Use these strategies to save energy in your daily life:

1. Prioritize "have-to's"
2. Make an action plan
3. Take rest breaks
4. Use your envrionment
5. Use technology

Energy Conservation Strategies for Easier Daily Living



When you hear the words “energy conservation,” what do you think of? If you were
paying extra close attention to your faithful OT during your hospitalization,
you may recall that energy conservation refers to certain strategies that help
you complete important daily tasks without completely tiring out first.

We OTs tend to stand atop our soapboxes to remind about the importance of energy
conservation. And that is because we find it to be a vital part of your
recovery! When you save your energy, your body accomplishes more, and often more
efficiently. You are also likely preventing falls and other injuries down the
line, as being too tired can make you less balanced and accurate.

Use these strategies to save energy in your daily life:
 1. Prioritize "have-to's"
 2. Make an action plan
 3. Take rest breaks
 4. Use your envrionment
 5. Use technology

Prioritize important “have-to's” in your day.
Think about what things absolutely must get done today. Write out a list of
things you have to/want to do, and then put a number by each task to show order
of importance. For example, if you must do laundry before you are on your very
last pair of skivvies, that may make it to the top of your list. If you want to
do some gardening or yard work, that could go down the list a few spaces below
your “have-to's”. That way, you can figure out if you have the energy left over
to do the gardening once the “have-to” tasks are completed.


Lay out your outfits in advance to save energy in the morning. Opt for
hassle-free clothing like sweatpants, pullover shirts, and slip-on shoes.

Make an action plan to accomplish the “have-to's.”
Change the way you approach a task, like sitting down for parts of it (or all of
it!) instead of standing up. Set a goal for the day, like “I will get one entire
load of laundry washed and dried this morning.” It even helps to write it out if
you can, so that you stick to the plan! Thinking up how to actually be
successful with something (especially if you need to do it differently than you
did before) goes a long way toward saving your energy. Part of your plan can go
hand in hand with your priority list: “if I get the laundry done this morning
and don’t feel too tired, then I will go visit my friend at her house in the
afternoon.”


Minimize standing, lifting, and carrying by doing daily chores while seated at a
table.

Figure out how and when to build in rest breaks.
This may sound simple, but part of your action plan should include rest breaks.
If you plan ahead and build them in, you will ensure you have set aside enough
time for the activity and the rest break, and won’t feel rushed. Get in the
habit of asking yourself “on a scale of 1-10, how tired am I after I do this
thing?” That way you will have a better idea of how often, or after how many
minutes of a given activity, you will need to sit or even lie down. Pick your
resting position or furniture! You may need to have dining room chairs set up
around the house so you can take a seat quickly, or you may need to save enough
energy to walk back to your bed.

Use your environment.
Rest heavy objects on countertops, and slide them along (on a trivet or hot pad
if needed) to where they need to go whenever you can. If you are using a walker
for mobility, consider purchasing a walker tray
[https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Rollator-Trays/b?ie=UTF8&node=3777021] or walker
bag [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=walker+bag&rh=n%3A3777021&ref=nb_sb_noss] to
ease carrying things. Position chairs close to areas you access frequently in
your home, such as the kitchen, where standing can get tiresome quickly.


A tub bench and grab bars save energy and improve safety during bathroom tasks.

Use technology.
Look into high-tech options to relieve you from high-energy activities incuding
community errands and heavy cleaning. Groceries, household items, and
medications can be delivered to your home. Heavy cleaning tasks are made easier
thanks to robotic vacuums and mops. Even pet care tasks are simplified with
bowls that automatically dispense food and water. Browse websites and phone apps
to see the multitude of digital options and products that can make your daily
routine easier.

Putting things in perspective
Think of this as more of a marathon than a sprint. Try your best not to compare
yourself to exactly how you were before your stroke - in many ways you were a
different person then. There may be bumps in the road, and some activities may
take longer to accomplish. With a little practice and a few adaptations, there
are definitely ways to regain independence, confidence, and happiness.



Further Reading: Balancing saving energy with your exercise routine
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/the-importance-of-energy-conservation-for-multiple-sclerosis-and-how-to-safely-incorporate-an-exercise-program]

energy conservation

Saving Your Energy

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to interfere with the way our brain sends messages to our body.

