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Coping with fatigue at home

On this page

Planning
Managing day-to-day
Housekeeping
Shopping
Laundry
Meal preparation
Child care

Planning Back To Top

Planning ahead is important with fatigue. Plan your day so that you have time to rest and do the things you want to do most. It is important to be realistic about what you can do and not try to do too much.

You may wish to consider keeping a fatigue diary to help you to see how treatment affects your energy levels and allow you to plan activities for times when you have more energy.

Doing things for yourself is very important, but try not to feel guilty if you have to ask other people to help.

An occupational therapist from the hospital can visit your home to help you to find ways of saving your energy.

Fatigue diary

This diary can help you to keep a record of your energy levels during cancer treatment.

Fatigue Diary (PDF, 500 KB). You need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view PDF files. You can download it for free from the Adobe website.

Managing day-to-day Back To Top

Family, friends, neighbours and social workers can all help you with your everyday activities and are often glad of the opportunity to support you.

Housekeeping Back To Top

Spread tasks out over the week.
Do a little bit each day rather than a lot in one go.
Ask other people to do heavy work where possible.
If you can afford it, employ a cleaner; if not, you can ask for a home help from social services. However, depending on your circumstances you may still need to pay for this.
Use a wheeled shopping bag to carry supplies and shopping.
Sit down to do whatever chores you can.
Use long-handled dusters, mops and dustpans where possible.
Ask someone to take your rubbish bags out.

Shopping Back To Top

Ask others to do the shopping when you can. If you can’t, or would rather shop yourself, these suggestions may help:

make a list before you start
write the shopping list following the layout of the store so you don't make more work than necessary
use the shopping trolley for support
shop at less busy times
ask for help in the shop/supermarket with packing and carrying groceries to the car, or ask them to deliver
shop with a friend
do your shopping over the internet and have it delivered.

Laundry Back To Top

where possible, always use a trolley to move your washing to and from the washing machine
get help to hang up washing
use a lightweight iron
sit down to iron
use non-iron clothes
slide the iron onto a heat-proof pad to avoid lifting it

Meal preparation Back To Top

Try cooking simpler meals.
Reheat convenience/precooked meals.
Try eating little and often – eat small meals and snacks throughout the day.
If you can, sit while preparing meals.
Prepare extra dishes when you are feeling less tired and freeze them for when you need them.
Prepare double portions and freeze half for later.
Use oven dishes you can serve from, to save washing up.
Don’t lift heavy pans – dish out at the stove.
Ask others to move heavy items to the table.
Avoid bending and stretching when preparing.
Let dishes soak rather than scrubbing and let them dry themselves.
Use a dishwasher if you have one.
Use placemats instead of table cloths. They are easier to put on the table, and to clean.

Child care Back To Top

One of the worst aspects of fatigue is that sometimes you might feel that you are letting your family down. This can be especially upsetting when you have children. No one is suggesting that you must ask others to take over caring for your children. However, there are things that you can do to make the caring a bit easier on yourself:

First of all, explain to your child(ren) that you are feeling tired and so will not be able to do as much with them as before. You may be surprised at how well they respond.
Plan activities with your children that can be done sitting down.
Try planning activities where there are facilities to sit while the children enjoy themselves.
Don’t lift smaller children. Use a pram or pushchair if you have to transport them.
You may be able to involve your children in some household chores.
Accept offers from trusted others to take your children to and from school or childcare.
Accept friends’ and neighbours’ offers to look after your children occasionally.
Get babysitters in from time to time so you can do some of the things you enjoy doing.

Content last reviewed: 1 October 2007

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.