I know this is a late reply but I wanted to share my friend Gerrit Cloete's definition of productivity: To get (more of) the right things done with as little effort as possible.
The right things to do now are those things that will help you to be healthy and get through the whoozy times, and sitting playing or watching is little effort. Thus: You are SUPER productivie! :) Hey just the thought of playing solitaire is fun if you think of it in terms of productivity.
My fave is Friends - it lifts me every time. I also like the really redicioulous ones like Angie Tribeka althrough you need Siem to watch it with you to really giggle.
Love you so much
Hi Kristen,
So sorry to hear about what you’re going through. Sounds like you’re getting the best of care and making progress, but so difficult... For some hours of escape I’d recommend watching “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” on Netflix.
Dianne
So sorry that the chemo load has got to you now, Kris and that you are feeling so yucky. What wonderful suggestions all your friends have made though! I like what Christy had to say about giving yourself permission to do nothing and sleep as much as possible! The healing power of sleep is what you need. I'm not sure if you're still on Facebook, but I've sent you a Scrabble request! You can make one word a day, if that's all you feel up to - I don't do the "nudging" that one can do to an opponent, to speed up play, or force a win. One game can last for days in some instances when people are away, or too busy to play their turn... or not feeling great. Lots of love, as always xxx
Hi Kris -- so many great suggestions here for you -- I'll just throw in a couple more. Since I've been spending quite a bit of time with a four-year-old lately, I've found good old fashioned coloring to be surprisingly therapeutic and one of those sort of "mindless, but creative" things. There are some really ingenious art apps on the iPad also. And this one is almost embarrassing to admit but here goes: remember those old "highlights" magazines for kids? Well, they still exist and they have entire books full of hidden picture games that are almost addictive so I think this might be a low-brain-power thing like "Find the ten things that are different in these two photos". Sounds weird, I know, but I've found myself challenged by these in the back of a People magazine in the dentist's office (self disclosure)...
If you want a few laughs -- check out new comedy specials (Netflix) by John Mulaney, a former Saturday Night Live writer, and one starring Steve Martin & Martin Short.
And being somewhat of a podcast who**, I can recommend a wide variety of them:
Serial (season one) -- if you never listened to this one with This American Life's Sarah Koenig, OMG!!
You Must Remember This by Karina Longworth -- awesome series about Old Hollywood stars and more
Homecoming (Gimlet) - really cool drama with David Schwimmer, Amy Sedaris, & Catherine Keener
Missing Richard Simmons - snarky, mindless, and sooooo addicting
Slow Burn - series on Watergate and new one on Clinton impeachment
Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow's blog (some are way too young for us and even too "out there" but there are a few really great ones, too)
And also...Dressed: the history of fashion; Here's the Thing w/ Alec Baldwin; Modern Love from the New York Times, & anything from This American Life (highly recommend an old one entitled "Tell Me I'm Fat"
Netflix - YES to Bloodline & Ozark. We just watched "Wild, Wild Country" about a cult outside of Portland, OR, in the 80s - pretty interesting.
Lastly, check out the app Insight Timer.
Every time I think of you -- it's to visualize that nasty crap coursing through your body to annihilate the even nastier crap -- that and you in your Mrs. Claus dress of course. It's working and it's winning. Lots of love.
Rest, relax, restore, and rejuvenate in whatever mood or moment prevails in the present. Sending you and abundance of healing light energy, joy, and laughter. As for the suggestions...you have got a lot of great ones here. I can imagine with a fuzzy mind, plot lines may be too much to follow at times. I might download some Binaural Beats, Kirtan , Gregorian Chants ? XOXO
Helloooooooo chemo brain.
Advice:
1. don't even THINK about apologizing or feeling bad for not being present or engaged with those around you. It's not your job. Not for now. But it will be again when this ends, don't worry. Right now lethargy is the new, temporary normal...some days more so than others. Give into it and just be where you are. Unapologetically.
2. do not be surprised if you experience pretty extreme fuzz brain...inability to call up regular old words or phrases, inability to express ideas or feelings. It's ok. It's also temporary. Again, just give into it. It's oddly freeing.
3. depending on the day, you may find reading or other small, detailed work too nauseating, or too demanding of your brain, or both. I rented box sets and did marathons. Everything from Project Runway and Sex and the City to The Wire and Breaking Bad (looking between my fingers half the time). HGTV in between. If listening feels better than watching, here are some awesome podcasts: Note to Self, Invisibilia, This American Life, Radiolab, How to be Amazing, TED Radio Hour, The Daily Show Ears Edition. I can recommend others, as well...let me know if you need more. Audio books are another cool thing to try if you haven't already.
4. funny you should mention knitting. I actually took it up. For some random reason, it soothed me. I couldn't read anything longer than an email, and not even that for long periods. But somehow knitting didn't upset my stomach. I'm trying to think of other things that engage your hands but don't require too much eye concentration: macrame, beading...?
5. watch for neuropathy...it can take different forms and it can come out of nowhere. For me it was the hands and feet going numb, but also my balance was affected. So all that + being very weak and fatigued can get you into trouble.
6. stay hydrated.
This is the shitty part. Your job is to endure, nothing more. You may have more good days than bad, or the bad ones may take over. Let go any expectations of normalcy. You don't need that kind of pressure right now. If you have a good hour, a good day, a good week, hooray! But just keep remembering during the crappy ones that they are what's letting you know you're fighting. And winning.
Sending loads and loads of love and good juju xxoo
So sorry Kristen that you have to walk this road! It might not suit if your feeling nauseous, but Australian Masterchef is great time-out brain-out fodder. Must be Aussie one though - the others not half and addictive. Sending love.
Dear Kristen-when Nick was going through his chemo one thing that helped him was we started watching several TV shows that we never had time to watch before; series helps as it gives you something to look forward to and anticipate. We made it through Game of Thrones-the entire thing! and now cannot wait for the final season, Homeland, and when I had my hip surgery, Orange is the New Black. Also, if you have not seen them yet, Downton Abbey is just fun, and Bloodline will keep you guessing.
Nick often tells me his brain just felt fuzzy and it was too much effort to read and do the things you think you would like to do, so he dozed a lot. He did receive a tablet which we used to watch episodes of Homeland while getting his chemo in the hospital and that helped it go faster. In the meantime, my friend, give yourself the OK to do nothing and sleep as much as you are able. Hang in there; this will pass.
xoxo, Christy
Hello sweet friend - so sorry to hear the drugs are zapping your usual “go-go-go” energy! Your positivity is still shining through!! Know this is a touch journey but I have no doubt that all the strength you have inside is not challenge for this illness.
HMMM- as far as ways to calmly pass the time - I love Buddify for meditation.
Showwise currently watching Nurse Jackie which has been entertaining! Others have made a lot of good suggestions so I will gave to think of something creative.
When you feel stronger would love to call you when you are up to it!!
Hugs and lots of love for now!!
💙💚❤️💚❤️💚💙❤️💚❤️💙
The right things to do now are those things that will help you to be healthy and get through the whoozy times, and sitting playing or watching is little effort. Thus: You are SUPER productivie! :) Hey just the thought of playing solitaire is fun if you think of it in terms of productivity.
My fave is Friends - it lifts me every time. I also like the really redicioulous ones like Angie Tribeka althrough you need Siem to watch it with you to really giggle.
Love you so much