Thankfully, after enduring those initial two difficult years, I have found ways to reclaim an active lifestyle and navigate my journey with RA more successfully. To focus on wellness rather than illness, I’ve committed to several key principles that have reshaped my approach to health. Foremost among these is the crucial mind/body connection. Each morning, I start my day with a check-in: How did I sleep? What is my fatigue level? Where do I feel discomfort? And most importantly, what can I do today?

I have embraced daily physical activity, ensuring it remains diverse and adaptable to my needs. My activity choices include walking, yoga, swimming, and gentle movement classes. While I have gym options, I also take advantage of at-home exercises. I’ve discovered arthritis-friendly workouts and programs like the I START program through UBC, incorporating exercise bands and Tai Chi.

My routine emphasizes starting small: warming up for ten minutes with gentle range of motion exercises with my neck, shoulder shrugs, and arm stretches. I also limit activities to an hour including warm-up, stretching, and reflecting daily on my feelings and progress. Warming up starts with gentle range of motion exercise.

A few standout resources have guided me on this journey:

• • • Ongoing education and support from arthritis research remind me that I’m not alone. The encouragement from family and friends has been invaluable, as well as setting personal boundaries for my well-being. 
    • Finding a walking buddy or joining a supportive group has motivated me throughout the years. Nature has become one of my greatest allies, as have the photos I capture on my walks. 
    • During flare-ups or when I can’t be outdoors, I indulge in distractions like meditation, visualization, aromatherapy, podcasts, reading, music, doodling, and connecting with friends. 
    • Self-care routines like Epsom salt baths, heating pads, rest, and massage have now become essential components of my wellness.
    • Consulting with my physiotherapist has been crucial for injury recovery and effectively managing RA. Overcoming the back surgery for a herniated disc in 2022 was a significant challenge, but confronting the fear of safely returning to activity has been crucial.
    • Through my research, I realized that managing my emotions and responses in a calm versus a reactive way impacted my flares. Mindful practices such as breathwork and meditation have proven beneficial, empowering me to say “No” to commitments that don’t serve me anymore.

I have also realized that fear is natural and it means I take a safe, stepwise approach to resuming physical activity. I’ve learned to be grateful for my abilities – or what I can do – rather than focusing solely on disabilities.

When I suffered a fractured wrist in April 2024, I faced another setback. The slow recovery due to RA medications and osteopenia (this is low bone density which can make bones weaker) was discouraging, but the motivation to return to activity remained strong. Recognizing the importance of listening to my body has been vital; at the first hint of what I call an impending flare, I know to rest rather than push through.

Adaptation has become my mantra for success, no matter how well my plans align. RA has taught me to expect the unexpected, accept reality, and adjust my sails accordingly.  I practice self-compassion which allows me to “feel my feelings” and accept that bad days are a part of this life. During these times, I allow myself to rest and listen to what the pain is telling me.

Finding balance within this ongoing journey has been challenging and also rewarding. It’s a continuous process that reminds me of the concept of the habitable zone, akin to the “Goldilocks zone” from the fairy tale where balance is key: too much activity results in flare-ups, while too little leads to fatigue and pain. 

The benefits of maintaining that “habitable zone” are numerous: I experience an improved quality of life, greater well-being, more mobility, less fatigue, reduced pain, clearer thinking, active participation in life, and improved sleep. I have  a more profound understanding of healthy choices.

I look for joy in simple things, including the joy of movement. 

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