When you have limited energy you always need to be on the look out for ways to make your life easier or ways you can make daily tasks more efficient.

Having had ME/CFS for 16 years, I’ve picked up lots of tricks. While each on their own may not seem much, the cumulative effect can help you retain and build your energy reserves.

Remember, every spoon counts!  

Here are some of my strategies :

1. Soup & smoothies  

Cooking nutritious food can be a real challenge when you have limited energy.

I found smoothies and soup are great way to pack lots of nutritious fruit and veg into one meal. They also have the added benefit that they are easy to eat.

When my ME/CFS was severe there were days when I struggled to chew.

Having liquid food I could drink made things much easier both in terms of consumption and digestion (the blender has already broken down the food so my body doesn’t have to). 

People with ME/CFS tend to have issues keeping their blood sugar stable. To help avoid blood sugar crashes I ensured my soup and smoothies had a decent amount of protein in them by adding chicken to the soup and protein powder to the smoothie.

Typically, my dad would make a weeks worth in one batch and we put some in the freezer until they were needed.  

2. Bedside snacks 

Whether you’re bedbound or whether you’re going through a crash there will be times when you struggle to leave your bedroom.

The thought of walking downstairs to the kitchen feels equivalent to running a marathon!

At times like these, it’s helpful to have some food and drink handy in your bedroom, particularly if you’re going to be left on your own all day. 

When I was bedbound, every morning dad would fill a cool box with snacks (and sometimes my lunch).

He would also give me a flask of hot water and a bottle of cold water to fulfill all my beverage desires. This allowed me to be independent throughout the day and I felt less like a burden because I wasn’t continually asking him to fetch me things from the kitchen.

It also made it easier for him to be able to go out during the day and leave me unattended. 

3. Bedside storage unit 

Another way I retained some independence when bedbound was to purchase a bedside storage unit.

In it I put all my essentials – medication, supplements, snacks, toiletries and other random paraphernalia. This meant I was, to a certain extent, self sufficient and didn’t have to keep asking people to bring me things. 

Not only is this practical but I believe it helped my mental health.

Becoming bedbound and unable to do pretty much anything for yourself can really knock your self esteem.

By doing small tasks for myself (eg. selecting my socks and underwear from a draw) helped me feel I still had a bit of independence. 

4. Strategically placed stools 

Why stand when you can sit? I’m a big fan of the strategically placed stool. Whether it’s in the bathroom while I’m cleaning my teeth or by my chest of drawers, so I can sit down while searching for the clothes I want to wear.

Stools can be a great way to ease the burden on your tired legs. 

I saw one member of the ME/CFS community had purchased a stool with wheels that she sat on to move around the kitchen while she was cooking.

I think this is a great idea and something I plan to try when I’m well enough to cook for myself.  

When it comes to washing, shower stools and bath bars can help make things easier too. 

5. Wheelchair 

When my ME/CFS was mild, I never considered using a wheelchair.

I thought wheelchairs were only for people who could not walk. Fast forward a few years and I discovered there is such a thing as an ambulatory wheelchair user.

These are people who are able to walk, but sometimes find it difficult due to illness or disability. 

When I was well enough to go out my activities were limited because I could only walk a certain distance. If I had a wheelchair, I could have spent more time out doing fun stuff because using a wheelchair would have conserved my energy.

Whilst many people view using a wheelchair as a bad thing, personally, I feel it would have increased my quality of life. 

My only regret about using a wheelchair is not buying one sooner! There are lots available on eBay, mine cost £25.  

I hope you find the tips helpful and they inspire you to implement some of your own energy saving strategies. 

For further tips and information related to all things ME/CFS, please check out Charlotte’s website here.

You can find other ME/CFS related blogs here.