In this episode of Life with Long Covid, I reflect on what illness quietly teaches us about control.

Long Covid doesn’t just disrupt plans or routines; it exposes how much of life we assumed we were managing in the first place. When the body becomes unpredictable, effort no longer guarantees outcomes, and familiar systems stop working, the illusion of control begins to unravel.

If you’re living with Long Covid, chronic illness, or simply feeling worn down by the pressure to hold everything together, this episode is for you.

Join the community, visit www.lifewithlongcovid.co.uk

January can feel heavier than we expect.

The decorations are down, the light is scarce, the weather has turned cold, and the new year arrives carrying a quiet pressure to feel motivated, hopeful, and ready to begin again. For many of us, that’s exactly when everything feels harder.

In this episode, Paul & Rachel sit down to talk honestly about why January can leave us feeling low — emotionally, physically, and mentally. Using Blue Monday as a starting point, we explore the impact of winter, fatigue, lowered energy, and the expectations we place on ourselves at the start of a new year.

This isn’t a conversation about fixing yourself or forcing positivity. It’s about noticing what the season does to us, naming the chill we carry, and offering a little warmth in the middle of it.

Come and join the community at: www.lifewithlongcovid.co.uk

As a new year begins, we are often encouraged to think about fresh starts and big plans. But what if hope looks different now?

In this episode, I reflect on reaching five years of living with long Covid and the quiet mental shift that has come with it. I’m no longer waiting to be better before allowing myself to live. Instead, I’m learning how to live honestly within the limits of my energy, health, and circumstances.

I talk about a brutal Christmas period, ongoing exhaustion, the dread of benefit renewals, and the reality of not being able to work. I also reflect on the small but meaningful role that writing and recording play in sustaining both purpose and connection.

This episode isn’t about giving up on hope, and it recognises that listeners will be in different places. It’s an invitation to consider a gentler, more realistic question as we enter 2026:

What are you hoping for now?

Join the community: www.lifewithlongcovid.co.uk

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