pace oneself

English

Verb

pace oneself (third-person singular simple present paces oneself, present participle pacing oneself, simple past and past participle paced oneself)

1. To behave in a slow and careful way in order not to overexert oneself.
   • 2006, James Robertson, The Testament of Gideon Mack, page 201:

     Is this it, I remember thinking, as I dripped sweat and rainwater the last few yards to the manse. Is this when the body parts start to rebel and refuse to function?
     So I'd learned to pace myself.