Adjusting when Sick
I've come to realize that it's OK to do less than what I hope due to unusual circumstances like this.
Being sick isn't fun. At least, that's what my wife likes to say. As I'm going through an illness right now, I must say that I have to agree with her. It's not fun being sick. A few days ago, we contracted COVID-19. It's our first time getting infected since the pandemic started. Our symptoms have been relatively moderate: fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, congestion. Although we've started to feel better, we're certainly not out of the woods yet. We have several days to go before making a full recovery. But I'm apparently feeling better enough to write this blog post.
Getting sick is just a regular part of life. I have a son who goes to daycare and so he's bringing home all kinds of viruses. His immune system is developing (and so is ours!). This is part of living a modern life and having a modern family. I've accepted this reality. Being sick, of course, messes with your regular daily routine. You might not have the focus or energy to do everything you normally do in one day. And so, when you get sick, remind yourself that it's OK to adjust your routine for the duration of the illness to accommodate the need for rest. You don't have to keep pushing yourself. In fact, over-exerting yourself might make things worse and make the recovery time longer.
I normally like to spend 3-4 hours per day in prayer and meditation. But when I'm sick, it's hard to concentrate and have the energy to go for long hours in prayer. I've accepted this reality and I shouldn't fight against it. In fact, I should give myself some grace and understanding because of the circumstances. And so, at the height of my illness, I purposely and willingly decided to cut back on my spiritual exercises. For example, I only spent about 20-30 minutes in prayer for the days that I was recovering. I've come to realize that it's OK to do less than what I hope due to unusual circumstances like this. I also apply this perspective to my other routine activities such as writing (I normally like to write 5 days a week), exercising, and chores. I give myself permission to do less or to even skip some of these activities for a period of time. I use the freed up time to get some extra physical rest so that I can recover faster. And the faster I recover, the faster I can get back to my normal routine.
When I've fully recovered, I will simply go back to my normal habit. This is important to remember. It can be so easy to keep sliding away from your spiritual practices after even just a short time away. After your illness, go back right away to engaging with your spiritual disciplines. Just pick it back up from where you left off. In the meantime, get lots of rest to recover and settle for just doing a fraction of your usual spiritual activity.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
