Let’s face it, life is hard. Just getting through the day to day can be hard for anyone. Those who deal with autoimmune diseases have to endure pain, fatigue, brain fog and low energy levels every day on top of the usual stressors that life brings. I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for a number of years now and have come up with a few alternatives or tricks that make things a little easier. Here’s 5 that might help you as well.
Leaving The Door Cracked
If you come into my home you will inevitably find a door or two cracked. Closet, bathroom, bedroom it doesn’t really matter, if it’s an interior door it is usually wide open or at least cracked. This is because I found turning door knobs to be really painful. We recently moved and our new home has lever door handles and these are a lot easier for me to use, but I still leave doors cracked.
Doing Chores Over Multiple Days
This took me a while to get used to. Before RA I would complete my chores all in one day. But that’s not something I can do now. Trying to clean bathrooms, vacuum and clean floors and laundry in one day is more than my body can handle. Instead I break it down over several days. I’ll clean the mirrors and counters in the bathroom one day and the toilets and floor another day. I also try to keep the cleaning products in the same room that they are used in. This does mean that if you have more than one bathroom like I do, you have multiples of the same cleaning products. But this saves me from having to carry the products around.
Prepping Food Over Time or Multiple Days
I love to bake and after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis I had a lot of difficulty doing any sort of baking. Pulling out the tools and ingredients and then the measuring, pouring and mixing was just too much for my joints. I would be exhausted and in pain afterward or sometimes into the next day. So I looked for a way to do things a little differently. I learned that if I take one day to measure out the ingredients and then another day to do the mixing and baking I can save my joints from pain and save some energy as well. Sometimes I have measured out the dry and wet ingredients on separate days. This does require some planning but being able to continue to do what I enjoy is worth it.
Re-Arranging the Kitchen
Most folks will put the most used items, like plates, bowls, forks and spoons within easy reach. I also take into consideration the weight of items that I don’t use as frequently and if it is easier for me to reach up and bring it down or reach down and bring it up. For example, glass mixing bowls are easier for me to bring down to the counter, while my cast iron pan is easier for me to bring up to the counter. I am lucky enough to have a pantry large enough that I can store my electric mixer and air fryer at almost waist height. This makes pulling them out and putting them away much easier.
Clothing with Less Buttons
I love a nice button up shirt. They look great dressed up for the office or dressed down for spending time with friends. Buuuuut, buttoning up the shirt can be really difficult for folks who have joint pain. My fingers can feel thick and like I have no dexterity. On those days I opt for something I can pull over my head instead. It doesn’t have to be a plain ol’ t-shirt. I’ll reach for a tunic, a shell, peasant blouse, etc. You could also use a nice polo shirt or even a sweater on cooler days.
Buttons also appear on pants, but with more people working from home these days sweatpants have received an overhaul. You can look for pants called traveler, everyday or day pants. Joggers and even yoga pants have been elevated from workout to business casual. These typically don’t have buttons and are easy to slide on and off. I own several pairs of bootcut yoga and jogger pants. They are comfortable and stylish enough so you don’t look like you’ve been in your pajamas all day.
I hope these ideas help you as well as spark some of your own on how to make life a bit easier for yourself. Take care of yourself, because you deserve it.
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