Living with COPD Series

Conserving Energy

Plan ahead

• Helps to eliminate wasted time and unnecessary extra motion.

• Plan each day and allow for frequent rest breaks.

• Know your best time of the day to accomplish tasks and schedule activities accordingly.

• Assemble all items needed to complete a task before you begin.

• Make a flexible schedule for the week, spreading out the heavier more difficult tasks. You can also try to breakdown heavy tasks into a few lighter tasks.
   

Balance rest with activity

• Learn to allow time to rest when planning your daily activities.

• Rest improves endurance and will leave strength for more enjoyable activities.

• Rest means doing absolutely nothing at all.

• Try to rest 5-10 minutes out of every hour.

• Get adequate sleep. Though sleep difficulties are common for some, try for 8-10 hours per night.

• Rest for 45-60 minutes after meals. It requires a great deal of energy and oxygen to digest meals.

• Rest in a reclined position when possible. Sitting to rest takes 1/3 more energy then lying down.

Learn activity tolerance

• Learn what you can do in a given day. 

• Try not to over do even if you think you can do much more on a given day than normal.

• Be flexible with your routine for those days you feel not quite up to par.

• Can an activity be broken down into smaller more manageable tasks?

• Is someone else available that can help you with your harder tasks?

Set priorities

• Focus on those tasks or activities that are priorities that must be done.

• Learn to let go of the guilt that can come with not finishing a task due to fatigue. There is always another time.

• Eliminate unnecessary jobs and delegate to others when at all possible

• If possible, hire out those activities that have become virtually impossible for you. Lawn mowing is a good example.

Pace activities

• Rest before becoming exhausted.

• Taking time out for a rest break may seem difficult at first, but it will greatly help your endurance and stamina in the long run.

• Most importantly, DO NOT RUSH.

Additional suggestions

• Sit rather then stand when possible. Sitting requires less energy.

• Use good body mechanics and muscles that use the least amount of energy.

• Use proper work heights.

• Keep items used frequently within easy reach.

Compiled by COPD-International Community Members