Self Help: Pacing

This week we begin a new eight-part series: "Pacing: What It Is and How to Do
It." The first article describes how to define your Energy Envelope.

Our website contains many articles on topics such as coping strategies, pacing
and support. In addition, there are patient success stories and information for
family and friends. In addition to our website, we offer self-help courses
online. Founded in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we have
conducted nearly 250 self-help courses and groups.

Bruce Campbell, Ph.D., Executive Director
CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-Help Program
www.cfidsselfhelp.org

* * *

Dr. Ellen Goudsmit (one of our many patients with the academic qualifications to also be an expert) has written extensively on pacing.  Some of those articles appear in this blog, others can readily be googled.

The key to pacing is that you never push yourself to the point that causes you to relapse.  Ideally, you would work for a short time, rest for 2-3 times that period (e.g., 20 minutes work/60 minutes rest) then work a little more.  By working in short increments, you never get over-tired, you're continually topping off your tank.

Obviously, there are times you can't do that -- grocery stores take a dim view of people napping in the aisles -- but I find that I feel better if I work in short bursts throughout the day, for a total of 2 hours, than if I work for 2 hours all at once. 

There's nothing that says you can't load the top rack of the dishwasher, take a nap, then load the bottom rack.  At my worst, on Day 1 I would strip the bed and load up the laundry basket; on Day 2 I'd carry the basket to the washer; on Day 3 I'd load the washer....  It took me a full week to do one load of laundry, but it was done, and I hadn't made myself worse.

I hope all CFS patients reading this blog take the opportunity to sign up for this series on pacing.  Research has shown that you won't accomplish more with pacing, you'll just feel better.  And the key with this disease is to avoid making yourself worse.  Stay well within your limits, and you may start to recover. 

I was able to work full-time for 12 years after diagnosis because of pacing: if I wasn't at work, I was resting.  I missed a lot of parties, festivals, plays, museum exhibitions, etc.,  because of my need to rest evenings and weekends, but I was able to put off the day when I had no choice but to swallow my pride and apply for SSDI benefits.