Chronic illness means that our strength is not a sure thing. Each day strength can be different, sometimes each hour. A day of activity may mean many days of rest.

How I struggle with this tip. I want to get things done. I want to be able to do activities without planning recovery days after. However, despite my best efforts, that is not reality. I have to pace myself. Pacing will be different for each person’s needs.

1. Schedule rest time: This weekend I had opportunity to get out of the house for a bit for a family activity. This meant resting before, taking a full day after to rest, and then another day to accomplish the household chores that would have been done. It means that this week will be working through the remainder of the chores. We have found that pacing myself this way means I can do some things periodically. While this is not something I like to do, pacing myself gives me a bit of freedom once in awhile.
2. Keep your activity steady: A recent specialist gave instructions to keep activity similar each day instead of a rollercoaster of overdoing and recovering. He mentioned that if I am having a pain or weak day, change my exercises out for something easier, but still exercise. Keep moving, but adjust the movement. (He was not saying to avoid the family times mentioned in number one, but not to push too hard some days so that a flare didn’t follow.)
3. Simplify your life: Although it may mean giving up things we love or saving these activities for special occasions, it helps. It means that you can pace yourself with essentials.
4. Ask for help as needed to keep the pace: Asking for help is difficult. Help, even if you do have an amazing support system, is not always available. Needing help doesn’t mean you can’t do anything, but you may not be able to do all that is needed to accomplish in a day.

Realize that you are not able to do all that you want to even on your good days. Steward your strength by pacing yourself on these days to prevent a flare. It is not an exact science, but it can help.