How to Handle Good Days in CFS Recovery: Don’t Take the Bait
When you’re recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), good days can be both a blessing and a trap. In this blog post, we’re going to explore the challenges of good days and how to approach them without pushing your body too far. I’ll share practical advice from my own experience and the lessons I’ve learned from helping others on their recovery journey.
What Are Good Days?
Good days are those rare moments when you wake up feeling better—maybe even close to your old self. You feel like you have energy, and the symptoms of CFS aren’t as intense. It’s easy to get excited during these times and want to “make up for lost time.”
I call these “bait days.” Why? Because, much like fishing, they seem like the perfect opportunity to go all in, but if you take the bait and go too far, you might end up overdoing it and regretting it later.
Good days can trick us into thinking, “I don’t get these often, so I need to take full advantage of this time and do everything I’ve been putting off.” But this is where we often run into trouble.
Why Good Days Are Tricky
The problem with good days is that, for many of us, it’s easy to slip into extreme behavior. We lean into all-or-nothing thinking. Our brains tell us, “We feel good today—let’s do all the things!” But that’s exactly what you want to avoid.
When you push yourself too hard on a good day, your symptoms can flare up the next day or the following days. That’s because your nervous system is still recovering and adapting, and going all out on a good day disrupts the balance you’ve worked hard to create.
It’s really important to be mindful of our behaviors. If we continue to act in the same extreme ways that got us into trouble in the first place, we’ll only stay stuck in that cycle.
The Power of Restraint
So, how should we approach good days in a healthier, more balanced way?
Here’s the golden rule: Don’t take the full bait. On good days, do 60-70% of what you feel you can do. Even if you feel like you have extra energy, don’t go full throttle. Practice restraint and recognize that there is power in that restraint.
It might feel tempting to push yourself to do everything, but here’s the truth: just because you could do more doesn’t mean you should. Resisting that temptation is one of the most powerful things you can do for your long-term recovery.
By doing 60-70% of your usual activities, you still get to enjoy the good day, but you leave enough energy and balance for the next day. This helps prevent flare-ups and teaches your brain to take a more moderate approach.
A Real-Life Example
Let’s say you typically go for three 10-minute walks on a good day. You might also run errands and clean the house. The next day, you feel exhausted and your symptoms worsen. This is exactly what we’re trying to avoid.
Instead, here’s how you could tweak that approach:
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Two 10-minute walks instead of three.
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Do one errand instead of multiple.
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Skip cleaning the house and ask someone else to help.
By doing 60-70% of your usual routine, you’re still being productive and active, but you’re not overloading your system.
The Importance of Balance
Good days aren’t a “one and done” situation. They don’t mean it’s time to catch up on everything you missed. They are an opportunity to move forward with caution. By practicing restraint, you’ll learn to embrace balance, which is key to your recovery.
It’s about breaking free from black-and-white thinking—doing everything or nothing. Recovery is a gradual process, and on good days, your goal should be to find a sweet spot between doing enough to feel good and avoiding overexertion that could leave you feeling worse.
Final Thoughts
Good days during CFS recovery are both exciting and challenging. They can be a test of your ability to maintain balance and avoid slipping back into old habits. By practicing restraint and only doing 60-70% of what you feel like you can do, you set yourself up for long-term success. Remember, it’s not about doing everything on the good days—it’s about making sustainable progress.
If you feel like you’re stuck in this cycle of good days followed by flare-ups, it might be time to rethink your approach. Embrace the good days without overdoing it, and remember that restraint is your friend.