Honestly, I've found the pace a little difficult to keep up with and the assessments quite overwhelming. Has anyone else attempted something new lately? How has your condition impacted your experience?
Yes, finding new ways to pace yourself and finding work arounds can be difficult. A few years ago I had gone back to teaching after 5 years off to raise my kids. I found going back to be exhausting. In fact, I would be so tired from a full day of teaching and mothering (and living with AS), that I was like a zombie at dinner.
I did find my pace and loved that job. I don't regret having done it... but I wish I would have listened to my body more and not just ignored it while pushing through.
I hope you can find your new balance of studying and caring for yourself. Please don't forget that second part as that's what will sustain you in the long run!!
Best of luck!
Also, I agree with you both. It can be SO hard to accept that we can no longer do the things we want to do....and we definitely don't need to be so hard on ourselves. We are all doing the best we can...
I am back in school also and is very hard for me to sit for long periods of time so I put a pillow and heating pad on my chair. It's also so much harder to focus or remember anything so I write everything down and then type it up hoping that going over the material 3 times will help commit it to memory. I've also noticed that the earlier in the day I study and do coursework the better I do. I'm to wiped out at night . Stick with it ,take breaks when you need and try not to be to hard on yourself.
@A MySpondylitisTeam Member - thank you! I needed that reminder as I'm definitely guilty of trying to do more than my body can keep up with. It's a really tough aspect of this condition for me to accept - that I can't do all the things I want to do. π
A couple more thoughts...
I remember when I went back to school to get my teaching certification, I found it so hard to sit through classes as it would hurt my body. So sometimes I would stand in the back instead. Not sure if you would be comfortable trying that, my teachers and cohort were all very supportive.
Also, doing short yoga videos mid study session could help. As well as yoga nidra. They say that 20 minutes of yoga nidra is like taking a 3 hour nap. So maybe that could help you both when you are fighting fatigue and brain fog but need to keep studying. And don't forget to watch that posture when your sitting. I knew someone who fused hunched because he studied hunched over and didn't know he had AS. If you put a box at your feet so they can rest elevated at your desk that helps keep your back in alignment.
Wishing you both successful (pain-free and brain fog free) studying!