Do you have a hint, tip or life hack to share with us?

mrbuttons

- there is an instructional video for just about everything on youtube.

- for example for all the cooks out there here is a garlic peeling hack; put individual pegs of garlic with the papery skin still on into a jam jar or other sealed container. shake it vigourously for 1min and the garlic will be peeled inside by the friction of the shaking action.

Birdsnbees

found out today that asda do grocery deliveries to hospital which has made my day. the next time i am hauled up in hospital i will be ordering a load of fresh fruit cereal bars and munchies along with dry shampoo to get me through the time

also if you have to go shopping with crutches or a zimmer frame staff will generally help you with a basket/trolly don't be afraid to ask if you want to do it on your own you can push a basket with your crutches along with you as you walk or guide a trolley to glide into an aisle with items that will not fall everywhere when the trolly stops into/near it. I had great fun doing this on my last trip to tesco much to the amusement of staff

mrbuttons

when it was very hot during the summer i bought a 'subcold' micro fridge for my bedroom to keep drinks and snacks beside the bed, it hold 6 standard drinks cans a sandwich and a couple of youghurts. i also have a kettle and tea and coffee making stuff by my bed. its great not to have to struggle to the kitchen on days when my condition is bad. i just discovered that the fridge can be adjusted to keep food warm too. its a great little buy and it only cost £40.00 on amazon. my best amazon purchase ever. they often turn up on freecyle too.

i also swear by my slow cooker and my table top dishwasher, it saves bending down to load/unload it. i hate having a sink ful of dirty dishes waiting for my carer it also helps me to feel as if i can still do my bit in my own home.

i salso recommend buyingpre-prepared veg in the supermarket. like the ready peeled spuds and chopped cabbage and leeks etc. all help to make cooking a bit easier.

Chloe_Alumni

Some great tips @mrbuttons and @Birdsnbees.

You both might want to contribute to accessible ways to buy and prepare food as these are both great! 

Philippa1961

Many years ago I was having problems getting a lid of a bottle of pop and a friend suggested using an elastic band on the lid and it does work.

I wear gym gloves when my hands are painful as they help ease the pain.

WhileIBreathIHope

https://thisables.com/en/about/ Ikea
thought of printing

LindaButler1970

Hi if possible and able for those hard to open jars I always use 'the big spoon' I tap it hard around the top in a few places and normally it opens! If on your own which is me during the day its the only way, I won't let the jar beat me !!!!

Sam_Alumni

I find putting on a rubber glove helps me open jars @LindaButler1970
I found this info too on different ways to open a tough jar and it does include your big spoon tip!!

thespiceman

Hello @Sam_Scope   All jars are sealed tight used air in the manufacture.

So just tap the lid on a Kitchen unit the lid and air are gone.

Use a rubber glove or a floor cloth wrapped around to stop spillages.

You could tap the lid on the unit then open into a bowl to prevent any spills.

I learnt this because working in Kitchens as a volunteer had so many jars and tins to open. If we ended up struggling the clientele will never have any lunch.

I use a tin opener electric one. AMAZON has a selection.

@thespiceman

Pritchard

After an operation I had for epilepsy in 1983, and prescription I got put on in February 1985, I fortunately stopped having seizures, but for 15 years was extremely very mentally disabled, and had to concentrate on everything I was physically doing, like 'I'll walk over there, I'll pick that up, I'll open the door etc, and was very slow in thought and speech.  In 1989 I started speaking better after doing a lot of yoga meditation, then in June 1998, a couple of years after writing my life experience out in a certain psychological way,  I was just thinking about a couple of sentences from my book, when my brain miraculously reactivated, and I could do everything physically normally again, and began a decade of gradual but promising mental health thought recovery - which has got better and better ever since.

Sam_Alumni

Thanks for sharing @thespiceman and @Pritchard

fatherinpain

Dominos ordering through app it’s cheaper (sometimes to order pizza with more toppings then swapping them then creating your own. You’re welcome now tuck in and enjoy 

WhileIBreathIHope

Look keen by offering to help more xyz and choose lightest box

LindaButler1970

Make time for your friends and relatives, meet up when possible or get them to visit you for a cuppa - good for your mental health and well being - its easy to pull away, before you know it months go by in a flash.  It only takes one person to send the email, or text, or get a friend to send it for you...

Chloe_Alumni

Thank you for these guys!

Pritchard

There is currently a big mistake the NHS and Worldwide Health Association are making, which is worsening everyone's mental health. To see what this is please feel free to look at the petition on website index www.poetryemotion.org.uk  Over the last four years I've had more than 120 Worldwide Health Journalists requesting to publish my article about this, with them all showing total AGREEMENT to it. One of their many encouraging feedbacks is to be seen on the 'Psychology' Section of 'Emotion'.  

April2018mom

This is a useful website for those with non cognitive impairments who love cycling. https://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/bespoke-biking-cic 

mstev2

I have found that deep breathing helps with controlling pain and anxiety, but I had troubling measuring the pace and depth of the breathing, Indeed, this made things worse so that the breathing was adding to my stress.

Then I found an App on my Android Phone called Paced Breathing. It allows you to measure an inhale, a hold, and then an exhale very carefully. It is timed exactly and different tones tell you what to do.

The basic version, one profile only, is free.

I also discovered that you could use it for any exercise that follows the pattern "start, hold, relax". It was only a couple of pounds and now I use it for a number of exercises.

And by the way, it also helps with blood pressure. I tried this out in my own amateur way.

1. Took blood pressure - 156/84.
2. Ten minutes of breathing via the Paced Breathing App.
3. Took blood pressure again, same position, same chair, after a further five minutes (15 minutes total).
4. New reading - 134/80.

I hope this helps someone.

Kismet_anya

If you struggle with cutlery there are junky sets online which are easy grip and much easier to handle.
If you have to organise pills make sure you get a days of the week one and invest in a pill popper, saved getting sore fingers and cuts from the metal. I got one with a small chute that directs the tablet straight into the compartment I need. 

One of my daughters gets very naughty after having sugar and so we have stopped giving sugary food as treats and when they are super good they get to choose a tiny toy (I got some party bag toys for very cheap and they love choosing) 

For children that have behaviour problems there is a series on amazon called how to train your dragon, there are so many books in the series about anger and change etc and my daughter has calmed down so much after reading them and getting some tips. 

If you are disabled and pregnant there are charities that can adapt cots/buggies so you can use them. 

Keep notes on symptoms and key medical events as a reminder to tell your Dr (I find I forget lots of important things if I don't write it down) 

Set alarms on your phone to take medication. 
If you struggle to sort your own medication out then ask your pharmacy to sort them out into a dosset box. 

Try and find some hobbies if possible and try and take joy in small things even if it's as little as a drink you like. Don't concentrate on what others are doing, everyone is different.

I often wear either pyjamas that can pass for clothing or clothing comfortable enough to wear to bed so that I don't have to get too tired in the morning getting dressed or don't have to bother my husband too many times to help. 

If poor mobility then try getting elasticated waist bands as much as possible. Even try maternity trousers/jeans, these are great for wheelchair users. Men and women alike and so much cheaper than the wheelchair specific clothing. 

I buy ready to use shampoo caps which my husband can massage into my head. Saves having to get into the shower/bath when I'm too exhausted to move.

An automatically dispensing kettle means you don't need to try and lift and risk scalding yourself. 

Alexa can do so many things around your house. 

I'll add more if I remember any xx

April2018mom

My son is at risk of abuse constantly. So I bought a awareness bracelet online when he was a infant which he wears on one arm when we are out. He is a full time wheelchair user which somewhat complicates things.