Every day is a mix of art + science. What is on my plate for the day? How do I rank my health today? Can I push it or do I need to be protective of my health battery?
A common descriptor for the energy challenges of chronic illness is a theory called spoons. That you start the day with a certain number of spoons and each activity takes a spoon, but a healthy person does not have a limit of spoons.
I have always thought of my energy as a phone battery. I envision a phone battery icon in my head when I am thinking of what I can do that day. When I need to check in with my health to see how it’s going, I envision the phone battery icon in my mind.
It just makes sense to me. I see naps and rests as a way to charge my battery. Sometimes they work and it was like you were on a rapid charger and sometimes they don’t and it’s like you were on the store brand slow charge cord.
If you have too many apps open, you will deplete the battery much quicker than if you have it on airplane mode in your pocket. The same goes for real life. If you pack your mental load and physical day, you will deplete your energy much faster than if you have systems in place and delegate as many physical tasks as possible.
Have you ever noticed that your phone will last way longer on 10% battery than you would think based on how quickly it drops from 100% to 65%? I think about that all the time when I am pushing the boundaries of my health in order to get something accomplished or to enjoy an event.
I plan ahead for how it takes so much longer to get back to 100% after draining the battery to 2% instead of charging once you get to 65%.
I try to treat my health just like I treat my cell phone battery.
- I always charge at night. Sleep and rest are a huge part of my battery level the next day. Having teens makes it hard to go to bed early, so I do not set an alarm in the morning and I know that mornings may be slow.
- I carry a portable charger. This looks like carrying water, snacks, meds, a small personal fan, and other needs for when I am out to help not put more strain on my body than needed.
- I close my open tabs. I eliminate decision fatigue at every opportunity. I have a system and process for almost everything in my life. Dishes, laundry, my morning routine, grocery shopping, what I wear daily, you name it. I have a pre-determined process and if I don’t, I will create one.
By having systems in place and resources available wherever I am, I am able to avoid a health crash a majority of the time.
Remembering to be flexible and quick acting is key. As soon as I see a situation that has the potential to be depleting to a dangerously low level, I stop it. That may mean rescheduling an appointment, saying no to a social event, or letting the kitchen floors stay dirty for a day or two.
Being kind to myself is the second most important aspect of keeping my battery full. There is no reason to deplete my battery by feeling guilty, or bad about what I need to do in order to stay functioning. This is where I am and this is what I currently have to do in order to get the things that are most important done. Of course, this can be easier said than done, but with years of practice it does get easier.
I’d love to know what you do to keep your health battery full. Learning about ways to manage life and implementing new strategies to see how they work in my life is one of my favorite things to do!
