Chronic Illness Can Require Careful Energy Budgeting

Chronic illness may require you to budget your energy carefully—go over your limit, and your body sends the bill in the form of exhaustion, pain, or flare-ups.

How to support someone with a limited supply of energy due to chronic illness: 

• Reach out to them without expecting an immediate reply

• Promote rest—their downtime is essential and productive, not lazy

• Honor their need to cancel or decline

• Recognize their ‘better days’ may still have limits or boundaries

• Offer assistance while also respecting their independence 

• Know their energy level may not always be visible

Living with chronic illness can mean managing energy like a limited resource. Each day requires balancing and pacing activities to avoid a later energy crash. Even on better days, there are still limits to what you can do. 

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as behavioral health or medical advice. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis from your own qualified healthcare provider.