Dealing with chronic pain is a challenging battle, especially as it is an extremely individualistic one. With more than 25.3 million Americans experiencing chronic pain every day for the last three months, it is a widespread issue that leads many people to seek the best methods for handling their pain.

However, there are better solutions to managing joint pain that you can add to your home. In addition to treating chronic pain with proper nutrition and plenty of sleep, you can also adjust your furnishings and the layout of your home to ease and reduce inflammation. By adjusting your home in the following ways, you can benefit from an environment that is centered on comfort and wellness.

Creating a soothing sanctuary for rest

One of the most crucial ways to care for your body when dealing with chronic pain is to get plenty of rest. Having a relaxing space at home where you can go to kick up your feet, snuggle under a warm blanket, and listen to calming music is essential to managing both stress and pain. You can add features to the space like hot water bottles, a speaker system to play slow tunes, and some plants that give off good vibes.

Additionally, you can make the space incredibly soothing by purchasing some calming natural soy candles and buying cozy curtains to block out the sun. During the day, when you are feeling the effects of your pain, you can go to this spot, dim the lights, and practice meditation. Knowing there is a designated space to work on relieving your pain will make your days easier, as you will have an outlet and safe space when the pain is at its worst.

Make things easy on yourself

When it gets to that certain point of the day when your pain has taken over and you feel unable to continue with your usual routine, you may feel defeated. But, you can still continue on with your activities if you incorporate certain items into your home to make life a little easier. In the kitchen, there are plenty of items that are friendly to people with pain, like peelers and knives with easy-to-grip handles. In the bathroom, you can consider buying a raised toilet seat or grippers for the tub/shower to help take the pressure off of your knees or other joints. There’s plenty of creative ways to make doing regular things in the house easier on your aching joints and muscles — it’s just a matter of doing some research and finding the alternatives!

By creating a soothing sanctuary in your home and adding some easy-to-use features, you can deal with your chronic pain in a naturalistic way and feel supported by your surroundings.

Jenny Holt  is a freelance writer and mother of two. She loves nothing more than getting away from it all and taking her pet Labrador Bruce for long walks, something she can do a lot more now she’s left the corporate world behind.