A while back, I fell sick for more than 10 days.

It was traumatizing.

Not just the sickness and the fact that I was incapacitated for days on end.

But the notion that I would not be able to work, gym, run or eat my favorite food.

It was torturous to say the least.

No more bubble tea, tonkotsu ramen, chicken rice and beer?

Come on, that’s a horrible punishment.

Will I be able to catch up on work?

Will I be able to get back in the groove?

What about all the emails and proposals waiting for me?

What about the clients and friends I ignored for weeks?

Will I be able to get my fitness back?

What if I lost all my cardio and VO2 max gains?

These thoughts kept circling me like vultures as I slowly recover.

That is the worse bit.

To not know exactly when you are fully recovered.

To slowly get better.

To over-think.

To not know if you are progressing or regressing.

It is really hard both mentally and physically.

Anyone who has been through a big injury or illness would relate.

I tried googling and talking to ChatGPT: how do people get back after a serious illness?

They didn’t disappoint.

Found some cool examples.

Stephen Hawking: Diagnosed with ALS at a young age, Hawking’s physical capabilities diminished over time, but his intellectual pursuits soared. He became one of the most renowned physicists, transforming our understanding of black holes and the universe.

Selena Gomez: Battling Lupus, a severe autoimmune disease, Gomez underwent a kidney transplant. Post-recovery, she not only returned to her music and acting career but also became an advocate for mental health and organ donation. Her openness in sharing her story has inspired many, highlighting the therapeutic power of storytelling in recovery.

Simone Biles, the celebrated American gymnast, is an exemplary figure when discussing resilience and recovery, albeit in a slightly different context. Biles, known for her extraordinary athletic prowess, made headlines during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics not just for her performances, but for her courageous decision to withdraw from several events to focus on her mental health.

Jackie Chan broke so many bones and still went back to stunts and movie-making.

Bouncing back from a serious illness isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s a journey of rediscovery and resilience. Here’s some ways to get back on track after a serious illness:

1. Embrace ‘Micro-Productivity’: the art of breaking tasks into tiny, manageable pieces. Think writing a single paragraph instead of a full article, or a 5-minute walk instead of a gym session. It’s about celebrating small wins. Just like J.K. Rowling, who wrote the initial ideas for Harry Potter on a napkin, sometimes great things start small. The core idea is to break down large tasks and start really, really small and slowly get back into the groove. It does not matter if you don’t get it all done, what matters is getting started and keep moving on.

2. Change the frame: Your illness is the current frame you are in. You might still going through it. You might be recovering. You might be recovered. Those are frames. Change the frame, adopt a different mindset. Embrace another reality. Oh you are so sickly and cannot work out? Stay on your computer and read, write, learn and game! Oh you are recovering so you can’t go to work? Catch up on sleep and start a Netflix marathon. Point is, switch out your frame, embrace the situation and have some fun.

3. Take receipts: While recovering, note down all the things you want to do but can’t. Create the urge, harness the hunger, build the wanting. The deeper the desperation, the stronger the desire, the more powerful the motivation will be. Post-illness, go do all of those things you wanted to do while sick. Every time you forget why you are doing it, look back on the picture or note and remind yourself why.

Remember, recovering from a serious illness is as much about mental and emotional resilience as it is about physical recuperation. It’s a time to redefine goals, embrace new methods of productivity, and find strength in your story and new learnings.

Don’t beat yourself up too much.

Don’t ever make important decisions when you are sick or tired.

And don’t ever, ever give up.

-

Ever bounce back from a serious illness before?

-

#Resilience #MicroProductivity #StorytellingHeals #LearnersMindset #HealthComeback #NewBeginnings #RecoveryJourney #StrengthInVulnerability #EmbracingChange #LifeAfterIllness

A while back, I fell sick for more than 10 days.

It was traumatizing.

Not just the sickness and the fact that I was incapacitated for days on end.

But the notion that I would not be able to work, gym, run or eat my favorite food.

It was torturous to say the least.

No more bubble tea, tonkotsu ramen, chicken rice and beer?

Come on, that’s a horrible punishment.

Will I be able to catch up on work?

Will I be able to get back in the groove?

What about all the emails and proposals waiting for me?

What about the clients and friends I ignored for weeks?

Will I be able to get my fitness back?

What if I lost all my cardio and VO2 max gains?

These thoughts kept circling me like vultures as I slowly recover.

That is the worse bit.

To not know exactly when you are fully recovered.

To slowly get better.

To over-think.

To not know if you are progressing or regressing.

It is really hard both mentally and physically.

Anyone who has been through a big injury or illness would relate.

I tried googling and talking to ChatGPT: how do people get back after a serious illness?

They didn’t disappoint.

Found some cool examples.

Stephen Hawking: Diagnosed with ALS at a young age, Hawking’s physical capabilities diminished over time, but his intellectual pursuits soared. He became one of the most renowned physicists, transforming our understanding of black holes and the universe.

Selena Gomez: Battling Lupus, a severe autoimmune disease, Gomez underwent a kidney transplant. Post-recovery, she not only returned to her music and acting career but also became an advocate for mental health and organ donation. Her openness in sharing her story has inspired many, highlighting the therapeutic power of storytelling in recovery.

Simone Biles, the celebrated American gymnast, is an exemplary figure when discussing resilience and recovery, albeit in a slightly different context. Biles, known for her extraordinary athletic prowess, made headlines during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics not just for her performances, but for her courageous decision to withdraw from several events to focus on her mental health.

Jackie Chan broke so many bones and still went back to stunts and movie-making.

Bouncing back from a serious illness isn’t just about physical recovery; it’s a journey of rediscovery and resilience. Here’s some ways to get back on track after a serious illness:

1. Embrace ‘Micro-Productivity’: the art of breaking tasks into tiny, manageable pieces. Think writing a single paragraph instead of a full article, or a 5-minute walk instead of a gym session. It’s about celebrating small wins. Just like J.K. Rowling, who wrote the initial ideas for Harry Potter on a napkin, sometimes great things start small. The core idea is to break down large tasks and start really, really small and slowly get back into the groove. It does not matter if you don’t get it all done, what matters is getting started and keep moving on.

2. Change the frame: Your illness is the current frame you are in. You might still going through it. You might be recovering. You might be recovered. Those are frames. Change the frame, adopt a different mindset. Embrace another reality. Oh you are so sickly and cannot work out? Stay on your computer and read, write, learn and game! Oh you are recovering so you can’t go to work? Catch up on sleep and start a Netflix marathon. Point is, switch out your frame, embrace the situation and have some fun.

3. Take receipts: While recovering, note down all the things you want to do but can’t. Create the urge, harness the hunger, build the wanting. The deeper the desperation, the stronger the desire, the more powerful the motivation will be. Post-illness, go do all of those things you wanted to do while sick. Every time you forget why you are doing it, look back on the picture or note and remind yourself why.

Remember, recovering from a serious illness is as much about mental and emotional resilience as it is about physical recuperation. It’s a time to redefine goals, embrace new methods of productivity, and find strength in your story and new learnings.

Don’t beat yourself up too much.

Don’t ever make important decisions when you are sick or tired.

And don’t ever, ever give up.

-

Ever bounce back from a serious illness before?

-

#Resilience #MicroProductivity #StorytellingHeals #LearnersMindset #HealthComeback #NewBeginnings #RecoveryJourney #StrengthInVulnerability #EmbracingChange #LifeAfterIllness