Resetting Your Pace
You may still be going full throttle, but there may come a day where you have to adjust your pace — those days when fatigue is getting the best of you or a future event or appointment is on the horizon and you want to feel your best. Resetting your pace involves adopting flexibility into your life and adjusting your schedule to suit your needs. Following are some good ways to slow down.
Moderate Your Schedule
Try not to fit too much into one day. Working eight hours, going to the dry cleaners, and accepting an invitation to dinner with friends might work for some, but may not be realistic for others. Only you can decide what is reasonable, and it may take some time to figure out what your threshold is. If you agree to one very busy day, try to schedule less for the next day to give you some time to recover.
Get Rest
Researchers contend that people are simply not sleeping enough and its effects are pervasive. People with chronic illnesses need rest. Even if you're not in the dream state, you can find ways to relax and energize. Eight hours of sleep is still a good rule of thumb.
Alert
It's no secret that most people don't get enough sleep. People sleep an average of 6.9 hours per day, almost an hour less than a few decades ago. Since rest is an important way to combat fatigue in MS, you'll want to work with your physician to ensure that you're getting a good night's sleep. Those with sleep problems are more likely to feel stressed and tired.
Be Reasonable
It may be time to take an honest look at your life and decide what you can cut back on. Perhaps this assessment will help you to define what is putting you over the edge — too many volunteer committees, extra projects at work, or a carpooling commitment. Digging deep isn't easy; you might decide your job is too demanding or that you have to cut back on social engagements. The important thing is to be committed to a more reasonable pace and to prioritize your commitments.
Just Say No
Saying “no” is not an easy thing to do, but it's a strategy that all people have had to employ at one time or another. If you don't think you can help your mother move next Saturday, just say so. Offer to help her find someone else or try to find another way to assist her, such as packing her dishes or labeling boxes. Knowing your limits is healthy. This might be a good thing to discuss with a therapist, because although we'd all like to “just say no,” actually doing it can prove to be difficult.
Fact
A recent study in the research journal Sleep examined the benefits of naps of various lengths and no naps at all. The results showed that a ten-minute nap produced the most benefit in terms of reduced sleepiness and improved cognitive performance. A nap lasting thirty minutes or longer is more likely to induce a period of grogginess when waking.
Pace Yourself
You may have a day where you're feeling especially energetic and so you try to take advantage of it by doing everything you've postponed for the past week or two. Overextending yourself one day may lead to overdoing, which you may pay for the next day. Pacing yourself is just as important on the good days as it is the bad.
Make your own list of tried-and-true tips on conserving your energy. And don't underestimate the power of the little things. Incorporating a timeout into your schedule every day is a little thing that can make a big difference. Letting someone else in your family take over the weekly dusting is another little thing that can make a big difference. Each thing you do to gain control over your life is another step toward self-empowerment.
