Reminder to self

Migraine rules

While my migraines have improved over the last few years, I usually get them each week. Thankfully, they are often gone by the end of the day, and I can do some stuff with limited abilities. Sometimes they are totally debilitating. I'm thankful when I am muddling through things. 

I try not to do anything final or client-facing when I have one, but sometimes doing nothing is not practical given my life circumstances. I hope that one day, I can focus on recovering when I feel this bad. Until then, I have some ground rules after living with regular migraines for 25 years.

So on days I have migraines, I try to:

• Do the bare minimum. This means I have to be clear on my priorities for each day. It requires planning each day for the next. 

• Reschedule anything that I can. I only do low-pressure, easy things unless it causes a huge problem...I know it will happen at some point that I need to cancel a client meeting or get someone to fill in for me. 

• Do what I can. This means taking care of dogs and anything else that is simple. I can do most things for a little while. So if anything on my calendar is one hour or less, I can handle most things.

• Resist the urge to make decisions. In a migraine episode I may be tempted to quit jobs and relationships and cancel plans. I have to remember that this will pass. I do not have to react to everything. 

And if I can't manage, I can let people (not dogs -- they don't understand) know I don't feel well and will get back to them soon. Or, I say nothing and wait it out. Until I feel okay.

If I had to choose one rule, it would be to take no final actions and rest

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