Draft Tips & Tricks: Household Chores
In the last tips & tricks post, I shared some methods I’ve found to help me care for myself, such as showering, taking medications, and more. This post will speak more specifically to tools and tricks for using in my house. I find that it is in the kitchen that I often most strongly feel my weakness, particularly as in the past I’ve enjoyed cooking for myself and loved ones and hosting parties and holidays. Thankfully, my husband is a skilled cook. Nonetheless, it’s important to me to stay independent in the kitchen.
It was an inability to open the dishwasher that finally sent me to the doctor about my loss of hand strength. I’d been dropping things for years, but this was complicating my life in a new way. My handy husband, meanwhile, went into his woodshop and made a tool for me to use to open the dishwasher (shown below). Soon afterward, I started having trouble opening the dryer. This time nothing new was invented. Rather, we repurposed a wooden spoon. We’ve hung it on the dryer and I’m able to use it to continue doing the laundry, something that helps me feel useful and needed.
It is mostly my lack of grip strength that gives me trouble in the kitchen. For example, it’s become hard for me to lift the full tea kettle to pour hot water, move a hot pan from the stove, get lids off jars, and cut things. We found gadgets for most of these things that have helped. Our best resources so far have been Youtube and Amazon, and my occupational therapist has given me a lot of great ideas as well. I cannot believe how mych easier my kitchen chores since got a One Pot. Throw a bunch of things in while eating breakfast and it is ready by dinner. I have a few recipes that came with it and I modify them so we have a great deal more variety in meals.
I mentioned my robot vacuum in an earlier post. I thought Gertie would make a small difference, but actually, having her keep the always-present desert dust level down in the house makes me feel a lot better about keeping up with the chores. I still vacuum by hand and mop once in a while, but I really appreciate her daily diligence in picking up the dust bunnies. It’s important when buying a robo vac to read reviews or buy a reputable brand. We’ve had two of these Euphies and they’ve both been great.
I’m sure as time goes on and I find new challenges in doing my chores - chores that I want to do and that help make me feel like my old self - I’ll look for and find new workarounds. Of course, hiring a cleaner is always an option, and buying food that does not require a lot of preparation. These are absolutely legitimate and I’m sure I will continue to do them as needed. But I will say it’s my goal to stay active and part of the household management for as long as I can.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
