In our last post, we talked about dealing with the memory issues that can come with chronic illness. Well, I’m on a roll, because this week we’ll be talking about tips for dealing with fatigue (and next time: time-saving cleaning hacks).
Do you experience fatigue? If you have a chronic illness, you know it can be a nasty companion. The low energy, weakness, sluggishness, and exhaustion all limit what you can do; and then there’s the emotional toll. During the good times, you wonder if you were just being lazy, because it wasn’t that long ago that you could do all kinds of things—until you’re right in the middle of a big project that leaves you feeling overwhelmed. Your energy just doesn’t match the work needing to be done.
Unfortunately, when you have a chronic illness, fatigue just comes with the territory, but there are ways to manage it.
Tips for Dealing with Fatigue
#1 – Do a little at the time.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this tip before, but let that just show how important it is in my life. I can’t do everything, but doing what I can—even a little along—keeps my momentum going in a positive direction that makes progress and avoids immobility from getting overwhelmed.
#2 – Schedule what you can.
Make time for the big things and you’ll know they’ll get done, because there’s a time for them. I like to clean to a rough schedule. Mondays: laundry and tidying up. Tuesday: floors. Wednesday: bathrooms. Thursday: finish laundry, dust.
Be sure to include time for rest; then you can rest without the guilt. And keep in mind what works for you: like Mondays are usually a rough day for me, so I schedule accordingly—bathrooms can be done later in the week when I tend to feel better.
#3 – Eat well.
Our bodies need good nutrition or they won’t work properly. A body with a chronic illness can be impacted even more with poor nutrition.
I’m really bad with this point—between issues with early satiety in Fabry disease and not wanting to fix anything—but I can make small healthy changes at a time.
#4 – Exercise.
Exercising seems a little like a dirty word to me some days. How can you find the energy to exercise when it’s difficult to do the daily?
I’ve tried to incorporate some low impact exercises into my routine for most days. If there’s a particularly bad day, of course I can skip it, but even 20 minutes at the time can help my strength, stamina, and self-esteem.
#5 – Set boundaries.
It can be hard for some people to recognize that you can’t do all you want—especially if you have a hidden chronic illness. They don’t see your recovery period after you’ve exerted yourself or the angst you have in weighing your energy level with the task at hand.
Say no to what you need to. It’s okay to rest.
#6 – Don’t compare yourself…even to yourself.
This point may sound goofy, but it’s so easy to question why you could do something even five years ago that’s a struggle now. You’re a different person than you were then—your body is different. Don’t hold it to a standard it can’t meet now. Working around it’s limitations will stave off discouragement.
Chronic illness may come with many negative side-effects like fatigue, but we can still run the race before us—even a little at the time.
Let’s do what we can when we can and say no to the rest.
Do you have a chronic illness? How do you deal with fatigue? Let me know in the comments below.
More Reading
- 20 Tips for Living Well with Chronic Pain and Illness from Psychology Today
- Chronic Illness: 5 Tips for Dealing with Memory Issues from HISsparrowBlog
- 5 Unavoidable Side-Effects of Living With Chronic Illness from HISsparrowBlog
- Chronic Illness: 5 Truths I’ve Learned From Fabry Disease from HISsparrowBlog
Fabry Disease Resources
- Fabry Disease: The Story Continues from HISsparrowBlog
- National Fabry Disease Foundation
- Fabry Disease News
- Fabry Support and Information Group (FSIG)
- ReThink Fabry (Resources and Support)
- Mindfully Rare (Mental Health Support)
I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.
I’ve Been featured! YAY!
Very wise advice
I always appreciate your support. Love you!
I don’t have a chronic illness but I am at that stage of life where energy is not what it once was. Setting boundaries and not comparing myself to younger me might help me as well!
I remind myself quite often that it isn’t just those with a chronic illness who get tired. Aging gets all of us. 😀
While I do not have a chronic illness, these are all wise suggestions. To be honest, these days we all have been living in the last year and longer, the days are draining so these suggestions truly will help us all.
Unfortunately, everyone gets tired—not just those with chronic illness.
#5 is so important! Why do we sometimes have a hard time setting boundaries? We need to take care of ourselves, so we can love on others well!
I’m not sure, Lynn, but sometimes it seems the hardest, right!?
Ashley,
#6 gets me everytime. How I lament that I can’t be an “Energizer Bunny” like other people. The combo of dealing with mental illness and chronic pain leaves me feeling lathargic many days. It’s hard to do life feeling like a sloth. These are all great reminders I needed to read this morning. Thanl you!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I have learned to extend myself a little grace in that area. I’ve realized that when I don’t feel like doing things, it’s because I’m not feeling well—not because I’m lazy. When I feel good, I want to do all the things. 😉
Some days it’s literally step by step, isn’t it. Your ideas are practical, wise, and doable. Thank you!
Well said, Linda. Thanks for stopping in!
These are great tips for all of us. A little at a time is my mantra for getting through anything! 🙂
Yes, Lisa! A little at the time…we’re like little Dory: just keep swimming, just keep swimming. 😀
Ashley, thank you for this blessed message. As someone who has chronic illnesses, I incorporate many of your strategies in my day to day. #6 struck me today as it took me many years to NOT compare myself to myself. It took many years of counseling to work toward acceptance of my illnesses and not comparing current me to old me. Thank you so much . Blessings.
~Selah~
It’s amazing that comparing us to us can be a negative, right? But it’s dangerous. We’re not the same people we were twenty years ago, which is true of those without a chronic illness. Here’s to taking it day by day. Blessings to you in your chronic illness journey!