For me, underscheduling is key to living well with chronic illness

One of the guiding principles I’ve come to embrace in my life is something that might sound counterintuitive in our fast-paced world: underscheduling.

For most of my life, I’ve been the kind of person who packs my days too full — committing to too many tasks, leaving little margin for rest, and rarely considering how my energy levels might fluctuate. But as I’ve learned to live with vasculitis, underscheduling has become more than a lifestyle choice; it’s a survival skill.

At its heart, underscheduling means intentionally leaving open space in your calendar and not filling every hour with commitments. It’s about recognizing that time and energy are finite resources, and quality of life — especially with a chronic illness — requires careful management of both.

This mindset shift can create more balance and presence for anyone. But for those of us navigating unpredictable symptoms, energy crashes, and medical appointments, underscheduling can be the key to maintaining stability and quality of life.

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Why underscheduling matters

Living with a rare or chronic condition means living with uncertainty. Symptoms can flare without warning, energy levels can swing from manageable to depleted in hours, and recovery often takes longer than expected. The disease burden is real. Underscheduling provides the flexibility needed to respond to these fluctuations with compassion rather than frustration. It gives space for rest, adaptation, and emotional regulation — three essential elements of long-term well-being.

Here are some of the key benefits of adopting this approach:

1. Energy management and pacing: Fatigue and pain are often unpredictable companions in chronic illness. Underscheduling makes room for pacing — working at a comfortable speed, resting before exhaustion sets in, and preserving energy for what truly matters. It transforms daily life from a relentless race into a more sustainable rhythm.

2. Flexibility and adaptation: When your body’s needs shift from day to day, rigid schedules can create unnecessary stress. A lighter calendar allows room for medical appointments, symptom flares, or slower mornings. Flexibility isn’t about doing less; it’s about allowing space for life to happen without constant disruption or guilt.

3. Stress reduction: Overscheduling leads to pressure, anxiety, and the feeling of constantly being behind. This chronic stress can amplify symptoms and make recovery even harder. Underscheduling, on the other hand, helps prevent that “wound-up” cycle that requires time to unwind. It brings calm, predictability, and a greater sense of control.

4. Mindful prioritization: When you stop filling every minute, you’re forced to choose what really matters. Maybe it’s rest. Perhaps it’s connecting with a friend, enjoying a creative outlet, or simply playing with your dog. These moments of intention strengthen relationships, self-worth, and joy — all of which are just as important to health as medications or treatments.

5. Improved mental well-being: There’s a direct link between feeling physically better and maintaining emotional balance. Underscheduling reduces overwhelm, restores a sense of autonomy, and helps cultivate gratitude for what each day allows. In short, it creates the breathing room needed for peace.

Practical ways to underschedule

Knowing the value of underscheduling is one thing; living it takes practice, especially in a culture that glorifies busyness. Here are a few strategies to help make it part of your routine:

1. Allow margin time: Intentionally plan more time than you think you’ll need for tasks or appointments. This buffer lets you handle the unexpected without stress.

2. Prioritize rest: Treat rest as essential, not optional. Block it on your calendar the same way you would a doctor’s appointment.

3. Learn to say no: Protecting your energy is an act of self-care, not selfishness. Decline commitments that don’t align with your priorities or health needs.

4. Use an energy scale: Categorize activities by energy demand (like “small, medium, large”) and balance your day accordingly. Don’t stack “large” energy tasks back to back.

5. Focus on the now: Practice being present and grateful for what today allows, rather than worrying about what you can’t do tomorrow.

Underscheduling isn’t about giving up ambition or productivity; it’s about redefining what success looks like. For people living with rare and chronic illnesses, it’s a compassionate framework that acknowledges the body’s limits while preserving dignity, purpose, and joy. It reminds us that healing often happens in the quiet moments between doing and being.

By embracing underscheduling, we give ourselves the gift of presence: space to listen to our bodies, care for our minds, and connect more meaningfully with the world around us. It’s not just a strategy for better time management. It’s a philosophy for living well, one day — and one breath — at a time.

Note: ANCA Vasculitis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ANCA Vasculitis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ANCA vasculitis.