How do you pace?

[Liie]

I use a very similar technique that I call the 5-10-15 technique.

Interesting to hear about!

Exactly these kinds of small ways to trick yourself using timers I find very helpful.

I suspect that it's certain kinds of personalities that are helped by using timers. Could it be people with ADHD-related traits? Or something autistic? I myself don't have any diagnoses in anything like that, I just feel a slight bit neuro-divergent.

 

[Liie]

It can be helpful to use timers for activities also, of course.

If you do something that you're able to do for a little while without a problem, but which ist easy to loose yourself in for too long a time.

For example, I can have telephone conversion for about 10-15 min before I start to feel too exhausted. I usually start the conversion by telling the other person that I will start a timer and that I have to end the conversation when it sounds.

This is also an example of one reason for why it can be so hard to pace. When I am in the middle of a conversion I usually don't notice how much energy it takes for me. It's not until the conversion has ended and I can relax that I notice how exhausted it has made me.

 

[Chandelier]

I just feel a slight bit neuro-divergent.

I might very well fall into this category, too.

However, I feel in this special case where you have to actively decide to stop your (whatever tiny bit of) activity and rest, the target group becomes basically everyone.

Of course I‘m speaking from my perspective close to the severe side. There are very few and little fun activities that I can do and parting from the for something so comparatively uncool like closing your eyes and resting is not always perceived by me as a natural next thing to do.
That’s probably why asking the body and getting a clear response after 5 and 10 minutes is so helpful for me.
„Oh, yeah, right: resting! That feels good – I wasn’t aware how mich I was in need of this!“

 

[Chandelier]

For example, I can have telephone conversion for about 10-15 min before I start to feel too exhausted

I do the exact same thing!
And if I should forget it once because the start was already so fun, I‘ll have to pay dearly.
Unfortunately, splitting a phone call into 3x 15 mins on the same day doesn’t work neither.

Slight side-note but I‘m currently experimenting with social isolation.
My current hypothesis is that I might get up to moderate if I can live in (almost complete) solitude for 5 weeks in a row.
Somehow it seems to help my body getting stronger.

 

[Kiristar]

I monitor overnight hrv and look for big swings either way.

I can basically do 1 proper thing in the home thing a day like wash part of me.

I can do 1 out of house thing about every two weeks. (pre meds that was 3 weeks).

I dont pace in more detail than that as I get lost in the weeds.