Pacing your activities each day can really help with management of your condition, and can help you control some of your symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Schedule your activities during the day to ensure there are enough breaks in between them and that they are small and easy to accomplish.
The method of pacing yourself seems quite simple, but the implementation of it is a lot harder. A specialist can help you figure out what is best for you.
Here are five tips for pacing
- Alternating activity with rest. Writing a schedule can help with planning what you can do in a day.
- Slow down when performing tasks to reduce energy and to also increase enjoyment of the task.
- The 50% rule is where you figure out what you can do in a day and then half it. If you find you could have done extra, save that energy for feeling better.
- Use a metaphor for imagining how much energy you have left. The spoon theory works for some people but there are other types out there, such as a phone battery.
- Use a pedometer or heart rate monitor. Both tools are usually used to increase your steps or heart rate, but you can use them in reverse where you try not to go over a certain amount of steps and heart rate.
Adapted from Psychology Today.
Helpful resources
https://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au/pain-module/pacing-and-goal-setting/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/chronic-pain-360/201505/tips-avoid-pain-recovery-relapse
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs
https://themighty.com/2018/08/chronic-illness-energy-metaphors-spoon-theory/