to think meditation was only when you stop your mind and you sat in a lotus position and chanted “Ohm”.
Now I know there are many ways to meditate, including even moving meditations like walking or yoga.
Really any form of mindfulness is a meditation and if you need to have a guided meditations such as through a video, mp3 or cd, use whatever works best for you. (See Day 6 of this blog series about Mindfulness techniques).
But even committing 5 minutes a day to meditation, you will find a benefit in doing so, I’m sure. The key is consistency!
9. Do gentle Yoga or other gentle exercises such as Pilates
There are quite a few gentle yoga or Pilates exercises possible even when you are bedridden, depending on your level of strength.
But I still know some that are possible, having used them myself at my worst stages of CFS / ME.
You can even just focus on the breathing aspects of yoga and get benefits from that while lying in bed.
But most of us can do some level of very gentle yoga or Pilates.
If you don’t know how to do this I’ll see if I can find some resources to link to.
10. Read or listen to an audiobook or podcast.
In the last few days I’ve written whole blogs on the topic of podcasts, and one on audiobooks is coming up very soon, so I won’t go into that any further.
Refer to Day 8 of 31 Days To A Better CFS Life, and to my previous Joy of Podcasts post. I’ll link to the audiobook post when I publish it!
I tried to make these suggestions a bit different from my other posts on filling your bucket and nurturing yourself.
I hope some of them have given you ideas or have reminded you of things you can do to nurture yourself and fill your bucket.
Today’s Action Step
Do one of the above suggestions of ways to nurture yourself and top up your bucket! Simple :-).
I’d be curious to hear what things you do to nurture yourself, how do you top up your bucket, and how do you boost your spirit?
Let me know in the comments section or pop over to our Facebook page where I’ll set up a post for people to leave comments. Also you can come over to Twitter and comment there. Just start the tweet with “The way I fill my bucket is… or the way I nurture myself is…”, then hashtag it #GuruNurturing.
Alright I hope you can fill your bucket a little today or nurture yourself.
I’m considering having a day off tomorrow to nurture MYSELF! It is Mother’s Day after all :-).
If you see a post tomorrow, you know I’m saving my day off until another day!
Keep Smiling
Louise
Related Posts
Day 1: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 3 Myths of Acceptance That Hold Us Back
Day 2: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – It Is As It Is. Choose It!
Day 3: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 5 Ways To Control Our Thoughts When In Overwhelm & Despair
Day 4: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 6 Things You Can ALWAYS Do Despite CFS / ME
Day 5: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 7 Ways To Focus Your Thoughts On Something Uplifting
Day 6: 31 Day To A Better CFS Life – Being Present – 7 Simple Mindfulness Techniques To Help Manage CFS
Day 7: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Learning To Ask For Help – 5 Simple Tasks You Can ‘Outsource’ To Help Manage CFS
Day 8: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Discover Podcasts – 5 Steps To Finding & Listening To Good Podcasts
Day 9: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Listen To Your Body. I Am Today!
Day 11: 31 Day To A Better CFS Life – 5 Ways To Combat Spoonie Mother Guilt on Mother’s Day!
Day 12: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – My 5 Fave Ways To Connect With The Online CFS / ME Community
Day 13: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – How & Why Audiobooks Are A Great Illness-Management Tool
Day 14: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life -10 Top Audiobooks I Recommend
Day 15: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life: 5 Tips For Getting Tasks Done When You Have CFS / ME
Day 16: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – What Are You Struggling With Most Right Now?
Day 17: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life: What Are You Doing WELL In Managing CFS / ME / Fibro? What Are You NOT Struggling With?
Day 18: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 3 Things I Struggle With At The Moment & How I Manage Them
Day 19: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 101 Ways I Manage CFS / ME & Electrosensitivity Pain
Day 20: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 5 Benefits Of Writing To Help Manage CFS / ME
Day 21: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Gratitude is Healing – 5 Ways To Practise Gratitude
Day 22: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – A Letter To Partners Of People With CFS / ME
Day 23: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – 7 Healthy, Safe Ways To Release Emotions
Day 24: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Letter To The General Public From Those With CFS / ME / FM – Part 1
Day 25: 31 Days To A Better CFS Life – Letter To The General Public Pt 2 – How You Can Support Someone Who Has CFS / ME / FM