Navigating Work with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Practical Tips for Balancing Recovery and Career
Introduction
If you’re dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or a hypersensitive nervous system, managing your career alongside your health can be challenging. As someone who has personally walked the road of recovery, I understand the delicate balance between pushing through the workday and prioritizing recovery. In this post, I’ll share my experience and offer practical tips for working while managing CFS or taking the leap to focus on recovery.
Struggling to Work with CFS: My Story of Burnout
When I was first diagnosed with CFS, I was a personal trainer, working long hours and constantly pushing my body to its limits. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how my body was reacting to the stress—it wasn’t until my symptoms became severe that I realized how much my work was affecting my health.
I started experiencing overwhelming fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety, but I tried to push through. Eventually, my body reached its breaking point. I ended up bedridden for months, unable to even roll over in bed. Looking back, I wish I had listened to my body sooner and reduced my workload when I first noticed the symptoms. For anyone dealing with CFS, I can’t stress this enough: if your health is deteriorating while working full time, it’s crucial to pull back and prioritize recovery.
Should You Keep Working While Recovering?
If you’re currently working and struggling with symptoms of CFS, it’s important to assess whether continuing to work is helping or hindering your recovery. For many, the constant stress of a full-time job exacerbates symptoms, leaving little room for your body to heal.
If you’ve been feeling increasingly fatigued, anxious, or mentally drained, it may be time to cut back. Even moving to part-time work can help you focus on your recovery while still maintaining some level of engagement with your career.
If you have the ability to go on sick leave or apply for long-term disability, I highly recommend it. This allows you to focus fully on recovery without the stress of balancing work and health. The Recovery Jumpstart Program I’ve created has helped many individuals recover faster by taking this step and dedicating time to healing.
Explaining Your Condition at Work
Telling your employer or colleagues about CFS can be challenging, especially if they don’t understand the severity of the condition. It’s crucial to be honest about what you’re going through. If you’re dealing with Long COVID or CFS, explaining that your nervous system is compromised can help them understand why you’re not performing at your usual level.
You can say something like:
“I’m currently dealing with a nervous system issue, and it’s affecting my energy and ability to work at my usual level. If I work part-time or with more flexibility, I’ll be able to perform at my best. If I continue to push through, I may burn out and not be able to work at all.”
Being upfront with your employer might feel difficult, but in most cases, they’ll respect your honesty. If they don’t understand or refuse to accommodate your needs, it may be worth reconsidering whether that job is the right fit for your health.
What If You’re Not Working But Want to Get Back?
If you’re not currently working but feel ready to re-enter the workforce, you need to approach this transition slowly. I suggest focusing on part-time, flexible work at first. Full-time work can overwhelm your system and set back your recovery.
Here are some tips for starting work again while managing CFS:
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Start Part-Time: Aim for fewer hours to avoid burnout.
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Seek Flexibility: Look for roles with flexible hours, ideally ones that allow you to work from home.
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Do What You Enjoy: If you can find work that you’re passionate about, it will make the process much more enjoyable and less stressful.
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Take Breaks: Incorporate regular breaks to rest and recalibrate.
For example, when I started working again, I began doing videography. I enjoyed the creative process, and it was flexible enough for me to take breaks when needed. I started part-time, which allowed me to gradually adjust to working while also focusing on my recovery.
The Importance of Taking It Slow
In my experience, pushing yourself too hard too soon can lead to setbacks. One key to success in recovery and work is to pace yourself. As tempting as it may be to jump into full-time work, the risk of overwhelming your body is too great. Taking it slow and adjusting your work schedule will allow you to find a balance between earning an income and healing your nervous system.
Use these strategies to break up your workday:
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Set timers for screen time and productivity, ensuring you take breaks every 20-45 minutes.
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Get fresh air and move your body during breaks to balance cognitive stress with physical activity.
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Invest in blue light blocking glasses to reduce eye strain and prevent headaches during screen time.
Embrace the Journey: Find Gratitude in Small Wins
Even if your income is limited while you’re recovering, focus on what you can do. For me, when I first started working again, I was grateful just to be able to stand, walk, and interact with the world again. I viewed every small task as a victory.
The stress of financial uncertainty can be overwhelming, but remember that your health is the most important thing in the long term. As you continue to recover, opportunities will open up, and your capacity to work will increase.
Conclusion: Prioritize Your Health for Long-Term Success
When dealing with CFS, the most important thing you can do is prioritize your health. If you’re currently working, consider scaling back or taking time off to focus on recovery. If you’re thinking of returning to work, start slow with part-time, flexible roles that you enjoy.
No matter where you’re at in your journey, remember: your health must come first. If you’re struggling to find a balance, consider reaching out for personalized guidance through the Recovery Jumpstart Program, where we’ll help you create a plan tailored to your unique situation.