What nice things do you do for you each week?

*Sit on the balcony and play a game or do a crossword puzzle. My alone time.

*Allow myself to have a sleep during the day when i need it ,and not keep pushing myself!

*On a stressful day. I take time out for me, make up a foot soak, sink those feet in until the water gets cool, then do a pedicure!

*Read a good book and listen to my wind chimes!

*I really don't have any me time. I babysit for my 3 year old grandson. When I go home I am exhausted. It really is too much for me. I should get help when school lets out and his 17 yr old sister takes part of the day for me. On Sat and Sun I allow myself to rest,and not feel guilty for resting.

*I just try my best to take one day at a time and pace myself each and everyday as much as I possibly can.

*I don't have much me time. I try to relax some but that's practically impossible.

*Nothing usually I try to put my hair in a ponytail every day and that hurts and exhausts me.

*Every other week, I have my nails done!

*Take a hot shower/bath or go swimming which is relaxing is relieves the pain.

*I have lots of me time as there is only me and hubby, have a sleep most afternoons, get my nails done, read. I don't know how you manage a 3yr old! now that is hard work esp if its regular.

*I go for reflexology once a month

*Exercise and try to eat right and put on some make-up. This exhausts me but I have to keep pushing on. Oh and the make-up while it makes me feel better it is actually so I don't look so scary to others.

*I don't get me time. I'm a single mom of a 2 year old.

*I don't have much energy to do what I would like to do as it all goes on looking after my son and keeping the house and garden in some kind of order. I occasionally have lunch out with a friend, which is very enjoyable. was able to do so today so I'm a happy bunny.

*I got my hair cut for me last week but now really broke!

*I try to do something good for me once a week - healthy restaurant, haircut, new piece of clothing, new book.

*Now that hubby is sick there will never be any more me time.

*I make time for me and my man as we only get to see each other at weekends at the moment due to the 179 miles between us.

*because I'm the only one.

*too busy looking after everyone else!

*I have hair done each week as cant do it myself any more. Once a month have aromatherapy if not to sore. Have friends over for brew.

*I allow myself to take a nap if I feel I need one.


*NOT ENOUGH.

*Today is my only day. I sat outside with the dogs and enjoyed the cool day. Very nice even if it was only an hour.

*I guess this was my "me" day, 6:30 pm and still in my pj's! Maybe tomorrow I'll do that foot soak again!

*Getting my nails done makes me feel better about my self and once in a while pedicure and every 3 months hair foiled that's about it!

*Don't have time for me.

*With work taking so much of my time and energy I don't really have time to do something for myself too often. When I can I try to rest up for the next work week.

*Take time out and make cards for someone else (the hospice near to me.) That makes me happy as I'm helping others much worse than myself with the money made from them.

*Ride my therapy horse!

*Write!

*Try and have some relaxing 'me' time and treat myself to a tasty treat such as cake or chocolate.

*Speaking as someone who used to suffer from CFS/Fibromyalgia and now does treatments for people with the conditions, I'd urge everyone to do something every single day that makes YOU happy and fulfilled. Believe me, you'll get better much quicker.
Think now about the things that give you pleasure - they can be very inexpensive or free, like drawing a picture, reading a book, taking a tiny little walk, sitting in the sunshine, watching a good film, meditating, whatever you like doing.
Now set time aside every day to do them. I know that a lot of you have caring responsibilities, but by treating yourself nice, you can help other people better. Love to each and every one of you.

*Play some favourite 80's songs and crank it up and move a bit. It at times does help my brain and distracts from my fatigue.

How good are you at pacing yourself? Have you sussed it or do you still over do things?

*I don't have Fibro my mum does, and she's crap at pacing herself, she pushes herself and then feels crap for days after :(

*I try to pace myself, but sometimes I have a lot to do, and have to get it done.

*My problem is when I have a good day I go mad trying to do all I cant do on bad days, then have another bad days afterwards lol

*I'm rubbish at it, when I feel OK, I push myself into flare-mode and never, ever learn.

It's very difficult when you work. Luckily I work from home most days which helps, but it is not easy to judge as every day is different.

*I try to pace myself but some days when get started doing some housework, want to finish it all, but the pain hits, then do pace myself!

*I always overdo things, every week!

*I push myself to extreme during the winter months (that's when most of the work is) pay the price in the spring, enjoy the summer, then start all over again.