Why is Energy Conservation Important for Multiple Sclerosis

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND FATIGUE
Multiple sclerosis
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-is-multiple-sclerosis-and-how-can-an-exercise-routine-help-combat-multiple-sclerosis]
, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to
interfere with the way our brain sends messages to our body. The brain sends
messages that travel along axons, which are protected by a myelin sheath. In
multiple sclerosis, the immune system causes inflammation to this protective
layer, which can cause scar tissue to build up along the pathway, causing
difficulties sending the correct messages to the body.


Multiple sclerosis can cause many symptoms. The symptoms may change over time as
the disease progresses. One of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis is
fatigue.

There is a high level of evidence for non-pharmacological interventions when
managing fatigue including energy conservation and exercise-based interventions.

HOW DOES ENERGY CONSERVATION HELP?
Getting dressed in the morning can be exhausting! It can be extremely
frustrating if you don’t have the energy to do anything else during the day, or
if you can’t even make it through your morning routine. But there are little
life hacks that can make your life just a little easier. These strategies are
called energy conservation. Energy conservation refers to completing tasks in
the most energy efficient way. It involves planning out your day and
prioritizing the activities that are important to you.

As an OT, I’ve devoted my life to preaching about the importance of doing the 
activities
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/10-tips-from-an-occupational-therapist-on-how-to-stay-committed-to-stroke-recovery-at-home] 
that are meaningful to an individual. This is going to look differently for
everyone, so it’s going to take some soul searching to look at what activities
you love and why you love them. For some people, having the ability to complete
their morning routine is everything. Some people are motivated by creative
endeavors or exercise. As we go through life and our abilities and priorities
change, we all need to re-evaluate the best ways to implement the things we find
meaningful and life giving.


If you love gardening, but aren’t able to do it in the same way, think about
what it is that gives you life. How can you meet that need in a different way?
Can you simplify your morning routine or skip it so that you have more energy?
Can you plant and care for a potted plant or raised flower bed? Are there
adaptive gardening tools that would make holding onto things easier? Sometimes,
looking at what is meaningful brings up a lot more questions before it gives any
answers, but having a specific long-term goal to focus on is beneficial to
improve quality of life.

ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS AND TRICKS
MAKE A PLAN: Make a list of the activities you need to do throughout the week.
Include dressing, bathing, meals, laundry, cleaning, leisure activities
(watching tv is okay, but try to think of one other activity that brings a smile
to your face), and anything else that is important to you.

ASK QUESTIONS: Do you need to bathe everyday? Are there services available and
within my budget to help with meals, laundry, cleaning? Do I have more energy in
the morning or night? Do I get enough sleep? Is it possible to spread out
responsibilities?


TAKE IT EASY: Sit when you can (use a shower chair and sit while bathing, get
all your clothes together and sit down to get dressed, put your underwear and
pants on your feet before standing up, sit when doing food prep or folding
laundry).

PACE YOURSELF: You don’t have to do it all at once. Take breaks. If showering is
exhausting, rest before putting your clothes on.

You can find more energy conservation tips here.
[https://msfocusmagazine.org/Magazine/Magazine-Items/Energy-Conservation-and-Work-Simplification-for-Pe.aspx]

EXERCISE TO MANAGE FATIGUE
You might think that exercise would be the opposite of conserving energy, but it
can also be effective at managing the impact of fatigue. It’s all about balance.
The most important thing is to not overdo it.


Find an activity that you might enjoy: walking, aquatic exercises, chair yoga,
resistive training with theraband. Finding something you like will help keep you
motivated.
Take things slow. Warm up with stretches.
Make sure you’re safe. Use proper body mechanics when exercising. Take
precautions if you’re prone to falls.
Make sure to check in with your physician or therapist prior to starting an
exercise routine!

REFERENCES
Hourihan, S. J. (2015). Managing fatigue in adults with multiple sclerosis.
Nursing Standard (2014+), 29(43), 51. doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ns.29.43.51.e9654
Khan, F., Amatya, B., & Galea, M. (2014). Management of fatigue in persons with
multiple sclerosis. Frontiers in neurology, 5, 177. doi:10.3389/fneur.2014.00177 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4163985/
Feinstein, A., Freeman, J., & Lo, A. C. (2015). Treatment of progressive
multiple sclerosis: What works, what does not, and what is needed. The Lancet
Neurology, 14(2), 194-207. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70231-5 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25772898

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.