Pacing/PAY-sing/
Balancing activity and rest to avoid overwhelm, burnout, or crashes.
Andy says:
Go at the speed that lets you finish the day—tomorrow included.
Detailed Explanation
Pacing breaks tasks into manageable parts, spaces them with recovery, and prevents boom‑and‑bust cycles. It’s proactive, not avoidance.
Community Context
Used across ND and chronic illness communities. Works best when combined with accommodations and energy budgeting.
Quick Tips
- Alternate high/low demand tasks; protect breaks
- Stop when you still feel okay—don’t wait for the crash
- Use timers and calendars to mark rest as non‑negotiable
Do / Don't
- Do: plan ahead; respect signals; increase gradually
- Don't: push through; don’t stack high‑demand blocks
Scientific Context
Pacing and graded engagement reduce symptom flare and improve participation.
Language Notes
Related: energy budgeting, spoon theory.
Related Terms
Energy Budgeting
Planning activities around available energy using a structured, proactive plan.
Spoon Theory
A metaphor where daily energy is represented as a limited number of spoons. Each activity costs spoons, and when they're gone, you're done—no amount of willpower creates more. Created by Christine Miserandino to explain living with lupus, now universal disability language.
Autistic Burnout
Complete physical, mental, and sensory collapse from the cumulative cost of existing in a neurotypical world. Skills disappear, speech vanishes, and previously automatic tasks become impossible—not tiredness but neurological system failure.
Accommodations
Changes to environment, tools, timing, or expectations that remove barriers so people can participate equally. Not special treatment or lowered standards—just different paths to the same destination.
Community Contributions
Your contributions help make definitions more accurate and accessible.