The human body is a wonder of nature. It can defy numerous diseases and heal itself when hurt. But sometimes, even the perfect body can be subjected to various forms of illnesses. One such dreaded condition is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own synovial membrane, which forms the lining of the joints and ensures that they are smooth and moveable.
The result is severe pain and limited joint movement. While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, you can manage the disease with a combination of medications and proper lifestyle choices. And to help you make the best choices, we have compiled a list of goal-setting tips for people with rheumatoid arthritis. From defining your goals to breaking the cycle of inflammation, these tips are sure to help you achieve your potential while managing this chronic disease.
1) Be Very Specific with Your Goals:
If you’re an RA patient, you are probably aware of the importance of goal setting in your life. Setting goals gives you something to look forward to and keeps you motivated throughout. This is especially important for RA patients since their entire life revolves around their health. After all, your health is much more than just a part of who you are; it impacts everything from your career to your family life to your personal happiness.
It is important to set goals that will have a positive impact on all aspects of your life, such as:
- -Reduce or eliminate all medications
- -Maintain a healthy weight through an active lifestyle
- -Get back to work and school
- -Find new hobbies and interests
- -Be able to climb a flight of stairs without getting winded or having any discomfort
When setting goals for yourself, remember that the more specific they are, the easier it will be for you to achieve them. For instance, instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” say, “I want to lose 20 pounds.” Instead of saying, “I want to go back to work,” say, “I want a part-time job with flexible hours since I can no longer sit for long periods at my desk.” Set some very specific goals for yourself and make sure they have clear deadlines so you can track your progress.
2) Goal Setting:
Goal setting is a skill that one needs to develop and perfect over time. And while setting realistic goals is a sure-fire way to maintain motivation and achieve success, setting unrealistic goals can cause a lot of stress and disappointment, which can ultimately discourage you from achieving even the smallest of your dreams.
On the other hand, defining the exact goal that you want to achieve is the first step toward reaching it. So, whether you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle tone, focus on the specific body parts and desire outcomes so that your efforts are not misdirected.
While doing this, make sure that your goal is also achievable in a specific timeframe. This will keep you motivated to achieve it without burning yourself out by missing deadlines and pushing yourself beyond your capacity.
3) Self Evaluation:
If you’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, it’s natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. But the first thing you need to do is make sure your goals are achievable and realistic. The last thing you want is to be disappointed in yourself later because you set yourself up for failure from the start. Do a self-evaluation and really think about what you can realistically achieve in 6 months or a year. Here’s a checklist of some things to consider:
- Are you currently receiving treatment for your condition? If so, have your doctor or physical therapist help you develop a plan for attaining your goals.
- How much time will it take to reach your goal? Is that amount of time realistic?
- What parts of your life will this goal affect? Are there any sacrifices you’ll have to make to achieve your goal? Are they worth it?
- Can anyone help support you in achieving your goal? Who is available to help you?
If you’re still having trouble defining your goals, try starting with something small and manageable, like taking a walk every day or lifting weights at the gym one day a week. You’ll be surprised at how much those small steps will motivate you to keep going.
4) Timely Goals Are Important:
You may have your sights set on a career in a few years, but setting short-term goals is just as important. When you’re busy with major milestones like buying a house and starting a family, it’s easy to neglect the everyday things that will get you there. Without these smaller goals, you might end up feeling lost and not sure how to achieve your big ones.
When you are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it’s important to set some manageable, everyday goals that will help keep you motivated and moving toward your bigger ones. The good news is that RA doesn’t have to hold you back! By being smart about how you live your life, paying attention to symptoms and triggers, and taking the right medications, you can manage this chronic disease, so it doesn’t manage you!
No matter where you are in your journey with RA, always remember to celebrate all of your successes—big or small. Have any questions about managing RA? We’re here for you!
5) Make the Most of Your Medication:
It’s common for people not to take their medication as prescribed or not to keep track of how much they are taking. It’s also easy to forget that the side effects of certain medications may affect your long-term health. You may be tempted to skip medication when you’re feeling well and only start taking it when you feel pain in your joints. Remember that you should take medication even if you don’t feel any symptoms—RA affects all joints in your body and limiting yourself to taking medication only when you feel pain could mean a significant delay in treatment.
In addition, be aware of both short- and long-term side effects of certain medications. Some may shorten your lifespan—it is important that you discuss any concerns with your doctor so that they can prescribe the best course of treatment for you.
6) Break Down Your Goals into Smaller Daily Actions:
When you’re trying to manage a chronic condition like rheumatoid arthritis, achieving your goals can sometimes seem daunting. It’s easy to get overwhelmed keeping track of what you want to accomplish, whether it’s improving your health or working towards some other goal. To make sure your goals are achievable, break them down into smaller, daily actions.
One way to start is by identifying your top three priorities and making sure they’re things you can do every day. For example, eating a healthy diet is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis, so it may be one of your top priorities. If this is the case, don’t just take on that goal by itself—break down how you can achieve it every day. Instead of just saying, “I will eat healthier,” come up with a plan in which you’ll try one new healthy food each week or eat a fruit or vegetable at breakfast and dinner every day.
These small actions help you stay focused and make the most of your day by doing something small but meaningful every day. Plus, they’re easier to remember than larger goals that you have to do at an uncertain time in the future (like exercising more often or losing weight).