If you work, that tends to dictate your routine. When you cannot work or volunteer, it can be challenging to figure out when and why to do anything in the day.  Time slips away from us and nothing much gets accomplished.

 

Try to keep a consistent daily routine for five days per week, so that you get up and go to bed at similar times. Plan to prepare and eat meals at certain times, then organize everything else that you want to get done around these points in the day.

 

Keep track of the time of the day that is your “best time” and make use of that time to do what matters most to you. Quite often you’ll notice that there is a lot of time spent resting or recovering. Think of lighter tasks, like sorting and organizing, making lists, doing something creative. These can be used as activities during what used to be your rest times. This can make you more productive, efficient, and it keeps you mentally engaged even when the body is in need of rest. It turns out that you didn’t need to nap! When you use your brain for something productive, fewer neurons are involved in telling you about your pain.