The importance of pacing and spacing is one of the most useful things I learnt on the Pain Management Programme I attended. The aim of pacing and spacing is to break the ‘boom and bust’ cycle whereby I overdo things on ‘good’ days and then pay for it afterwards.

It’s a vicious cycle: Overactivity leads to increased pain. Increased pain leads to prolonged rest. Prolonged rest causes feelings of guilt, frustration, and a sense of tasks that need to be done building up. That leads to more overactivity and the cycle continues.

The key to breaking this cycle is to moderate activity. Spacing is helpful in this regard. I tend to make lots of lists. At the start of a week I’ll list everything I need to accomplish over the next seven days. Once it’s down on paper I find it easier to assign certain tasks to certain days. Large…