*Wow so good to see I'm not the only one who cannot (will not) learn to slow down . Those above said it all, me too, me too, me too. SO how do we do it? Making a list doesn't work because one task leads into another and another and so on.
Tomorrow I really need to do some yard work, however, yesterday I cleaned house, hung curtains, washed all the winter linens. Today, I went to the grocery store, the sun will come out tomorrow and there is so much I want to do!

*Yup agree, not learnt yet, spend "good days" doing stuff I cant normally do.

*I am better at pacing myself than I used to be but still overdo it sometimes.

*I'm rubbish at it when you have 2 kids and 5 pets pacing is just out of the question I'm the worlds greatest boom and buster.x I'm still trying to get a Fibro diagnosis they finally diagnosed ME 3 years ago but have never got on top of the pain thing.
Got hooked on tramadol then taken off them n all they give me is crappy ibuprofen. If anyone has any pain relief suggestions or how I go about pushing the g.p for a diagnosis please? I really need some help.

*Overdo it every time, what's pacing anyway LOL

*I think we are all in the same boat with household chores! I am a single Mum of 4 children and however much I nag there is only so much they can do to help or that I feel they should do. I don't want my children to turn into my carers that's what I should be doing for them!

*After many years of trial and error I have finally sussed it.

*It took me almost a year to realize it is better to pace than to overdo, but until 2 weeks ago was still trying to return full-time at school. Now finally reduced my hours to 14 hours a week (I know: am very lucky to still be able to work :o) but even that is sometimes a struggle !
House is not as clean or tidy as it used to be, but hey, who cares, I've learned to live with that. Time spent with my lovely partner and daughter is far more important.

*Despite having been on an intensive course to teach me how to pace. I still can't help myself.

*I still over do it. I tend to forget that on good days there has to be a halfway point so I can walk back.

*I can't seem to tell how much is too much. I do overdo it on the days I am able to do things.

*Pacing? what's pacing? or the spoon theory that's fine if you don't have young kids.

*Absolutely useless at pacing! I want to still have it all. A clean house, and visit with friends, and have hobbies, and have a life! Therefore some days I end up being of no use to man nor beast: it is so frustrating! I may yet learn to pace myself, but don't hold your breath!

*I do exactly the same, I can be fine one day then obviously over does it then useless for 2, but I say well 1 day out being a bit normal is worth 2 days indoors in agony.

*Over do it all the time. Can't pace myself with with work and house. Early shifts wreck me . Afternoon shift not so bad . Housework kills me never know when to stop and suffer for it after . Pain n fatigue not good :(

*It's so hard to when your used to being able to do everything, it's specially hard because in your head you can still do everything. I find it really hard to stop as I feel so useless when I can't do what I feel I should be.

*I push myself because I don't have a choice on certain days, then have a bad patch, then when I'm better I go through a patch of being scared to do anything at all in case it happens again. So frustrating! I'm either manic, ill or lazy with nothing in between.

*I'm better than I was but still a long way to go before I have it sussed :(

*Still overdo it now and again especially if I have got behind in housework or the garden is a mess, then I pay for it for a few weeks and back to square one, and other times I feel trapped in my bedroom and panic about the growing mess downstairs made by my girls.
I do not have a partner to rely on,but I do have 3 brilliant girls who pick up the slack. Its just not the same as doing it yourself!

*Over do it every time, I don't really have a choice with degree and part time job, mainly degree, Oh and obviously being at uni have to cook, clean etc. I also hate it because I can see everyone else doing it and I can't :(

*I am cautious, but I over do plenty as well! Time won't stand still for all the undone tasks!

*I don't think I will ever get the pacing yourself thing right, its hard when you work 30 hours a week to be able to pace yourself.

*Had FM for 14 years now and still cant pace myself, I do just like most others, on my good days I think its OK I'll be fine and do stuff then the next day do more n more until I push myself so far I have a bad crash and I'm ill for more days than I had good in the first place.
suppose one day I might actually get it into my head but I hate sitting around moping and being in bed so may take a long time to sink it in lol.
Been to pain management course's and psychologists and still cant get it right. Well we keep on the good fight and don't let it win and just try to live with it and maybe one day wake up to it gone as quick as it came :)

I do overdo things, but I think it's that I'm afraid to say no. Afraid people will think I'm shirking.

*I only have 2/3 good days a week if I'm lucky. I don't clean, I pay my god-daughter 2 do it which helps us both. I do go out on my good days which means bed days the other days. Do I pace, don't go there!

