The recovery journey

8. Recovery - a changed life

‘So now I'm running 5k, I'm going swimming once a week, and I'm out dog walking. So probably I'm healthier than I was before I got COVID, but in a different way. I'm so much more relaxed than I used to be. My perception of what's important has totally changed.’

Not all of the people we spoke to felt they had reached or could reflect on life post-Long Covid. Those who did described a changed life, with features including:

• Some things are better – e.g. a more balanced life, more tools for managing stress, anxiety and other challenges of life.

• New priorities, including self-care.

• A new sense of identify – letting go of some old aspects of ‘who I was’, and opening up to new possibilities.

• Reduced activity levels and more rest – no longer pushing yourself either in or outside work.

Getting to this point usually required processing feelings of loss and grief.