Hints on How to Combat Fatigue Assessment • Think about your personal energy stores as a "bank." Deposits and withdrawals have to be made over the course of the day or the week to ensure a balance between energy conservation, restoration and expenditure. • Keep a diary for one week to identify the time of day when you are either most fatigued or have the most energy. Note what you think may be the contributing factors. • Be alert to the warning signs of impending fatigue—tired eyes, tired legs, whole-body tiredness, stiff shoulders, decreased energy or a lack of energy, inability to concentrate, weakness or malaise , boredom or lack of motivation, sleepiness, increased irritability, nervousness, anxiety or impatience. Activity & Exercise Patterns • Identify which activities or situations make your fatigue worse or better and develop a plan to pace yourself. Schedule activities according to your fatigue and energy patterns, scheduling them ahead of time during the day and throughout the week to avoid becoming unusually tired. • Plan adequate rest and sleep periods so you can recover your energy before undertaking more activities. • Select the activities that are most important for you or that give you the most pleasure and do these activities first. Let the others go or delegate them to others. • Try to feel less guilty about restructuring your life to do what is most important for you and what gives you the most pleasure.