Today is the first day of SPRING!

Huzzah!

Never one to conform with the norm, my body has decided to go into HIBERNATION!

I woke up on Tuesday morning with a high fever, swollen and painful throat and a migraine.

Cut to yesterday and I was diagnosed with Tonsillitis, given antibiotics and signed off work for the rest of the week.

I’ve never had Tonsillitis before.

(There’s one to add to the old bucket list.)

Huzzah! FREE TONSILLITIS FOR EVERYBODY!

(I’m kind but I’m not sharing this illness with you all. Sorry #notsorry)

I am currently sat listening to the birds in my back garden taunt me with their SPRING FILLED SONG.

I refer you back to a quote I said in one of my first ever posts,

‘Much like the plants in Winter,

Spring will come again,

And the flowers will BLOOM’

Being ill sucks.

Whether it be physically or mentally, your body is forced into WINTER mode.

And it can be frustrating when it feels like everyone else is enjoying the full benefits of ‘SPRING’.

I am without a shadow of a doubt, the worst person at being ill.

I get angry. I get weepy.

I refuse to admit that I am ill.

I refuse to submit to being ill.

I will try my hardest to pretend that I am FINE.

I have been physically forced by lecturers at drama school and managers at work to GO HOME when I have dragged myself in when very ill.

Needless to say, I am very ANNOYED at being ill right now.

As someone who is very consciously AWARE and practices nutrition, it is ENTIRELY frustrating when your body gives up on you FOR NO REASON.

I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG!

Twinned with the fact that I have been consciously eating more to FUEL my body and it’s needs, it is quite literally like ‘SERIOUSLY, PAL, WHAT IS THE DEAL?’

Triplet-ted with the fact that I am so much more stable and am so much better with my mental health…. I am FURIOUS, that now my brains and emotions are starting to work, my body is NOT.

I am banned to staying in my house.

Staying in my bed.

And resting.

AND I DON’T WANT TO!

But do you know what? This is a small victory.

In the depths of my depression, I could barely leave the house and never wanted to leave my bed.

Now I am sick and I am being FORCED TO STAY IN MY HOUSE AND REST and I don’t want to.

I want to be at work.

I want to be exercising.

I want to be going on walks.

I want to be seeing friends.

So actually, this is completely positive

(well maybe not completely, I am in a lot of pain and can barely swallow).

Small victories, my friends, small victories.

Sometimes, you are physically ill for no reason.

Sometimes, you become mentally unwell for no reason.

THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!

It is very easy to blame yourself, your decisions, your brain, your body for becoming ill.

Never BLAME yourself for being ill.

Never BEAT YOURSELF up for being ill.

You are not letting anyone down.

Everyone gets ill.

You need to rest.

Whether it be a physical illness or a mental health illness,

engaging in self care is vital.

I WILL SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW HIGHLY IMPORTANT SELF CARE IS!

It helps your winter, slowly but surely, move into spring.

Here are some things that I have gathered over the years to engage in self care when I am physically or mentally unwell….

TEA

Tea is soothing.

It is warm and cosy.

Tea has a psychological reaction with your body.

It’s warmth has the same effect on you as a hug.

So making and drinking a cup of tea is a brilliant form of self care.

If you drink a herbal tea like chamomile (for calming effects) or ginger and lemon (for immunity, flu and gut problems) or peppermint and licorice (for nausea and gut problems).

There are so many brilliant herbal teas which have a good effect on your body.

But a bog standard strong and milky breakfast tea ALWAYS does the trick.

It makes me feel like I’m with my mum at my family home even when I’m not with her.

WATCHING TV

I am currently binge watching true crime documentaries on Netflix like any other normal human being to RELAX.

My brain is not working to it’s full extent (she says in a very contradictory, eloquent way) so to lie on my sofa in my PJS and engage fully in watching something interesting helps you relax.

You are devoting time to yourself.

Sometimes it’s good to watch something mindless and fluffy like reality TV or 3 seasons of your favourite show.

I know for myself that I don’t like fully submitting to being ill so if I watch something that has an educative element like a documentary, I can relax, lay back and quietly learn.

READING

Sometimes this isn’t always possible.

When I have a migraine or brain fog or am dizzy, there is NO WAY IN HELL I am reading.

But if I want to distract myself from pain, or nausea and am in bed or the sofa, reading keeps my mind focused off of what I’m feeling.

I really recommend reading a fluffy book like a ‘Chick-Lit’ (I hate that word) or a cheesy crime novel.

