Author: Dr. Jennifer K. Renshaw, OTD, OTR/L, OTA/L

Cancer treatment can make you tired which can make it harder to enjoy leisure activities and complete daily tasks. “Energy conservation” includes tips and tricks for you that use energy in different ways so that you feel better and can do more of the things you enjoy.

“Saving energy” is a phrase we may think of when we get our electric bill, but your body can also be an energy saver. Making simple changes in your daily routine can save and store energy for other activities, such as an event or a more energetic activity.

An occupational therapy research study* showed that people with long-term health conditions like lung cancer who used an energy conservation program were less tired and increased their ability to achieve their goals, all while improving quality of life and social well-being. With any activity, pace yourself and work at a speed that does not overwhelm your body.

Following are some easy ways to save energy so it’s there when you need it most!

Getting Dressed:

  • Organize, hang, or store your clothing to decrease bending, lifting, or reaching high.
  • Gather all your clothing for the next day the night before. Place it where you will be getting dressed.
  • Remain seated to complete most of your dressing routine.
  • Utilize items such as a Sock Aid, Dressing Stick, and Long Handled Shoe Horn to reduce bending over and twisting. These items are also available in an Adaptive Equipment Kit.

Bathing/Showering:

  • Keep all bathing items in a place that is close to the shower. For items needed in the shower, a showerhead caddy can be useful.
  • Turn on the bathroom vent to ensure the air in your bathroom is not creating too much fog. This helps breathing and reduces the amount of moisture on the bathroom floor for your safety.
  • Use a long-handled shower brush to wash areas that may be hard to reach such as your back, legs, and feet.
  • Use body wash in a pump container or use bar soap in a soap wash mitt to reduce dropping and bending to get soap.

Grocery Shopping:

  • Let grocery store employees help you load groceries in your car.
  • Request grocery bags be packed lightly.
  • Use a grocery bag carrier to evenly distribute the weight from grocery bags.
  • Consider grocery pick-up or delivery services. Some grocery stores have an online ordering system and free curbside pick-up with a minimum order amount.

Cooking:

  • Store food and cooking equipment in spaces that are easy to reach to reduce high reaching or bending.
  • Use a stool or chair to sit as much as possible during cooking tasks.
  • Designate one or two days per week to prepare several foods to cook another day. For example, if you are cooking a big meal, cut and prepare all the ingredients the day before.
  • Use lightweight cookware.
  • Load most dishes on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
  • Use kitchen gadgets to reduce the amount of muscle strength required to complete tasks. Some helpful gadgets to consider include: jar and can opener set, vegetable chopper, snap & strain pot.
  • Use a rolling cart to store commonly used items.

Laundry:

  • Use a rolling laundry basket to reduce lifting. This can be used with a reacher to grab clothes for the washer, dryer or folding.
  • Fold and iron your clothes while sitting down.
  • Complete laundry tasks on a specific day of the week to reduce the number of loads.

If you would like to learn more about energy conservation and ways to improve your energy, connect with your healthcare team or an occupational therapist for additional ideas that address your specific needs.

*Reference

Van Heest, K.N.L,  Mogush, A., Mathiowetz, V. (2017). Effects of a one-to-one fatigue management course for people with chronic conditions and fatigue. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(4), 7104100020p1–7104100020p9. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.023440

About the Author: Dr. Jennifer K. Renshaw, OTD, OTR/L, OTA/L

Dr. Renshaw is the director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Cape Fear Community College. She has been an occupational therapy practitioner for 22 years in coastal North Carolina.  Her passion in wellness writing comes from a desire to help people do what they love while living through each season in the journey of life.  Dr. Renshaw spends her leisure time searching the beach for treasures, porch swinging with a glass of iced tea in hand, traveling, snuggling pets, and spending time with family.

We are excited to bring you more stories about living with lung cancer in upcoming issues of Your Community, including features about survivorship, wellness, and practical tips about living well with lung cancer. If you have ideas on topics or stories you’d like to read about here, please email yourcommunity@go2.org.