Sleep, Fatigue and Daily Function

The Neurology Occupational Therapy Team can support you with:

• Energy conservation techniques
• Activity planning and pacing
• Cognitive fatigue strategies
• Advice on sleep routines and rest periods
• Sensory regulation and relaxation strategies

While you are waiting for your appointment, we have put together some useful information about managing your fatigue and other places to find help and support.

Introduction to fatigue management and neurological conditions

There can be many reasons why you might experience fatigue. Fatigue may be a primary symptom (e.g., MS) or secondary to movement difficulty, poor sleep, sensory overload, medication effects or stress.

Fatigue can significantly impact daily life, making it difficult to work, study, manage a household, or fulfil roles such as parenting or caring for others.

People with fatigue often find themselves in the “boom and bust” cycle, where they push themselves to do more on some days (boom), and then find they are more fatigued and experience a crash on the following days (bust).

Key principles of activity management

Pacing, planning and prioritising
Routine
Energy conservation

Pacing

Break activities into smaller chunks, with rest breaks in between.

Example: Instead of vacuuming your whole house at once, vacuum one room, rest, and continue later or the next day.
Take regular breaks from your screen when working or looking at your phone.

Planning

Plan your activities across the day, week or month to spread them out.

Example: space out appointments and social events to allow for recovery time.
Rest before and after activities such as shopping or hospital appointments.

Prioritising

Try to prioritise your activities so that you can do the things you want or need to do most.

Prioritise essential tasks and self-care.
Make time for activities that you enjoy.

Building a routine

Routine is an important part of activity management; a consistent daily routine helps to stabilise symptoms.

Try to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day.
Include regular rest breaks to prevent energy crashes.
Experiment with different levels of activity and rest to find the right balance for you.

Energy conservation

Try and find ways in your daily routine to complete the same activities, using less energy.

Sit down while brushing your teeth or preparing meals.
Consider online grocery shopping instead of going to the supermarket.
Ask for help when needed instead of pushing yourself.

Resting Well

When establishing a routine of activity and rest, it is important to ensure that you are resting as well as possible.

The amount of rest you need will be unique to your needs and situation. Rest can be impacted by factors outside of your control such as work, school or caring commitments. It is important to try and prioritise rest as this is the most important tool for managing fatigue.

Good quality rest means resting your mind and body as much as possible.

Reading, watching television or looking at your phone can be restful activities, but still use cognitive energy.