HOW TO MOVE WITH AN RSI

For years, I dreamt of finding a raw loft in a hip, urban setting and customizing it to meet my every need and I’ve finally done it. Unfortunately, that was before I became injured. I’m single and that dream is quickly turning into ‘what was I thinking’?! I face not only the enormous task of moving for the first time since becoming disabled, but also renovations I can no longer do it myself. It should be noted that this was not a move I chose, but one that was forced on me through a series of disintegrating situations largely due to the economy. But if you thought this post was going to be a nice list of how-tos, I find all I can offer is a bit of an approach as I wade my way through what I am convinced will be a blessing in disguise.

The biggest problem I’ve been facing is overwhelm. The sheer magnitude of it all has been enough to send me back to bed several times. The feeling of drowning in the weight of what's before me is definitely a product of my injury. Before then, I was very independent, very capable. Now, I have to face that there are a number of things I just can’t do. If there's too many of them, it feels like an avalanche I can’t stave off. What I have learned over the years, is how to back myself away from the feeling of impending doom. Take one thing off the list and keep taking on thing off the list until I can breathe again. When it comes to a task like moving, that means the amount of time it will take you to complete the task is going to be a lot longer than it takes anyone else. And that's okay. It has to be. Breathing is more important than completing. Staying in the moment means survival.

My second tip is strategy. While I’ve lost a lot of my physical abilities, my mind is largely intact. I have learned if I can’t work harder, I have to find a way to work smarter. Big picture thinking is one of my best assets and I find if I can come up with a game plan, it not only helps with the overwhelm, it will also saves some time, and money since budget is also be a big constraint for me. What has to be done and in what order? What requires special tools or skills? Do I know anyone with those tools or skills? In what order should they be done?

My third tip is acceptance. At this point, I’m past the emotional response, and consigned to just how long my home will be in chaos. Now that I’m more honest with myself about how much time it's going to take to return to life as usual, I can make some secondary planning to help divert overwhelm every time I walk into a room full of boxes. Since it will likely be a month before the kitchen is in order, what will I need until that time in order to feed myself? Clearing a path, setting up a mini station of essentials, takes the aggravation out of day-to-day meal prep.

Lastly, one and done is just not part of my vocabulary anymore. After all, you have to live in a room for a while before you really know how you’re going to use it. So don’t even try to figure out the best place to keep my hairstyling tools. In my room? The downstairs bath? This is going to be a work in progress for a long time and fortunately, I can draw on decades as an artist to find the benefits of that. And this is just the move. I’ll update you on the renovations down the road. Way down the road.