When Physical Challenges Make a Running Your Home Difficult
There are many ways that physical challenges can disrupt our lives. Depending on the nature of the challenge, it can interfere with our careers, our social lives, our self-esteem, and even those day-to-day activities we take for granted. Many of us complain about those nagging "chores," like laundry, meal prep, and loading the dishwasher--until we lose the capacity for doing them. We then wish we were well enough to take care of something so mundane!
A physical challenge doesn't have to be permanent to be disruptive. If you have ever had a broken bone, a sprain, or even had any type of surgery, there were things that you were unable to do or struggled to do for a quite some time. Vacuum. Carry a laundry basket. Maybe it was even something as basic as make your own breakfast. It's difficult to grab a bowl, the cereal, the milk, and the spoon when perhaps you were dealing with crutches!
Perhaps you have an ongoing struggle--one that is less visible, but still debilitating. Migraines, fibromyalgia, and a host of autoimmune diseases can bring not only pain, but fatigue and brain fog as well. Keeping your home well-functioning can be especially hard under these circumstances, as it may also feel as if there is no relief in sight! The unpredictability, too, of symptom flare-ups in some instances, can also cause despair and frustration.
Whether your challenge is one that will be resolved in a matter of weeks, or one that is more chronic, it is possible to keep your household running more smoothly. Here are a few tips, sourced from Harvard Health, The Autoimmune Institute, and the Lupus Foundation of America:
- Adapt your environment. Store frequently-used household items in a way that minimizes lifting and bending. Use long-handled "grabbers," if needed.
- Prioritize tasks. Focus on those that truly require your attention and are essential to your well-being and that of your family.
- Sit while doing certain tasks, like folding laundry or chopping vegetables. This may help conserve energy.
- Rest as needed, and pace yourself--no matter what the task is.
- Simplify routines, and delegate where possible.
How the Services of a Personal Concierge Can Help
A personal concierge can help with simplifying daily routines, and can be the person to whom tasks can be delegated. I have had the privilege of working with someone who has an autoimmune issue, and the tasks I have taken on are varied. While they include things that require lifting and bending--such as putting away groceries, doing laundry and folding the clothes, and managing recyclables--I have also assisted with projects that can be mentally exhausting, such as sorting mail.
However, a personal concierge is someone that will build a relationship with you. No matter what their situation, I listen to my clients' concerns, requests, and preferences. The bedrock of ChoreVoyant's client care is empathy and respect. We can customize a program that will tackle:
- Meal prep
- Laundry and/or Folding and Putting Away Clothes
- Loading the Dishwasher
- Tidying
- Taking recyclables from inside your home to your outside receptacles
- Putting trash/recyclables at the curb
- Making beds/Changing linens
- Grocery and Personal Care Shopping
- Pick up prescriptions
- Gift shopping
- Wrap presents
ChoreVoyant does not do patient care--we do not dress, bathe, transport, or manage medication for our clients--but we do bring value to their lives by handling the tasks and errands that make them feel more in control of their environment, and more like their "old self." Regardless of the nature of your physical challenge, a personal concierge service like ChoreVoyant can offer support and provide peace of mind when it comes to managing your household.
