Lifestyle Adjustments: Coping with Chronic Illness

The only universally successful treatment is moderation -- a skill which must be practiced and learned. 

Stop any activity when you BEGIN to feel fatigued. Do not push!

Focus on right now. Live in the present, not in the past or the future.

Pace yourself. Plan carefully. Make your plans flexible and tentative whenever possible.

Prioritize. Attend to what's important, and let the rest go. Don't "should" on yourself.

Set short-term, realistic goals, incorporating flexibility for fluctuations in health.

Break up all tasks into their smallest components and tackle one small step at a time. Rest between steps.

Consolidate household tasks; use gadgets that make chores easier.

Delegate some of your responsibilities.

If it can wait, let it go. 

Personal Care and Healthcare

Educate yourself about your illness and treatment options.

Get adequate sleep, rest and nutrition.

Learn to read your body, and pay attention to its signals. Recognize that taking good care of yourself is a new and important accomplishment.

Create a pleasant environment with adequate ventilation, favorite colors, music and fragrance (if well tolerated). Surround yourself with things you enjoy.

Keep a calendar of symptoms, medications, and major activities and a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Exercise, if tolerated, should be non-aerobic and time-limited. Start with stretching exercises, walking, or water exercise -- a few minutes at a time. Monitor yourself for relapse over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Seek health care from experienced practitioners who are familiar with your illness and have treated a large number of patients. Develop a productive and cooperative relationship with your health care practitioners.