From the article: The Effect Of Stress On Arthritis
People cherish holiday traditions. From Grandma's favorite cookie recipe to preparing a feast. From giving gifts to attending church services. The holiday season is packed with family, friends, parties, dinners -- a lot of activity.
Maintaining holiday traditions can be hectic and stressful -- even for healthy people. For people with arthritis and physical limitations, the holidays hold an extra element of stress. How do you cope with the holidays? How do you get through the holiday season and enjoy it? Share your survival secrets. Offer some specific tips.
Share Your SecretsSurviving the holidays...
- I buy alot online...no walking or waiting and I usually wait for free shipping too. Also I buy the bags for the presents at the dollar store...yup thrifty and alot easier then traditional wrapping. Plus I get to recycle sometimes too :-) And we do our decorating in small doses here and with lots of help if at all possible...also I have downsized a lot on the decorating. I am hoping by next year to have my tree on rollers and then maybe I can just wheel it into the garage fully decorated, cover it and the uncover it for the next year. And I cook and freeze ahead for the eve and the morning of Christmas and we buy a pre-made ham so all we have to deal with are the sides and we keep those real simple too. I have refocused alot over the past ten years with RA. It is no longer the price of a gift or the quantity that matters but the priceless gift of creating a special memory that matters in my life now.
- —murphthesurf
