Energy Level Assessment Sheet

Are You Overdrawn at the Energy Bank?

The energy impact of chronic illness can be described using different models:

What these have in common is the notion that chronic illness turns energy into a precious commodity that we “spend” on activities. Since we all have bank accounts, I’m going to use the idea of money in an account as a means of illustrating the energy impact of fibromyalgia.

Everything you do, feel and think will either add something to your account at the Energy Bank or take something out of it. Your goal is to maintain a positive balance in your account. If your fibro symptoms are active, your balance is getting low. If your symptoms are very strong, you may be overdrawn.

Just as there are consequences when you become overdrawn at your financial institution (bounced cheques, fees and/or interest to be paid), there are consequences when you become overdrawn at the Energy Bank. Apart from being exhausted, your other symptoms are likely to worsen too. Getting to know your energy patterns is an essential first step in learning the art of pacing.

How to Use This Info Sheet

Use this tool to assess your current level of energy and your energy pattern changes to become better at keeping a positive balance in your “account”.

Assess your energy patterns by answering these questions

Illness

What is your Illness Severity Rating?
What other chronic conditions do you have?
Do you have any acute conditions right now?

Activity

How many hours per day are you active?
What are your best/worst times of day?
On a scale of 1 – 10, where 1 is low tolerance and 10 is high, how do you tolerate these activities?
- Housework
- Shopping
- Driving
- Standing
- Exercise
- Mental activity
- Socializing In Person
- Socializing By Phone/Internet

Sleep and Rest

How many hours do you usually sleep?
Is your sleep refreshing?
How do you feel when you get up?
How often do you nap during the day?
How long are your naps?

Feelings and Moods

Rate your mood from 1 – 10, where 1 is a low mood and 10 is a high mood.
How would you describe your mood? Check all that apply or add your own:
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Angry
- Irritable
- Flat (disinterested and uncaring about most things)
- Other (please use your own words to describe)

Stressors

Rate your stress level from 1 – 10, where 1 is low stress and 10 is high stress.
What are your sources of stress? Check all that apply or add your own:
- Work
- Finances
- Relationships
- Sensitivies: light, sound, smell, touch, taste, food, weather
- Other (please use your own words to describe)