Energy Conservation Flashcards
What is the key principle of energy conservation?
Balancing activity and rest to manage fatigue effectively.
What are the ‘4 Ps’ of energy conservation?
Prioritizing, Planning, Pacing, and Positioning.
What does ‘Prioritizing’ mean in energy conservation?
Identifying essential tasks and delegating or eliminating less important ones.
How does ‘Planning’ help with energy conservation?
Organizing tasks in advance to reduce unnecessary effort and optimize energy use.
What is an example of ‘Pacing’?
Breaking tasks into smaller steps with rest breaks in between to avoid exhaustion.
How can ‘Positioning’ assist in energy conservation?
Using proper body mechanics and assistive devices to minimize strain and effort.
What is a useful strategy for conserving energy during household chores?
Sitting while performing tasks like food prep or ironing to reduce fatigue.
How can assistive devices help with energy conservation?
Devices like long-handled reachers, perching stools, and shower chairs reduce effort.
Why is relaxation important for energy conservation?
It helps reduce stress and muscle tension, conserving physical and mental energy.
What role does breathing play in energy conservation?
Using diaphragmatic and paced breathing reduces shortness of breath and effort.
How can organizing your environment support energy conservation?
Keeping frequently used items within reach to avoid unnecessary movement.
Why should tasks be completed at the best time of day?
To match energy levels—doing difficult tasks when feeling most energetic.
How does good posture support energy conservation?
Maintaining proper alignment reduces muscle fatigue and effort.
What is a tip for managing fatigue while cooking?
Use a slow cooker or batch cook meals to reduce daily effort.
How can mental energy be conserved?
Reducing multitasking and taking breaks to prevent cognitive overload.
Cognitive energy conservation
Resting your mind is as important as resting your body, because the brain uses a lot of energy. When thinking about quality rest, look at approaches that also relax the mind.
Monitoring your energy levels
Keep a record of how you feel throughout the day and what activities you’ve been doing, including when you’re resting – you may see patterns of when you have the most or least energy and what activities take the most energy.
- keep a ‘fatigue diary’
- use your own words to describe how you feel, - give your energy levels a score out of 10 each time, so you can compare how you’re feeling throughout the day and week
- use a colour coding system. Red to show activities that are most demanding, green for activities that are least demanding and yellow for those in between.
Pacing - Tips?
- Break activities up into smaller tasks and spread them throughout the day.
- Try adjusting different parts of an activity to reduce the energy demands.
- Build rests into your activities; they’re key to recharging your energy.
- Stop, pause and rest between activities where possible.
- Sit and rest wherever possible.
Pace - rest breaks
It’s best to stop for a break before you reach exhaustion.
Resting ‘little and often’ tends to be the best approach.
Activity Demands (physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional)
- Physical – moving, standing, reaching.
- Cognitive – concentrating, remembering, understanding information, speaking, reading, writing.
- Sensory – noise, light, temperature.
- Emotional – excitement, stress, upset, fear, sadness
Plan - Tips?
- Plan ahead as much as possible.
- Create routines.
- Spread activities out.
- Keep items you need together and in easy reach.
- Look for equipment to reduce effort.
- Measure and track your energy use.
Prioritise – top tips
- Be kind to yourself and don’t try to do everything.
- Create a balance of activities you need and want to do.
- Delegate or drop tasks if you can.
- Look for activities that make you feel energised.
