Managing Time | Setting Priorities | Chronic Pain Support Group

Managing time and setting priorities is difficult whether you are sick or not. Everyone seems to be too busy to get things done. Some of you may have noticed that you rush around at the last minute to do something you need to do because you didn’t plan your day.  Many of you have also spent time looking around for something you can’t remember where you put it. Some of you may have even shown up for a doctor’s appointment unprepared to ask the questions you wanted to ask because you didn’t have time to write those questions down.

These scenarios can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated because you have so many things to do and not enough time or energy to do them. When you are dealing with chronic pain or another chronic health issue, managing your time and energy can become even more challenging, which can add to your stress. Stress can and often does affect how you experience pain.

Tips for Managing Time

• Buy a calendar or a weekly, monthly, or daily planner. If a planner isn’t your thing, get a calendar and start a binder or a folder. This will serve as the place to store your appointments, important information, and to-do lists. By keeping your calendar and a planner, folder, or binder, you will know where to look when you need that information.
• Make a list of things you need to do and a list of things you enjoy.  Also, make a list of things you want to accomplish, including short-term and long-term goals. Remember, it is okay to say “NO” when someone asks you to do something. You also need to remember NOT to worry about things you cannot control.
• From your to-do list, organize your day with tasks. Make sure that when you combine your tasks, you don’t overdo it and wear yourself out. Pace yourself. Break bigger to-dos into smaller pieces. I do this when I clean the house. My motto is to focus on one room at a time and get that room done. If I get tired, I rest and continue later on or the next day.
• Take time each day to do something that you enjoy. Try reading, breathing, stretching, a craft, a hobby, or think of something you are grateful for!

Going Forward

Remember, even though you don’t feel well, don’t be guided by your fears.  Too often, we have a tendency to do too much on the days we feel good, which can leave us exhausted or needing more recovery time afterward. That is why managing time, setting priorities, setting goals, making lists, and keeping calendars will help you avoid doing this and realize what’s most important to you! Not only will it help you see what you are getting done, but it will also help you feel better about yourself. Pacing yourself can help keep you from overdoing it on your good days so you can better enjoy them.

Key Takeaways

• Managing chronic pain often means managing time and your available energy.
• Decide which tasks are most important to you and consider how much energy they require.
• Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Pacing can help you avoid overdoing it on days when you feel better.
• Make room for rest and activities you enjoy; it isn’t all about doing things on your to-do list.
• Calendars, planners, lists, and other simple tools can help you stay organized and reduce unnecessary stress.

For more information and support for managing pain, visit the American Chronic Pain Association or visit our Living With Chronic Pain Learning Center.