My Favorite Energy Management Tool

04/28/20 • 32 min

We've all had those times where we're going along, we're doing fine, and all of a sudden, we've done too much. We've all been there! It seems like the line between "okay" and "too much" is so fine, you can't tell when you're going to crossover. In this episode, Tami shares her favorite energy management tool that will put you back in the driver's seat and in control of your own energy levels.

Key Points

Using a pedometer or activity tracker can help you manage your energy.
If we want to get better, we need to budget some of our energy towards our healing.
If you don’t feel good at your current average number of steps, you may need to figure out ways to decrease your steps.
Don’t look at the number of steps on your activity tracker as the minimum to meet each day. Instead, it’s the maximum amount you can spend for the day.
Pay attention to how many steps each activity costs you. Once you have an idea of what things cost, you can start making choices on how you want to spend your energy.
Activity trackers give you an objective way to estimate how much energy you’ve spent and have left. This puts you back in the driver’s seat and gives you control.
Tracking your steps gives you a way to go back and look at your history when you have moments where you think, "Oh great. I’m in a flare. What the heck did I do this time?"
In order to get better, you have to know how much energy you’re really spending each day, what makes you feel good, and what is too much.
Most of Tami’s fibromyalgia clients average 1,000-5,000 steps a day at the beginning.
If you feel good and have energy at the end of the day, that means your body has energy left to heal. It doesn’t mean you should have done more.

Links & Resources

FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.
Tami's first book, Take Back Your Life, contains more information on managing your energy using a pedometer. Get free copies of Tami’s books here.
Find a Coach to help you discover new ways to improve your energy

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 27: Goal-Setting & Habits with Fibromyalgia
Episode 28: Exercise in a Fibromyalgia Body with Megan Densmore
Episode 32: Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness

Key Points

Using a pedometer or activity tracker can help you manage your energy.
If we want to get better, we need to budget some of our energy towards our healing.
If you don’t feel good at your current average number of steps, you may need to figure out ways to decrease your steps.
Don’t look at the number of steps on your activity tracker as the minimum to meet each day. Instead, it’s the maximum amount you can spend for the day.
Pay attention to how many steps each activity costs you. Once you have an idea of what things cost, you can start making choices on how you want to spend your energy.
Activity trackers give you an objective way to estimate how much energy you’ve spent and have left. This puts you back in the driver’s seat and gives you control.
Tracking your steps gives you a way to go back and look at your history when you have moments where you think, "Oh great. I’m in a flare. What the heck did I do this time?"
In order to get better, you have to know how much energy you’re really spending each day, what makes you feel good, and what is too much.
Most of Tami’s fibromyalgia clients average 1,000-5,000 steps a day at the beginning.
If you feel good and have energy at the end of the day, that means your body has energy left to heal. It doesn’t mean you should have done more.

Links & Resources

FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.
Tami's first book, Take Back Your Life, contains more information on managing your energy using a pedometer. Get free copies of Tami’s books here.
Find a Coach to help you discover new ways to improve your energy

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 27: Goal-Setting & Habits with Fibromyalgia
Episode 28: Exercise in a Fibromyalgia Body with Megan Densmore
Episode 32: Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness

Previous Episode

You Are Not Alone

Are you feeling more overwhelmed and tired than usual? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, Tami shares some thoughts on how you can use this pandemic to re-evaluate your choices on how you want to spend your time and energy. Don't feel like you have to do All. The. Things. Give yourself extra grace and compassion and tell yourself often, "It's okay. You're doing your best."

Key Points

We need to protect our own energy, emotions, and thoughts., especially if we are home alone or with others who are anxious and stressed.
It’s okay if you feel overwhelmed. It’s okay if you are exhausted and tired and don't know how to handle everything.
Give yourself extra grace and compassion right now. Don't feel like you have to do all the things.
You do not have to use this time in any particular way. There is no right or wrong way to go through a pandemic.
Everything you used to be committed to has stopped. It's an amazing opportunity to re-evaluate where you want to be spending your time and your energy.
The Pause button in life has been pressed and we get to decide what happens when we hit Play.
Practice telling yourself, “It's okay, you're doing your best.

Links & Resources

FibromyalgiaPodcast.com is the digital companion to this audio magazine, where you can find full show notes, links to the studies referenced in this episode, submit your questions for Tami Stackelhouse, and schedule a free consultation with a Fibromyalgia Coach.
Get free copies of Tami’s books here
Visit FibroWorkshop.com to discover our monthly free FibroWorkshops taught LIVE by Tami.

Other Episodes Mentioned

Episode 32: Your World Revolves Around Your Healing, Not Your Illness

Next Episode

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 2020

The 2020 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day episode is a special collection of tips pulled from a virtual event Tami hosted for her clients, coaches, and her coaches’ clients.

Tami asked coaches and clients alike to share their best fibromyalgia management tips, the thing that helped them the most on their fibromyalgia journey, and what it was like to work with a Fibromyalgia Coach. Listen in to hear our best tips to help you feel better.

Key Points

If watching the news stresses you out, have someone else in your house be the designated news watcher.
Working with a coach on your goals provides needed accountability.
If you don’t have a functional medicine doctor or a naturopath on your team, it can be really, really hard to make progress.
You’re not in a sprint, you’re in a marathon... Don’t worry about time pressures that are put on you by society.
Being willing to spend the money, time, effort, and brainpower to try some new things can really be a huge benefit to helping you get better.
Educating yourself is critical. You have to advocate for yourself; you are the only person that knows what it’s like to live in your body. Most importantly, doctors are not being taught how to treat fibromyalgia.

Links & Resources

Note: This episode’s show notes contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we will likely receive a small commission. Read about what we do and don’t promote here.