The #1 Fibromyalgia Mistake That Makes Pain Worse

Practical Pacing Strategies

Implementing pacing requires specific tactics. Here are strategies that work for many fibromyalgia patients:

Activity Timers and Breaks

Set a timer for activities. When it goes off, stop—regardless of whether you're finished or still feel good. Take a break, even if it's just five minutes of sitting down. This prevents you from getting absorbed in a task and overdoing it without realizing.

For household chores, break them into smaller chunks. Instead of cleaning the entire kitchen, clean just the counters. Come back later for the dishes. Tomorrow, tackle the floor. It feels inefficient, but it prevents crashes.

Energy Budgeting

Think of your energy like money in a bank account. Every activity costs something. On an average day, maybe you have 100 energy units to spend. A shower costs 15. Preparing a simple meal costs 20. A doctor's appointment costs 40. Plan accordingly and don't overspend.

On better days when you feel like you have 150 energy units, resist the urge to spend all of it. Save that extra 50 for tomorrow's bad day. This banking approach smooths out the extreme highs and lows.

Prioritization and Letting Go

You cannot do everything, so you must choose what matters most. Maybe cooking dinner is essential but a perfectly organized closet isn't. Maybe maintaining social connections matters more than having a spotless house. Decide your priorities and let go of the rest without guilt.

This also means asking for help and accepting that some things won't get done. It's not failure—it's intelligent resource management given your condition's constraints.