Energy Conservation

The 4 P’s

Prioritize

• What are the most important items to get done that day

Plan

• Gather equipment and plan what you are doing before starting

Pace

• Slow steady place, plan out extra time, rest before you feel tired

Position

• Consider adaptive equipment to avoid bending (if issue), good posture

Occupations

Dressing

• Lay out clothes the night before

• sit whenever possible

• Dress the part of you that takes more energy first

• Dress the weaker limb first

• Give yourself extra time to dress in the morning

• Put frequent items within arm’s reach

Shopping

• Make a list

• Use a shopping cart instead of a basket

• Avoid rush times for shopping

• Consider delivery service or online shopping

Cooking

• Gather all the ingredients and equipment before starting

• Plan your meals all week

• Make big batches for days you don’t feel like cooking

• lightweight dishes and cookware

• Paper plates to avoid washing

• Easy to plan or frozen materials

Housework

• Figure out which tasks are easier and harder

• Stay in one room and focus on that one room

• Gather all cleaning supplies first

• Mix tasks with easy and hard tasks

• Take breaks

• Make a weekly plan for when you do what chores

• Maybe bring a trash can or bag in each room so you don’t need to walk to trash bag

Assessments

• I

Adaptive tools

• long handled brush

• Rocker knife

• hair dryer mount

• washer dryer all in one

• Walker, hemi-walker, cane

• many many more