Commit to Eating Healthier
Some of these foods include fish, lettuce, spinach, nuts, low-fat dairy, tomatoes, turmeric and many more. On the other hand, foods that can exacerbate arthritic pain include foods filled with sugar and are fried.
Maintain a More Positive Attitude
This is one I need to work on because it can be so easy to get down and frustrated due to the pain and discomfort caused by OA. That being said, keeping a positive mindset can have a drastic impact on the quality of your daily life.
In order to overcome the negative thoughts and pessimism that can come with pain, we have to embrace the philosophy of looking at the glass as half full. You need to make a conscious effort every day to focus more on the activities you can still do rather than the activities you are not able to do because of your condition.
It helps sometimes to maintain perspective that there are others out there suffering equally or worse than you currently are, and there are still many blessings in your life to be thankful for.
I frequently mention meditation and other relaxation therapies as a great way of breaking the cycle of negativity and pessimism. Whatever you choose, make sure you find your “happy place.” The happy place pursuit could also come in the form of spending time with a pet, finding a great support system, pursuing your passions, or anything else that will help you stay positive!
Spend More Time With Family and Friends
In this day and age where everyone is so busy with work, school, running errands, or anything else, it is still very important to make the effort to maintain connections with one another. Socialization is a crucial part of our wellbeing and it can be easy to neglect it for other things that seem more important.
Change up the Routine
I almost always suggest establishing a routine and being consistent, however that can become monotonous over time. Change it up once in a while!
This is all within reason of course; for example instead of going to the movies every Friday, you could join a ceramics class, go to a local sporting event, or hang out at a comedy club. You don’t have to sky dive or jump off a cliff to feel alive in this world!
Part of what we struggle with is we feel like we are missing out on certain activities, which can hamper our ability to be spontaneous. Even though it can be more difficult, you can still try to avoid making your life feel mundane.
These are my top five potential New Year’s resolutions for someone who suffers from OA, but don’t feel limited to them! There are so many different ways we could enhance their life and change it for the better.
Even if you look back on the next year and realize you didn’t achieve your resolutions, don’t think the year was a failure. As long as you made the concerted effort to improve yourself and the quality of life you live then that’s all you can ask of yourself.
