Although the festive season can be fun, it can also bring with it a lot of stress — especially when you live with a long-term condition like arthritis.  We know it can be tough. So, to give you a helping hand, we asked people with arthritis for their tips and advice on making the holidays a little easier.  

If you need extra support during this time, remember we’re here for you too. You can always call our Helpline, chat with our Online Community, or join a support group in your area. 

Plan and pace yourself

Feel like you’ve got a never-ending to-do list? Try not to put too much pressure on yourself.   On good days when your pain isn’t too bad, it’s easy to overdo it. But this can lead to more pain and fatigue. This is sometimes called the ‘boom and bust’ cycle.  

To help manage your energy levels, try to plan and pace yourself. This simply means balancing the activities you need to do with breaks and rest.   

For instance: 

• If you’re wrapping presents, you could wrap a few presents every couple of days instead of doing it all in one day. 
• If you need to buy groceries or presents, you could do a few small shops over several days, rather than one big shop. 
• If you find shopping in-person exhausting, you could make the most of online shopping or ask others to collect shopping for you. 
• You could decorate your home over a few days, rather than in one day.  
• If you’re travelling to visit friends or family, you could take a rest break along the journey. 
• If you’re cooking a meal, you could do it in short bursts or batch cook on a day when you’re not in as much pain. 
• If you know you’ve got a hectic day coming up, schedule time to rest the day before and after.  

Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ 

Between visiting family and festive parties, the holiday season can be an exhausting time. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t' be afraid to say ‘no’.

Too often, we try to put everyone first, without considering what we need. Remember it’s not selfish to prioritise yourself sometimes too. If you’re feeling burned out and can’t come to a friend’s party, for example, maybe you could suggest meeting up with them for a coffee next week.  

Try practical short-cuts 

Ask yourself: are there any ways you can make things easier for yourself? For example, some people with arthritis told us that they: 

• Give gift vouchers instead of gifts. 
• Use gift bags instead of wrapping presents. 
• Use pre-prepared or pre-chopped food.  
• User paper plates and foil trays, so they don’t have to worry about washing the dishes.  
• Buy ready-made meals and desserts, rather than making them from scratch. 

Manage your condition 

From staying active to getting a good night’s sleep, there are lots of small ways you can manage your condition. So, even though it might be busy, still schedule time to do the activities that help you cope with pain and fatigue. 

Check in with friends and family

The holidays can be a joyful time, but we know that it can leave some people feeling low, isolated, or even a little lonely.  If this sounds familiar, remember you're not alone.  

When you’re feeling isolated, it can sometimes help to find connections - whether that means giving family a call, writing a card to a friend, or doing a group activity, like a walking group or swimming class.  

Reach out to those who may be struggling too. A small act of kindness, like asking a friend or family member if they are okay, can make a huge difference to someone’s day.  

If you need to talk, remember we’re here for you too. You can always call our Helpline, chat with our Online Community, or join one of our amazing support groups in your area.