It’s June and the countdown to summer has begun. Other than the fact that it can be dreadfully hot (thankfully that isn’t usually the case in Vancouver), summer can be a great time if you suffer live with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The pace is usually a lot slower in the summer months, than it is during the year. Since schedules tend to be a little more relaxed, people tend to be a lot less tense. Being a lot less tense is a great thing, if you have any chronic illness.
Summer provides us with wonderful opporunities, such as:
- sunshine – good for getting rid of that grey tinge to your skin
- fresh air – helps us to breathe a little better
- bbqs – eating outside helps not only with a bit of a healthier appetite – its just way more fun
- if you work – chances are that the summer will be a slower season, unless you work construction, are a golf or tennis pro, or sell camping supplies. anyway, a slower work season, will mean more time at home
- its vacay time!!!!
- less rain (if you live in my part of the world)
- its an opportunity to educate yourself on your own terms. Summer reading lists are one of my most favorite things to work on. If you are interested, you can see what I will be working on this season.
Summer is usually energy season. Well, actually summer mornings and evenings to be more exact. Unless I have an icy drink in my hands, afternoons can be slightly difficult. That said, my mood is certainly way better during these months. Probably because I am outside a whole lot more, and since the outdoors can provide me with vitamins, I am usually a little healthier. Let’s hope that is the case for all of us.
**of course, this only applies if you live in a country, where you get summer during the months of June – September. The rest of you, I guess will have to wait a few more months for yours to start.
I have multiple sclerosis and the heat can be deadly for us MSer’s. I’ve always resented this since summer has been my favorite season for ever. Luckily, I’ve been healthier the last few years and it hasn’t been as much of a problem. But I’ve found that water is power and it doesn’t have to be cold. It just gives me energy when I’m drained…especially from heat. Rosalind
I never thought of creating a balance. I just take completely frozen bottles and haul them around with me. If nothing else, it keeps my lunch cold, until I can make it into work.
In the summer, I find that they start to melt fairly quickly. OK maybe not quickly, but I will have a completely thawed bottle after about 2.5 hrs.
I don’t start drinking water until I am actually at work (I am a nightmare on road trips)….besides, usually I need a cup of really great coffee before I can make it into the office.
Oh absolutely…
I am now working on getting the right proportion of water and ice so there is enough water to drink as the ice melts… I think a cashier gave me a funny look today when I handed over an unusually cool 10 dollar bill… :O
don’t be too hard on yourself. everyone who sees my frozen water bottles, thinks I am a genius.
of course I let just about everyone think that I came up with the idea myself.
feel free to tote around frozen water…but make sure you give me credit for the idea
Frozen water bottle–why didn’t I think of that?! Oh ya, because I have CFS!
the ice pack is a great idea. I carry around frozen bottles of water. I stole the idea from a street vendor in Rome about 7 years ago, when you could buy regular bottled water for about $1 but across the street from the Coliseum a frozen bottle would go for about $5 us. Let me tell you, in the middle of August, that purchase gave me more pleasure than just about anything else on that trip. Sure I was gouged, but it really was soooo worth it.
I love just not feeling hypothermic all the time! Now begins the quest to avoid hypERthermia… At this time of year I will sometimes carry a cold-pack with me in case I end up in a hot place. I’m sure it looks weird but I will haul the thing out and put it on the back of my neck when standing in line at stores and whatnot. At all times I carry icewater and rely on my car’s air conditioner, at least on outbound journeys. On a day like today (expected to be 28) I don’t even think about heading out. It’ll be a good day to read a book and watch a movie in my nice cool basement suite!