Dealing With RA Fatigue Beyond Collapsing on Your Bed!

When life is chaotic — you know, those days where you work long hours, meeting after meeting, and then come home, only to realize that there's another host of responsibilities waiting for you — all I really want to do is to collapse in my bed!

I hate feeling this way. Before being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I used to be able to do so many things upon coming home. I could cook, clean the house, play with my kitten, and more.

But now, even those seem like monumental chores that require so much more energy than I have at the moment.

Fatigue keeps me down

Anyone who has spent some time on this site — or really anyone who has a chronic illness — knows about spoon theory. Since I've written about it before (and because of its ubiquitous breadth), I won't talk too much about it here.

Instead, I want to touch on some ways to deal with the kind of fatigue that is almost paralytic — the type of fatigue that keeps me down from being able to live the life that I used to have before RA.

And yes, I know that isn't possible anymore, but it's nice to dream, right?

My routine for dealing with fatigue

My routine for dealing with this level of RA fatigue is quite simple:

1. A 30-minute break to recalibrate

First, when I come home, I immediately sit down for just 30 minutes and breathe. I don't look at my phone and just center in on resting and feeling okay. This is easier said than done, and sometimes it doesn't always work out (which requires some flexibility of course because every day is not the same).

But I've found that this 30-minute rest is the best way for me to recover and then prepare for the rest of the day.

2. Complete the hardest task first

After the 30-minute break, I will usually do the most arduous task that I need to complete first. This way, I can knock something off my list and, therefore, feel accomplished.

Usually, this most arduous task is either vacuuming/cleaning the house OR having to go back out to go to the store. Basically, anything that requires more energy than just being at home.

3. Prioritize the remaining tasks

Doing the most arduous task first means I then shift to prioritizing the other tasks I need to complete for the day.

These tasks are usually more mundane, including washing dishes, folding laundry, or something else.

4. Do something fun or relaxing

Finally, I do something fun and relaxing for myself. At the end of the day, I need something to re-center and reorient me.

Most of the time, this just involves playing with my cat, Missy, or watching TV, or sometimes just even relaxing on the sofa.

I try not to fall asleep (once again, easier said than done!) because I don't want to disrupt my sleep schedule.

Find what works best for you

Clearly, something as personal as fatigue means that you will have a different way to handle it than I do.

But my hope is that, by hearing my story and the way I deal with the crushing fatigue of RA, you can learn new tricks and tips or, at the very least, feel validated in your fatigue.