Let us imagine you want to raise your mood by doing things that are important to you, such as seeing your family and cooking them a meal. Your goal may be:

To make the evening meal for my family.

However, you may find that you are too tired to cook for your family due to your cancer or treatment. Your goal may therefore change to:

Goal –This weekend, I will prepare three evening meals for the week ahead.

You can then plan around your tiredness levels. Your plan may therefore be:

Plan – ‘I will keep a diary to look at when I feel most tired. I will decide what I will make and write a shopping list. I will look at my diary and pick a time during the weekend when I have more energy and my family are around for support. I will ask my daughter to bring round the shopping. I will make a large amount, enough for several meals, that I can freeze.’

‘If things get in the way I will not worry about it but will reschedule to the next time I feel less tired.’