Are you planning on doing some Holiday Shopping With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Here are a few tips and pointers on how to survive 🙂
Do you have fibromylagia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome and simply dread going out for holiday shopping? All that walking, trying to remember what you need, what you have, who you need to buy for – it can end up being a nightmare unless you plan ahead. With careful planning, you can manage your shopping trips and have a better experience. I’ve found 10 steps to help you survive holiday shopping with fibromaylgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Step 1: Make lists
Start by making a list of everyone you plan to buy for and how much you plan to spend on each person.
Step 2: Shop from home (online shopping)
Take a look at your list and see what items you might be able to buy online. Be sure to order early so you won’t be stressed out waiting for gifts to arrive in time.
Step 3: Organize your shopping trips
If you still need to buy some things locally or browse for ideas, it’s time for a new list. Group people by what types of items you’re likely to buy for them.
Step 4: Plan of attack
To form your plan of attack, think about how you function best. Does driving stress you out, or is your car a welcome place of solitude between noisy stores? Do you like one-stop shopping, or are you overwhelmed by large stores? How far can you walk without resting, or in a single day?
Step 5: Watch the Time – Time of the Season, Time of Day
Don’t procrastinate. Gone are the days when those who celebrate Christmas can both start and finish holiday shopping on December 23. Give yourself time to make several short shopping trips so each trip doesn’t land you flat on your back for a couple of days.
Step 6: Invite a friend to come along
Going shopping with someone else has several advantages: You can ask them to drive, they can help you stay focused, they may be able to help with heavy bags, you can split up so neither of you has to cover the entire store and they can stand in line while you sit and rest.
Step 7: Take Your Meds & Mobility Aids
Take medications that you might need with you. If you have musculoskeletal pains, pain rubs or patches can help keep them quiet. If you ever use mobility aids (cane, crutches, walker), take them with you even if you feel fine when you start out.
Step 8: Dress for comfort
If you’re susceptible to clothing-related pain, take care to wear things you can tolerate for a long time.
Step 9: Take time to rest
As you shop, keep an eye out for places where you can sit and rest. Malls are generally the best at providing benches, and of course there’s the food court. In other stores, though, you can always slip into a dressing room and just relax for a moment, or pretend you’re trying out a chair that’s for sale. Even if you don’t need to use the restroom, at least it’s a place to sit for awhile.
Step 10: Ask for help
If you know what you’re looking for but you don’t know where it is, ask a salesperson. That way, you’re not wasting your energy by wandering all over. Also ask for help with heavy or awkward items, and take advantage of getting help to the car whenever possible.
Do you have some other helpful tips or ideas on how to manage with during the holiday season? Please leave them in a comment below to help others!
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