Living with COPD Series
Conserving Energy
Plan ahead
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Helps to eliminate wasted time and
unnecessary extra motion.
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Plan each day and allow for frequent
rest breaks.
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Know your best time of the day to
accomplish tasks and schedule activities accordingly.
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Assemble all items needed to complete
a task before you begin.
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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
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Learn to allow time to rest when
planning your daily activities.
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Rest improves endurance and will leave
strength for more enjoyable activities.
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Rest means doing absolutely nothing at
all.
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Try to rest 5-10 minutes out of every
hour.
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Get adequate sleep. Though sleep
difficulties are common for some, try for 8-10 hours per night.
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Rest for 45-60 minutes after meals. It
requires a great deal of energy and oxygen to digest meals.
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Rest in a reclined position when
possible. Sitting to rest takes 1/3 more energy then lying down.
Learn activity tolerance
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Learn what you can do in a given day.
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Try not to over do even if you think you
can do much more on a given day than normal.
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Be flexible with your routine for those
days you feel not quite up to par.
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Can an activity be broken down into
smaller more manageable tasks?
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Is someone else available that can help
you with your harder tasks?
Set priorities
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Focus on those tasks or activities that
are priorities that must be done.
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Learn to let go of the guilt that can
come with not finishing a task due to fatigue. There is always another
time.
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Eliminate unnecessary jobs and delegate
to others when at all possible
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If possible, hire out those activities
that have become virtually impossible for you. Lawn mowing is a good
example.
Pace activities
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Rest before becoming exhausted.
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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.
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Most importantly, DO NOT RUSH.
Additional suggestions
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Sit rather then stand when possible.
Sitting requires less energy.
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Use good body mechanics and muscles that
use the least amount of energy.
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Use proper work heights.
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Keep items used frequently within easy
reach.
Compiled by COPD-International
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