Life Hacks

Today I tried out some helping hand hacks that I've been reading about. I stopped by our local "dollar store" and picked up these small rubber bands and foam curlers to turn into grip aides.

I removed all the plastic and bagged them up.

Some of the blue foam I cut smaller and put in my purse. The pink ones are already a good length. I thought it would be good to have on-hand in case restaurant silverware is small and sharp (already something I've encountered.) Now they're all bagged up and ready to use.

Curious what I'm going to do with those tiny rubber bands?

I read about putting them on lids that are harder to open (like nail polish bottles.)

It really is a helpful hack! It makes them much easier to open. It was a bit tricky to get them on though. I think a lot of people may need someone to do this for them. I found it so helpful that I decided to put it on my most used "slick" cosmetics.

You can see I used quite a few on each. 

As for the foam rollers I put one on my favorite pen and toothbrush. The holes were too small for my toothbrush, so I cut it down the middle and slipped it on. It didn't work very well. I think for fatter handles it would be better to buy special arthritis grips.

Everything on rollers is WONDERFUL!

Another modification I've made is getting as many things as I can on rollers. Pushing and pulling is much easier than lifting and carrying. It's also easier on my hands. I adore my wheeling clothing hampers. I realized after my swim at the gym that a regular gym bag no longer does it for me. It's way too heavy when it's full of wet things. Enter the $29 roller bag.

Making modifications, changes and hacks has been hard actually. I keep feeling like "I don't need any of this YET!" But I noticed when I do use a tool or change things it feels so much better... than I have a little "oh" moment. I remind myself that I don't have to struggle unnecessarily. I can make changes that make things easier. 

Modification

I am blessed.
Not because I have a nasty chronic illness.
But because I have the means and live in a place and time where I can access items to make my life easier and reduce pain. I'm very aware that not everyone is so fortunate, so resourced or so supported. This makes me incredibly lucky.

As I get to know what I can easily do and what's more challenging for me I also learn what's worth the spoons and what isn't. Some things I can still do fine, but they cost so much in energy and muscle strain that it's just not worth it.

Here are a few things I found (all on Amazon - no affiliation) that have been making my life much easier. I'm not giving links to each thing because that's a hassle. Yes, I paid full price and wasn't compensated at all. But they've helped me.

This has helped the most. It's a UV sun parasol that's super compact. It has much better coverage that a hat and shirt and is light and easy to cary. It was less than $20 and it is the single most useful thing I've bought. If you're on a medication that causes sun sensitivity or sun reaction I 100% urge you to get one. I need to get another one so I can leave one in my car at all times.

This stainless steel mini chef knife has also been fantastic. My hand would hurt for hours after using our nice knives. This one has a rubber grip that has a bit of give so the impact doesn't go straight to your hand. The shape is very useful and the smaller size makes it perfect for things I regularly chop like onions. It's my favorite kitchen tool now.

Handles on cups are also a big deal now. They help me keep a grip on my glass and keep my hand from getting too hot or cold. Something you have to watch with both RA and Raynauds. My favorite coffee travel mug with a handle recently broke (not my fault.) So I bought this one. It's ceramic instead of plastic and I love the wooden handle. It fits great in my hand.

Click on the picture to go to the Etsy store

I'd been sneaking some thick cardboard cup cozies from our local grocery store and keeping them in my purse. These are wonderful for when you're eating out in a restaurant. They keep your hands from getting too cold and improve your grip on the glass. Though I also recommend using a straw, especially if you're on an immunosuppressant. 

But to put the paper ones on I still had to lift the cup up. I was looking for some fabric velcro ones that I could just un-do and re-attach once secure. I found this fantastic Etsy shop with hand made cup coozies in all kinds of fun fabrics. Now I have 2 in my purse and 3 for home. 

Ok... this one seems stupid. But I really love fresh ground pepper! I also love my "choose the size of your grind" hand pepper grinder. But that's exactly the kind of motion I'm supposed to avoid with RA. So I found these electric grinders that also have a "choose your grind" setting. I haven't used them yet because each one takes 6 AAA batteries (and who has that many just laying around!?) Next time I hit Costco I'll get a pack. But I'm so excited to have them and can't wait to get back to fresh pepper on my salad. If you don't indulge in this, you're really missing out.

I now own two of these amazing baskets. One of delicates and one for panties and such. No more toting heavy baskets out to my garage. Now I just wheel dirty stuff out and clean stuff back in. 

The biggest modification to my life however hasn't been in what I've bought. Its been an adjustment to how much I do and in letting my husband help me. He does almost all of the driving now. Not that I can't but he doesn't mind and it saves my energy. I tend to wait in the car for super fast errands like hitting the ATM. I let him get me gas when he can. It saves me touching the dirty screen and pump. All these little things can add up to a lot of energy and hand use. He's wonderful and doesn't mind picking up the slack. I do what I can like cleaning the kitchen counters (it doesn't require bending or pulling.) 

It hasn't been easy for me to learn to ask for help or to rely on him for more things. I'm very independent. My Nana tells stories of me being very little and refusing the help of others with a defiant "I can do it myself!" That instinct is still strong. But my husband told me a long time ago that "Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should have to." That has stuck with me. I'm very blessed to have his support and help and now I don't hesitate to ask for it when I need it. 

Depression and Chronic Illness

I don't like the term "Big Black Dog" for depression. Dogs are loyal and funny and awesome. All they want is tummy rubs and bacon. Depression wants your joy, your playfulness and your hope. Not the same thing at all.

I've been struggling with depression the last few days. It all just feels like a lot going on all at once. Losing my job and starting Plaquenil (after the RA diagnosis) has just left me worn out. It's not just being laid off either, but the entire agency I work at is shutting down. So there's been a lot of miscommunication and uncertainty creating a ton of extra stress. And then there's trying to do what's best for my clients and make their transition as easy as I can. No wonder I woke up with a major flair the other day.

Despite feeling completely overwhelmed, depressed, angry, sad, upset and even hopeless at times, there are a few things that help me.

#1) HUMOR!

My favorite shark "Bruce" taking a night time sip from MY Disney Frozen cup.

Yeah, that's right. I own a stuffed shark AND a Disney cup.

You should try it. It helps. 

Humor is a HUGE part of my relationship with both my husband and my son. We make up funny songs, send each other silly memes and joke around a lot. Depression hates laughter. So watching a funny movie or TV show, or just spending time being child-like is incredibly helpful for me when I feel depressed and hopeless.

#2) Writing or Drawing about my feelings

My journal is a great place to get out feelings like these.

Some days are worse than others.
Monday was a bad day.

Sometimes I don't want to share my feelings with another person. But it does feel good for me to get them out. My journal is an important part of doing that for me. In it I can be funny, encouraging and hopeful. But I can also vent some darker thoughts as well.

#3) Being pro-active

My new jammie rack

A helpful way that I deal with any new situation, especially a stressful one (or one that can feel overwhelming) is by taking action. As I adjust to what it means to have RA and peripheral neuropathy I learn what's good and helpful for my body and what's hard and damaging. 

For example, digging through the freezer with bare hands? Bad. Holding cold things. Bad. Trying to pry open the drawer of our 1950's dresser every night to get my pajamas out? Bad. Going barefoot all the time? Bad.

Soooo... last night I took everything out of my "super hard to open" dresser and hung them on this wall hook behind the door instead. Now everything's eye level and easy to get to (and put away.) And my husband gained another drawer. Win-win. And since this is behind our door and we keep the door open almost all the time, you don't even see it. Problem solving at its finest!

This gives me a sense of accomplishment and taking care of myself, both of which Depression hates. Almost as much as it hates a sparkly Disney cup.