General planning
Here are some helpful hints that may make your daily life easier in coping with Parkinson’s. The list is not exhaustive, but we hope it will assist you and may even help you to discover other tips and tricks that will be useful in your specific situation. Remember that safety is paramount.
- When possible try to plan ahead and work out what you want or need to do, and when is best to do it
- Set priorities so the most important things are comfortably achieved
- Take frequent rests between tasks and alternate more tiring jobs with easier ones
- Delegate any heavy jobs and don’t overdo it
- Don’t multi-task – do one thing at a time
- Ensure that everything you need for a task is gathered together before you start
- Combine several jobs in one place while you are there if possible
- Concentrate on one thing at a time, breaking down complex tasks into smaller parts if necessary
- If something is proving too difficult, stop, rest, and try again later
- Cut down on unnecessary chores around the home and plan daily, weekly or monthly jobs, keeping a manageable list handy
- Avoid rushing and doing things at the last minute
- Use gadgets that save you time and effort
- Try not to worry if you don’t get all you wanted done
- Work out what help you might need and when, and don’t be afraid to discuss getting help from family and friends.