*I've pretty much learnt how to pace myself. However, some days I don't have a choice and end up over doing it.

*I am getting a lot better at it. And I have finally told my family that there are a lot of things I can't do,and they don't have to understand my condition, but from now on when I say I can't do it or go I mean it.
I really hurt myself physically because they just wouldn't take no for an answer. Told friends the same thing too No means NO, I stand my ground now and I feel great about myself for finally standing up for myself.

*I still tend to overdo.

*I still overdue it sometimes, but after 7 years I have learned to trust my body pretty well. I rarely make set plans unless I have to just because I don't know if I will be able to do it when the time comes. I know if I push myself too hard too often, I will end up really paying for it in the end!

*Dreadful!

*Not very good. I always have to finish what I am doing.

*Not good at all, only cleaned my very small toilet the other day couldn't walk for two days, when will I ever learn :-(

*I overdue exercise and pay after.

*I still over do it sometimes but I think I'm getting better at pacing.

*Not very good, I tend to overdo it & then suffer for it afterwards.

*Terrible at it and as my concentration is that of a gnat I start tidying part of a room then maybe put something in another and then I start on that one and then find the whole house a worse mess than when I started and I'm exhausted and suffer the next day. My hubby now understands more as I think he just thought I was being lazy so do need to learn to pace myself as the consultant I saw told me !

*Fibro Duck I was just wondering how good you are at pacing yourself? I very much hope you are and looking after yourselves :)

*still over do it all the time, today went grocery shopping this afternoon, enough. Then sons decided we needed to go to cinema. Know it'll be bad tomorrow, but today was Orange Wednesday.

II still overdo, how can I not over do with everything I have to do! I have things to do and no help so. I HAVE to do them hence the overdo, geez, what's a girl to do?

*Who does we ave 2 get every thing done on the days we are good.if I didn't nothing would get done as live on own well that's what I say my excuse is!

*Overdo it and pay big time after. I had fibro 5yrs but diagnosed only 7mths ago.

*No I still overdo things, there is no one else to do things for me.

*Better at pacing than I was but far from perfect, I still way over do it on the odd rare good day. Like others I spend good days in catch up mode, In fact I spend my whole life in catch up mode!

* have a difficult time pacing myself because when I get a "good" day i tend to play catch up.

*Over Do. I ALWAYS do to much.

*I have a good day and try to get as much done in that day as I possibly can when will I ever learn? I'm good for nothing for the next 3 days, but I think we are all the same to be honest. It is hard to just sit there when you can see things that want doing, things we could all have done several years ago, so frustrating!

*I suck at it. I try to cram in as much as I can on good days. there is no telling when I will have another good day.

*Every time I think I've got it down, I blow it again. My biggest problem is limiting activities outside the home - if I do something 3 days in a row, I need a week to recover!

*I always over do it and pay for days

*Not good I always over do it and pay for days

*Always over do things, trying to change but its hard!

Despite having FM/ME/CFS, what makes you feel good about yourself? How do you keep your depression at bay?

*Family and friends.

*Appreciate the beauty in everything else, people, starry skies, trees, landscapes, nature etc.

*Family and knowing that yes it hurts but there are people worse off than me.

*Running my small antique business, it's my passion and keeps me busy, yet if I'm having a flare up I can take some time off.

*My spirituality,friends family and my fiancée.

*My husband & daughters keep me battling & when I start to slip they pull me through
my husband, who is an angel, without him I don't know if I could make it.

*My faith in Christ, spending time with my family and friends, and my dog, he always makes me smile.

*My 3 gorgeous nieces that understand that although sometimes I can't pick them up their love is unconditional.

*I wouldn't say much makes me feel good but I keep going for my partner and my family, a lot of the time I don't want to live this miserable life of pain and fatigue day in day out, but know there is no other option so just deal with it day by day
concentrating on the things I CAN do,not what I CAN'T, there are so many other people who are so much worse off than me. I'm a very lucky woman with a wonderful man and 3 amazing sons that keep me smiling, also lots of gentle hugs.

*My partner,my daughters,son and grandchildren give me so much joy and when i dip they make me laugh. I also enjoy sewing and knitting.

*The power of positive thinking is an amazing thing. There are times I can't keep the positive thing going and that's when my husband and son step in and help me out but usually, my dears, it's all up to me and how I choose to think.

