If you’re new here, I share a Self-Care Update every month — not a polished highlight reel, but a real look at what’s happening in my body and my healing journey. Here’s November.
1. My Month in a Few Words
I thought this month was going to be “Maintenance,” but it turned out to be a Recovery month between rounds of treatment (antibiotics for SIBO).
It reminded me how unpredictable healing can be.
2. What I Noticed in My Body
The first round of treatment was more intense than expected, and my body spent most of the month trying to find its footing again. I had almost constant histamine reactions, and my system seemed to divert all its energy into calming itself down. (I share my personal SIBO/Histamine journey here)
That meant everything non-essential had to shut down.
If I tried to concentrate for too long, the brain fog arrived.
If I pushed even a little, it felt like I’d run a marathon — exhausted and aching from head to toe.
3. The Self-Care Practices I Returned To
The practice I always return to is supporting my body through what I eat, it’s one of the core practices on my Self-Care Menu (my living list of what actually helps my body).
While my diet often feels restricted, the truth is that what I do (and don’t) eat has the biggest impact on how quickly I feel better or worse.
It’s a constant “give and take” between what my body needs and what I enjoy — and that’s really what personalised self-care is: adjusting, experimenting, and finding the middle ground.
4. What Helped the Most
Listening to my body, then adjusting my practices and daily life, helped the most this month.
I had hoped to add more movement — I’d enjoyed it so much last month — but this wasn’t the time. Instead, I learned to ease off, and to trust that a little bit was better than pushing… and better than doing nothing.
Even on the hardest days, I at least started — even if two minutes later, I needed to stop.
5. What I Adjusted
I had planned to explore some new challenges, but I had to postpone this plan.
There was nothing left in the battery, and pushing myself would have backfired.
I promised these updates would be real — and sometimes real life simply doesn’t go to plan.
6. What I Learned About My Body
My body takes longer to recover than it used to.
To be fair, I had no idea how intense the treatment would be, and it’s easy to forget that medicines that “fix you” also demand a lot from your system.
I kept reminding myself of this whenever frustration crept in.
7. My Gentle Win
I didn’t fight my body.
I didn’t give up.
I didn’t get frustrated (too much).
And I kept resting.
That’s a win.
8. Life Context
You can’t avoid stress.
Life happens, and sometimes it’s scary and you feel powerless to find an answer.
This month had several of those moments.
On weeks like that, self-care becomes less about progress and more about survival — and that still counts.
9. Intention for Next Month
I’m about to start another (longer) round of treatment.
So my intention is simple: nurture my body the best I can.
10. Final Reflection
If you have a month like this, it’s easy to feel like no progress has been made.
My tracking sheet looks a bit grim.
But me and my body are a team.
Some months, I ask my body to step up and do more — and we enjoy the results.
Other months, my body says, “I can’t right now — I need your support.”
And every time I listen, we get a little closer.
That, to me, is a whole new level of progress.
Catch up on Last month or Next month.
If you’re reading this and thinking,
“I want to take better care of myself… but I don’t know where to start,”
you’re not alone.
My Free Self-Care Start-Up Toolkit is a gentle way to begin. Inside, you’ll find tools to help you:
- tune into what your body needs right now
- choose one simple self-care practice
- notice small, meaningful shifts — without pressure
It’s a soft starting point, especially after months like this one.