I’m currently reading a book about Nutritional Psychology, (which applies to neither of the genres I’ve recommended LOL)

I find it highly interesting and it’s distracting me from my tonsil pain.

Read something that you can relax into and focus on.

BATH/SHOWER

Ah yes, stewing in your own ill filth, the JOYS!

But in all serious, a hot bath or shower can help you relax, ease muscle pain and can act as a decongestant.

A warm shower/bath can help with a fever and chills.

I always find it cleansing like I’m washing away the sickness.

It’s also a really mindful period of quiet time alone with myself.

Especially if suffering with depression, a shower/bath can be a FANTASTIC first step towards self care because you are actually looking after yourself. So simple. But so effective.

Hugs/Blanket

When you feel ill whether physically or mentally, hugs and cuddles are literally the best.

I don’t care what gender you are, a hug is soothing.

Human physical contact. Release. Safety.

Sometimes you are alone and this is not possible.

Wrap yourself in a blanket. This is a way of hugging yourself.

Cuddle a soft toy. It doesn’t make you a child, it makes you an adult dealing appropriately with a difficult situation.

Eating

It is highly important when you are ill to give your body the nutrients it requires.

It is hard when you are ill or physically vomiting to draw the desire to eat.

Often, you are not hungry at all.

But your body now more than ever, needs food.

It requires a lot of energy to fight illness.

Eat what you can.

Even if it’s a few ginger biscuits, or a packet of crisps, or a smoothie, a banana, some plain porridge/oatmeal, some noodles or pasta.

Start off small.

Even if your body rejects it in any form, you need to keep putting liquids and nutrients in your body.

Go gently with yourself but this is VITAL in order to get better.

Also ice cream. My doctor told me today that it would help soothe my tonsil pain.

I got a big delivery of MiiRo ice cream the other day.

(Thank you kindly, MiiRo tribe. Proud to be a part of the clan)

So who am I to argue with that?

Ice cream cure me of ALL MY PROBLEMS

(Let’s start with tonsilitus first)

Like plants and animals that hibernate in Winter,

Your body sometimes needs rest,

Your body always needs self care,

And spring will come again.

(In a metaphorical way. Quite literally and factually Spring starts today, there’s nothing we can do about that)

I woke up very early today feeling very nauseous so I needed a naturally sweet, ginger oatmeal to kick start my appetite, to fuel my body to get BETTER.

Ginger is a natural treatment for nausea and an anti-inflammatory so fantastic for gut health and when you’re ill with tonsillitis or other cold/flu illnesses.

Your brain requires glucose in order to function so the natural sweetness of the dates helps your brain function fully, fuel your body and repair.

But you can this oatmeal whenever because it’s so delicious, warm and spicy.

Gingerbread is not just for Christmas…

It’s for life!

Gingerbread Oatmeal

What you’ll need:

• 45g oats (double quantities as you go if making for more than one person)
• Plant based milk (enough to cover oats)
• 3 tbsp of water.
• 1 tsp of mixed spice
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
• 1 tsp of ground ginger
• 4 chopped dates.
• A pinch of salt
• (Optional) 1 tbsp of Vanilla Protein Powder (I used Tribe‘s Vanilla and Cinnamon Protein)
• Fruit to top (I recommend plum, pear or apple)
• Chopped walnuts/hazelnuts or almonds.
• (Optional) 3 mini gingerbread men to top (I used Organix Food’s Gingerbread Men which are technically for children however they are organic, refined sugar free and tasty, so whatever.)

How to make it:

• Chop fruit for topping and set to one side.
• Chop dates finely.
• Put oats into a pan or bowl with the mixed spice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, pinch of salt, chopped dates and optional protein powder.
• Top with plant based milk and the water. Put enough plant based milk to cover the oats and then add the water.
• If heating on the stove, heat on a low heat, stirring gently. Keep stirring till at consistency that is PERFECT for you.
• If heating in microwave, heat for 2 mins. Stir. Heat for another 2 mins. Heat for 1 min more if you like your porridge THICK.
• Top with chopped nuts, fruit and little gingerbread men.
• Sit down with your oats and inhale the smell of ginger knowing the good it will do for your body. Relax and try to enJOY slowly at your own pace.

Like plants and animals that hibernate in Winter,

Your body sometimes needs rest,

Your body always needs self care,

And spring will come again.

Look after yourelves,

Engage in self care,

Much love,

Joy xx