When living with Narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, a lot of focus and attention is given to strategies to cultivate more energy to get through each day. Although this is important, the way in which you manage the energy levels that you already have is equally as important. The easiest way to start optimising your life with any sleep disorder is to focus initially on better managing what you already have and the things you currently do. This will provide you with a greater likelihood of a positive outcome in your life and better prepare you for the development of new habits and strategies that will being you closer to the more vibrant and fulfilling life that you deserve.

Let’s face it, your varying degrees of your energy level can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Sometimes you have to have the energy to complete a task or activity and other times you seem to have the most energy when you’re trying to relax. If you can learn how to manage your energy levels effectively, you can move ahead, get the things done that you need and avoid lagging further behind.

 Here are some tips about how to manage your energy levels so that you’re best prepared to tackle the things in your life.

1.    Determine the times you’re most energetic. Some people with Narcolepsy are more energetic in the mornings and others are night owls. You should be able to determine from past experience which time of day you get more done. Those are the times you should schedule the most harrowing or mind bending of tasks.

2.    Identify what drains you of your energy. Be honest about this assessment. When you know which obstacles and situations keep you from being the best you can be, you can do what it takes to minimise them or eradicate them from your life.

3.    When you do have energy is it negative or positive? If you when you have your highest level of energy, but your output is all about negativity, you are likely in a constant reactive mode rather than a positive, active mode. Even the most energetic yet negative people never seem to have enough time to get things done.

4.    Use your energy to make headway, not merely survive. We all have increasing demands on our limited energy resources and our time. The way that we meet it determines whether we go through life just barely getting by or having the energy to advance. Quit rushing through in survival mode simply to get things done. Choose performance over immediate solutions. Invest some of your precious energy into activities that well optimise your health and lead to greater levels of energy in your life. You need to make this investment to see a return.

5.    Be consistent in the way you handle situations. When you experience energy highs and lows, you may find yourself reacting to situations according to your energy level. If you’re energetic, you can be positive, but if you’re lethargic you could react in a totally negative manner. Try to be consistent in your reactions and it will help your energy levels to be consistent. Cultivating negativity within your life will only lead to a greater drain on the energy that you do have.

Set the priorities of the activities you need to take according to your energy level. Performing low-energy tasks at times when you’re least energetic and high-energy tasks at times when you energy levels and wakefulness are the highest, can help you better manage your life with narcolepsy and and reduce the stress of living with a sleep disorder.