posted
So I was just sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch with a pillow under my knees, sorting laundry and thinking about last week's laundry post and how that's just one tiny aspect of life with lyme.
We must all have tricks and tips that could help each other with daily chores or even errands.
Let's share them - I know I can use all the help I can get!
Here are my favorites:
Pillow under my knees when sitting in bed or on the floor. Pillow under my ankles when lying on my stomach in bed.
Keep your knees under you. When you get in a car, turn and sit down, then swing your legs in. Never reach behind you to get something - turn around and get it!
Take bite-sized chunks out of chores. Treat yourself like you'd treat a 5 year old regarding chores. They can't clean an entire room at once and neither can you.
Pick your domestic chore battles and fight them a little at a time. Today I picked up all the trash I could see in our playroom but left the toys. Tomorrow I might do the big toys and leave the little ones.
Deligate!!! My son is 5 and is autistic, so he can only follow two or three step instructions at best. Heck, my little sister is a teenager and can't follow more than that usually! Ha!
I sit down on the floor and tell him what to pick up, point to it, give him a place to put it (a bin, box or drawer) and reward him with something little afterward (a big hug, a piece of candy, a sticker, a half hour of Pokemon, whatever). Works wonders and we get a lot done this way!
Deligate #2!!! My hubby set aside time every single day to do the things I cannot do alone. Through the day I make a list and this works great. I don't forget what needs to be done and he doesn't mind helping out b/c I'm not just leaving something undone, I'm asking for help with it.
Time your energy like you spend your money. I have so few good hours during the day when I can be up and moving around that I now save up for grocery shopping, walks outside, playtime with my son, etc.
If I know I want to go yard sale-ing on Saturday morning, I might sacrifice grocery shopping that day. If I need groceries, then no morning walk that day. Also, any time there's something to carry, I drag someone along (lil sis, mom, hubby) to help.
Pamper yourself, even in the smallest way. Even on my worst days I try to get a shower, get dressed and put on makeup. I don't like makeup much, but I'll put on a little lotion and some lipstick at least. It makes me feel alive, even if I end up not going out that day.
Get out of bed. This is easier said than done, I know. Get out of bed, go to the couch, the kitchen, the playroom. Set up a nest for yourself in another room, or out on your porch. My bed feels like prison to me after a day.
I set up in the livingroom, which is the center of our house. When I'm there, my son and husband are around me all the time, so at least I'm not holed up in the back of the house.
Ask for help. I still have trouble with this one. My husband told me he always assumed I'd just ask for help when I needed it. Now he's better about just asking me if I need help b/c he knows I don't want to ask. I'm learning, though.
I'm just a newbie to tx, but I've been dealing with ld for over seven years now. I've learned to adapt, and I'm sure you guys have, too. No doctor is going to give us a list of "how to make your life easier," so I think we have to share those things here!
Let's have those tips and secrets!!
Gentle Hugs, Sarah (and typing hubby!)
Posts: 91 | From East TN | Registered: Mar 2007
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
``Ask for help'' I have been disabled since 2000 and that one is still very difficult for me and I STILL often don't when I should.
These are my list of tips for my current list of symptoms I have to try to function around as much as possible -
- When I am writing a longer post, email, or pm I write it in word first then copy and paste - so my twitchy shakiness doesn't accidentally hit a button and cause me to loose the whole typed thing. - - When chopping, slicing or peeling I use a steak knife that it not real sharp. And when I am worse but still capable of doing it I put a band aid on a finger or two because when I miss I seem to usually knick the same couple places.
- Do as much meal preparation sitting as possible.
- On a better day I will Cook meat (s) and freeze. Then at a later date all that has to be done to it can be done in the microwave. Oh a microwave is a must.
- Also lately when I cook I have to cook it in the morning and reheat it at dinnertime or we are not eating dinner.
- Use the least amount of pots - If I can cook it in the microwave that is how it is getting cooked
- Fold laundry sitting down
- When I have to I make sure I walk near walls or furniture so I don't fall on the floor (balance, fatigue, weakness)
- It is great if you can have one of those big freezers so you don't have to go grocery shopping that often. Grocery shopping is exhausting.
- I always have a list of everything I am going to get it takes a lot less time (and less energy) that way for me. If I had to try to remember everything I would end up having to go back and forth and I wouldn't get near everything I need. It has to be a ``good'' day for me to go and that's it for my day so lists are helpful. If I have to go a couple places I have a list for each place and than a list of the most time efficient order that I should go to each place. I can usually only stay out for about 2hrs and that is a ``good'' day.
- When doing dishes I lean my whole body into the cabinet (with the sink in it) so it supports the majority of my weight.
- If shoes must be worn I wear sneakers . Sketchers are my favorite.
- Because I am hot or cold almost always anymore I dress in layers.
- Dont worry about doing things that don't really make a difference perfectly (like cleaning) Things needing to be done the ``right'' way is too hard - find the easy way for you make that your knew ``right'' way
- when starting new meds I make a schedule that includes everything I have to take and I make a note if it needs to be taken with or without food.
- When I knock paper over or spill something - blame it on the cat
- have loud rock music playing as much as possible
- Wear hats when hair is a mess - scrunchies are good too
hopeful123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3244
posted
i'm "better" now and i still cannot do things the way i used to!
my motto is one i've heard a number of different ways.....when i'm on my death bed (and here's hoping that won't be soon) i won't regret not having done more housework. so, for me who lives by myself i choose to take my limited energy and do what i love...mostly that's quilting.
-------------------- some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield Posts: 1160 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2002
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
This is really pathetic!!! My tricks-
Trick #1
if my two year old is having a melt-down loudly in public to combat my shame I chant to myself in my head over & over, "This is a dream, only a dream*)!!" (Seriously, sad huh?) She doesn't do it very often but when she does I get soooooooooo embarassed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT when I was REALLY sick and in pain I used to do that for a lot of each day because I was so overwhelmed and frankly because I don't do pain meds and I was in agony, if it was too much I would just repeat, "This is only a dream..." over & over.... Thank god that dream is over!
Trick #2 I put quality of life ahead of an impeccable house! Housework can always wait- adn this is not a fatigue issue- it is a quality of life issue for me- there are others who would see the opposite as true- I know- but I would rather be playing with my children or goat or cats than scrubbing!!! Our house is plain MESSY- but not dirty or filthy!!!!!!! I don't let it get that bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband kept wanting me get a monthly/weekly housecleaner but I refuse that- I don't think it is right to have someone else clean our house!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes me uncomfortable!!! When he went ahead once and arranged for one the month she came every week I felt SO guilty I would spend the whole time she was there SCRUBBING and cleaning things TOO!!! Which I frankly do NOt enjoy!!!
Nope, my husbands didn't marry me for my housecleaning skills*)!*)! On the other hand, I am an incredible cook*)!*))!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Putting on a clean change of clothes is much easier than taking a shower
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Close one eye when drunk
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