I was diagnosed with arthritis in 1983. I took part in a self-management course called Challenging Arthritis that I had seen advertised in our local newspaper. The course really helped me to learn about managing pain. One of the things I learnt was to set little tasks for each day of the week and take things in small achievable steps.
The other great thing about the course was the chance to meet other people who were in the same situation. You don't always get a lot of support and the clinics are often busy so it was great to be able to share little tips and know that you are not alone; even the leaders themselves had arthritis so they could relate to you.
I felt more motivated after doing the course and had a more positive frame of mind. Everybody really supported each other and there was a great atmosphere.