*My inner strength makes me feel good about myself cos without it i wouldn't push myself to do things when it hurts or i'm tired.It also stops me giving in to this damn illness!

*There are several things that I do: read, watch classic films, pray, spend time with my grandchildren, send a card or make a phone call to someone who is going through a trying time.

*My kids, so thankful they are happy and healthy, my Fibro friends and my art. When someone sees my work and likes it, that gives me a great boost and helps me to de-stress. I know I'm lucky, there are so many who suffer much worse pain than me and I can walk, even though it's tiring!

*For me it's music, I think having upbeat music in the background helps me somewhat. The support of family and mates has been vital too.

please don't laugh, but my cats ♥ they have unconditionally stood by me for 6 years (can't say the same for my ex husband or certain friends) and now I am lucky to have an amazing boyfriend.

*Vast amounts of prozac and sheer stubbornness

*My wonderful family and friends,Fibromyalgia will NOT get the better of me!

*My wonderful husband, kids and sister, oh and I read lots.

*I will not become a "victim"!!!!!!

*My GSD Rex, fibro friends & friends on fb & beyond have been a gr8 support, and a bit of help from the dude upstairs. There are peeps who've got it worse than me so that also helps keep things in perspective too even when I feel like giving up!

*Listening to the birds chirping away outside my kitchen window. Watching the birds eat from the bird feeders. My dog,kittens. And sometimes being a goof.

*I never accept it when people say "You can't do this or that" being stubborn really helps.

*Wow, so many of you have supportive family and friends! That is awesome! I try to be creative when I can; I can't really expect anyone else to give me support. Music does help, but I have a strong spirit and faith.

*I have been disappointed in most people, family, docs, friends who don't understand why you don't call etc. due to pain and lack of energy. Makes me feel very alone. I try to feel a peace through nature, water, listening to the birds etc. I also enjoy music that helps take me away and makes me feel passion about something. I believe in prayer and try to keep the faith.

*God, my grandson and my stubborn attitude that Fibro will not win. There are people worse than me. I know my family helps but, I do everything and that's my fault, so I feel sometimes they don't see my pain or acknowledge. I just keep going and going like the energizer bunny without the energy.

*My dog keeps me sane when my girlfriend is at college!

*When I was single and living on my own my dog was the only reason I had to get up in the morning!

*Keeping my mind busy. It can be little things like playing games on my computer. Solitaire is easier to play on the computer since my hands hurt too much to play with real cards.

*I'm doing an Open Uni degree to keep my brain moving.

*I really understand about your dog. Mine are one of the only reason I'm still alive. I'm the only person that can care for them, so they keep me alive.
Unfortunately I have FM,CFS and Bipola so for me the only way is Serolquel XL, it saved my life..... I have been told Bipola and Borderline Personality Disorder are common with FM has anyone else got any of these?

*Nothing!

*I try to keep as busy as possible be it reading or playing games on the net or doing find a word puzzles.

*My Dog makes me smile, she keeps me going. My husband is supportive in some ways as well, and my cats, even though the one is very demanding. My internet family and friends help by sending me cute things and chatting with me.

*The support of others near & far & the satisfaction of raising money for leukaemia research - £165,000.00 so far!

*I depend a lot on different crafts to keep me busy and keep my mind off other things like pain and depression. Usually it works fairly well. And, you know what ? Even if I am having a very bad day there is always someone else having it worse. Not that I glory in their pain but it helps put mine into a different perspective.

*I'm not depressed now, thankfully. So the way I've done that is with bioidentical hormones (hormones are off with FMS typically and estrogen for example is a building block for neurotransmitter serotonin, so instead of an SSRI, I replaced my oestrogen.

*My 2 dogs and my cat.

*My six year old son who is willing to help me every time I flare.

*My son, my partner/carer, my God-daughter and her toddler son, me mates and my fb pals. Without my support network, either me helping them or them me so that if I have a bad day, week, month, they are always there.

*Nothing, I do not feel good about myself. I can't seem to keep depression at bay.
Knowing that I'm the toughest person I know. I do a job that is hard for your average man, and I do it well as a woman with fms so I have the right to say to my co workers "suck it up buttercup" . That almost always brings a smile to my face.

*The touch of one of my cats fur, a purring cat, music (if I can bring myself to turn it on, on those days) a really fun choir practice, just knowing my family is safe and where they are supposed to be

*Keeping myself busy, and seeing my grandson's beautiful smile, as when he gives me that big smile i can't help smiling myself.