For those individuals who suffer from chronic pain, no matter what illness or accident caused the pain; it can be difficult to do all the little things you want or need to do throughout the day.

There are different medications that can help control pain but will not remove it completely. You can also get some relief from different types of physical therapy.

Here are 3 pain-management strategies you can try to help you get through the day:

1. Get Plenty of Sleep and Rest

When you are in pain, you need to pace yourself, which means taking breaks and getting plenty of rest. You may not want to rest, especially if you find you have some energy, and you have a dirty house, but rest is essential to help manage your pain.

Start by getting enough sleep, which varies from person to person, and only you can decide how much sleep is enough for your body. Pain and insomnia are a combination that plagues many people, and getting up out of bed may be the only way to deal with it. However, when you stay in bed or rest on the couch, you are actually giving your body what it needs, a way to replenish and restore.

2. Get Moving

If you don’t exercise, which is often difficult with a chronic pain issue; you should at least try to move a little bit each day. You’ve probably heard it from your doctor and well-meaning friends, exercise will help. But it is hard to move when you are in pain. Walking may be your only option, but it is a good one.

Start by walking around your home, either inside or outside. If you can walk around the outside of your house at least once a day. The fresh air and the walking will help you forget about your pain, even if it does not relax. You can increase your walking over time, but starting by walking a little will be a better help to your pain than staying still.

3. Eat Better

Even if you do not cook, there are hundreds of ready-to-eat meals or frozen meals that are healthy. Although you will need to read the ingredient list and be mindful of salt and sugar additives to keep your intake within healthy ranges. Cooking is sometimes like exercise when you are in chronic pain, something you know you should do and know it is good for you, but it can be daunting.

There are also a large number of meal delivery plans available around the world that are not as expensive as you might think. Some of them are for the ingredients only, and you will need to cook; others are full meals already prepared for you.

Only you know your pain limit and only you can decide what is best for your body and mind. Do not beat yourself up if you cannot fully participate in life as you used to or like others with similar problems.