Christmas with CFS can either be a time when you seem to forget about your health and enjoy the season (in a responsible way, of course!), a time when all of your stresses and difficulties suddenly get magnified, or a strange, bizarre cocktail of the two.

I have to say that I did enjoy Christmas, but found it incredibly draining when I was very sick (at around 20-40% functionality). I was so determined to enjoy it, but my energy levels and stomach capacity (I wasn’t really managing to eat so much at the time) wouldn’t really allow me. I couldn’t even get out of the house to buy presents, for goodness sakes.

However, there are a few things that you can do to stay focused, healthy and merry during the season (into New Year’s Eve and beyond).

How to Survive Christmas with Chronic Fatigue

• let your hair down a little bit- ’tis the season, CFS or not. For the last few months of the year, enjoy celebrating wholeheartedly without the guilt.
• speaking of guilt, it’s perfectly ok to take time out to rest, nap or just to gather your thoughts . Don’t worry about missing out or letting other people down- you’re only disappointing yourself by NOT looking after yourself.
• everyone finds this season hectic, so if you find yourself feeling more drained than usual, don’t attach meaning to it.
• don’t feel as though you only have the rest of this month to feel the way you want to feel before 2016. Realistically, we can only achieve so much.
• take it one moment at a time and enjoy. Don’t worry about what was, or what might be (click here for my tried-and-tested tip).
• know that you are loved and worthy of love.

Happy Christmas my darling and enjoy the holidays (guilt-free!)

Love, Katie    xxx