Pacing for Chronic Illness: Why It’s More Than Just “Doing Less”

Pacing isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing life differently. If you're navigating CFS/ME, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Long COVID, or POTS, you've likely been told to "pace yourself"—but that advice often leaves more questions than answers. Pacing isn’t a cure. It’s a toolkit designed to prevent flare-ups and PEM, keeping you gently engaged in life rather than sidelined by symptoms. This post breaks pacing down into clear, practical components—from understanding your triggers and capacity, to using a traffic-light system, balancing proactive rest, planning your day sustainably, setting activity-rest ratios, budgeting your energy like spoon theory, and ensuring high-quality recovery.