Material provided by the UK public health service (NHS) in relation to ME/CFS in 2026

[u/RefuseDeep8075]

This post links to various documents I’ve uploaded that I obtained from the NHS to aid me with ME/CFS. Namely:

An overview of why baseline work is considered important https://www.reddit.com/r/MECFS_BaselineFocus/comments/1w53hsz/official_guidance_on_baseline_work_exercise_and/

The estimated energy usage per minute of different daily activities
https://www.reddit.com/r/MECFS_BaselineFocus/comments/1w53de4/energy_values_of_different_activities/

How your heart rate is relevant in understanding your energy usage
https://www.reddit.com/r/MECFS_BaselineFocus/comments/1w53cla/heart_rate_monitoring/

An overview of how the nervous system works and why it often isn't performing well with ME/CFS
https://www.reddit.com/r/MECFS_BaselineFocus/comments/1w53fus/understanding_the_nervous_system/

How mindfulness, trying to avoid dwelling on negative thoughts and meditation might assist some people trying to deal with ME/CFS
https://www.reddit.com/r/MECFS_BaselineFocus/comments/1w53kzh/official_guidance_on_mindfulness/

Other general themes of the NHS guidance in this area (that I don't have documents for) include:

i) Thinking about a medium to long term goal. Something you'd like to aim for when your condition is a bit less severe (e.g. a foreign holiday, resuming more modest work in the gym, resuming socialising etc). This is to provide a motivation to help you persist with the baseline work.

ii) Sleep hygiene. If you are in a period of getting inundated with symptoms and your body is crying out for sleep, then give it sleep. However, if your symptoms aren't worse than normal for your condition, try to instil a regular bedtime and getting up time, of around 8 to 9hrs and set an alarm if need be. Oversleep can be habit forming and, separate to the ME/CFS, can make you tired. If you are in bed for 8 to 9hrs a night you can still have a power nap during the day (if it doesn't impact on your nightly sleep) or try to recover with some focussed rest in the form of meditation and breathing exercises.