- Manage fatigue: Break large tasks into smaller steps and take regular rest breaks. Try to do important activities when your energy is usually highest.
- Stay cool: Heat can temporarily worsen MS symptoms for some people. Use fans, cool showers, breathable clothing, and avoid overheating during exercise.
- Make your home easier to navigate: Keep frequently used items within easy reach, remove trip hazards, and consider grab rails or other accessibility equipment if needed.
- Exercise regularly: Gentle activities such as walking, stretching, swimming, yoga, or appropriately adapted strength training can help maintain mobility and fitness. A physiotherapist can help create a suitable program.
- Simplify routines: Preparing meals in batches, using calendars/reminders, and planning errands can reduce physical and mental fatigue.
- Look after sleep: Keep a consistent sleep schedule and discuss persistent sleep problems with your healthcare professional.
- Manage work or study: Flexible hours, regular breaks, ergonomic equipment, and adjustments to workload can make a significant difference.
- Stay connected: Friends, family, support groups, and mental-health support can help with the emotional side of living with MS.
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To add one more:
- Learn to say NO! Covered implicitly by your 8 points, it’s important to manage the expectations others have of you. Otherwise, you’ll exhaust yourself trying to hit arbitrary targets. Better to communicate by sharing your real capabilities as they change and save yourself a load of stress.
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I love this! all great tips
in my experience, MS is like being your experiment - you’re always tracking variables, seeing what irritates things, seeing what works and what doesn’t. like operating machinery..
thanks for these tips - simple but substantial
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