Daisy's posted this on another thread. I thought it was a good measure of feeling and activity. Thanks, Daisy!
"I've been asked time and again to measure pain, energy, or overall mood by 1(worst) to 10 (best) and always find it a challenge.
I find it easier to judge my current state with this scale. I look back over what I have been doing and find where it is in this list.
Quality of Life Scale (measure of function)
0.Non-functioning Stay in bed all day. Feel helpless and hopeless about life.
1. Stay in bed at least half the day. Have no contact with outside world.
2. Get out of bed but don't get dressed. Stay home all day.
3. Get dressed in the morning. Minimal activities at home. Contact with friends via email and phone.
4. Struggle but fulfill daily home responsibilities. No outside activities Not able to work/volunteer
5. Do simple chores around the house. Minimal activities outside of home 2 days a week.
6. Work/volunteer limited hours take part in limited social activities on weekends
7. Work/volunteer for a few hours daily. Can be active at least 5 hours a day. Can make plans to do simple activities on weekends.
8. Work/volunteer for at least 6 hours daily. Have energy to make plans for one evening social activity during the week Active on weekends.
9.Work/volunteer/be active 8 hours daily Take part in family life. Outside social activities limited.
10. Go to work/volunteer each day. Normal daily activities each day. Have a normal social life outside of work. Take an active part in family life.
Posted by Ann-Ohio (Member # 44364) on :
I guess right now I am about a 5
Posted by Ann-Ohio (Member # 44364) on :
Here is an article by a former park ranger, Jordan Fisher Smith who struggled with Lyme disease and wrote a book about it, "Nature Noir"
quote: ".....those who ranged widely and unexpectedly were happier. In other studies, walking itself was shown to help people think and to enhance creativity. Walking doesn’t require much thought, so the mind is free to do other things. Meanwhile physical activity increases heart rate, blood flow, and oxygenation of the brain, pushes back against ageing, and improves memory and attention."
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I liked this in the article:
“Fruitful wandering requires that you slow down. Shift your focus from arriving at some future accomplishment to immersing yourself in where you are now.”
So often we focus on what we want in the future—like good health, but we need to find joy in this moment, too.
On Daisy’s scale, I am around a 7 although it seems like I have slowed down from a 9 since I retired a few years ago from full time teaching. I think part of that is several surgeries and the pandemic shut down engaging with others in person quite a bit.
Posted by daisys (Member # 11802) on :
I find that this scale works for me whether the slow down is pain, fatigue, or whatever.
I'm trying to train myself to know when pain is holding me back. I can take something for it, and get back to active living.
I don't get depressed because I don't have brain fog anymore, and have a lot of interests that I can do without a lot of effort.
Posted by Ann-Ohio (Member # 44364) on :
Hiker, joy in the moment is a great goal!
Mine is bird-watching. So many birders are focused on adding to their list of birds they have seen. Bird spotters! I prefer just watching them at my feeder and on walks. Pure joy!
Daisys, taking time to see where you are on this scale really helps to see where you can function better. Thanks, again!
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
11. Feel like not doing a thing,but sleeping or sitting hurts to bad.So just walk all day.
Never stopping,just to see just how far you can drive a body before total heart attack or sudden death.
But just maybe reach a higher plain of health like a super survival health thing.
I was told of this one time at the grand Teton climbers Ranch.
A mountain climber was smoking,I pointed him out to another guy there and said (he wont make it to the top).
He said that there is a higher plain of PH. fitness that when there,smoking won't hurt at all.
It is a very special place to be. I am going for it!! MADDOG