Finding Joy in Self-Care: One Day with PsA

Living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) doesn’t mean giving up what makes you happy.

Living with PsA is not only challenging physically. It can be challenging mentally as well. Making changes to your everyday life and letting go of rituals can stifle a sense of joy. But we humans are resilient, and I continue to find ways to adapt to living with this chronic condition while still finding joy.

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9:00 a.m.

The day begins with an urban walk. My days of running on hard pavement are over. PsA has affected my knees and hips. But I take a moderately-paced hike up to the top of Twin Peaks near my home in San Francisco, California, every day. The variations in terrain are good for working various muscle groups, and it never fails to center me.

10:00 a.m.

For a late-morning pick-me-up, I treat myself to something delicious. I am an unabashed foodie, but I’ve had to make a lot of changes to my diet to avoid inflammatory foods. Giving up milk and cream has been very challenging, especially when it comes to enjoying coffee. Luckily, there are some great alternative milks. At a favorite café, I order this lavender latte with soy milk, and it’s as delicious as ever!

11:00 a.m.

Time for some self-care before lunch. Aesthetics are important to my sense of joy and well-being, so I’ve really struggled with how PsA has changed my nails. My hands still look the same (thankfully), but my toenails are yellow and thick now and have been a source of shame. They now require a pretty thorough self-pedicure twice a month, and I’ve found a way to conceal them with a few semi-translucent colors. I look down at my feet and feel like they are attractive again. Summer sandals, here I come!

3:00 p.m.

I take a break from working at home to run a few errands. Keeping your tootsies looking pretty is one thing, but keeping them cushioned is another. One of my first symptoms of PsA was soreness in my heels, so I’ve learned to invest in shoes with good arch support. But occasionally, I buy inserts to add extra comfort. I bought two pairs recently and sent one to a friend who needs them, too.

5:30 p.m.

After work, I meet friends for a nonalcoholic drink. Drinks after work have been a Friday ritual with a few of my friends for years now. Happy hour is one of the joys of living in a big city, but I have cut back on my alcohol consumption since changing my diet.

I thought my days of participating in this ritual were behind me. But I’ve been encouraged by friends to join them anyway and enjoy a club soda or a mocktail (while they drink wine!). It’s one more way I’ve learned to adjust to living with PsA without giving up what makes me happy.

11:00 p.m.

Time for bed. At the end of the day, I climb into bed and read for a while. I recently invested in a new bed. Mine was getting old and was pretty worn out. Quality of sleep is so important for good health, and it’s especially important with PsA when joints are sore and need a cushy place to settle for the night.

This bed cost me a little more money than I had intended to spend, but it was well worth it. I go down deep nearly every night, thankful for the joy and good fortune I am still able to access every single day.