Pacing isn’t always easy. What we need to do to help us recharge (whether for mental or physical health, or both) is often not obvious, because it varies depending on what level we are functioning at. Curling up with a good book can be unmanageably exhausting at one level, but a lovely recharging break at another.
This A4 recharging ladder poster is a way to note what helps when – both to help yourself remember and to help other people understand your choices.
It has 6 boxes on the LHS to write your symptom level - from red (severe), through amber to green (pretty good - for you) and corresponding boxes for the things that will help you recharge at that level - and help you climb up to the next rung on the ladder.
How to use the recharging ladder:
To support your self management, complete the sheet by writing your personal functioning levels in the left hand column of spaces, and the activities that help you recharge when you are at that level in the corresponding gap between the ladder rungs.
Everyone’s functioning levels will be different. Your top rung should be something realistic for you personally – for example something you would be well enough to do on one of your better days, not something you might only manage a couple of times a year. Your bottom rung should also be a familiar level of functioning – a level you will routinely be at when you have done too much, or had a particularly busy (for you) few days.
It can take time and effort to work these out, so you might find it helpful to list your recharging activities on a separate piece of paper, then sort them into the appropriate levels – and only write them onto the actual recharging ladder once you have the outline planned.
(Get in touch using the ‘contact us’ button at the top of the page if you would like to place a bulk order for these)
Recharging ladder
We ship worldwide
We aim to ship items within 7 days of ordering. UK orders should arrive within 3 days of shipping, and overseas are likely to take between 1 and 4 weeks.For more detail and prices here: Delivery information
Please note that some countries will charge a customs or import duty and/or tax. This is not something we can control and you will need to check your country's rules for importing goods from the UK.
Items can be returned for a full refund within 14 days of receipt, provided they are returned unused and in their original condition. The customer will need to pay the cost of shipping for unwanted item(s).
In the case of faulty goods, or an incorrect or missing item, contact us within 14 days of receiving the order (by email, contact form, or phone) and let us know what has gone wrong. We will re-send the correct product or, if appropriate, refund the cost of the missing/faulty item. If a return of faulty or incorrect goods is needed, we will refund you the cost of postage for the return.
(for more detail see the returns policy at the bottom of the delivery and returns page)