10 Cheap, Simple Ways Moms With MS Can Feel Better

Staying hydrated can help reduce fatigue and other symptoms of MS. If plain water feels boring, try adding some flavor and fun by adding fresh fruit, like lemon, lime, strawberry, cucumber, or a mixture of your favorites. Find a vessel you love to reach for: experiment with straws, sip tops, wide mouth, aluminum, glass, or BPA-free plastic. Make your water a welcome companion in your day. 

If you’re struggling to find motivation to get physical activity, try an inexpensive option like your local YMCA. You can stay cool while moving your body with a pool workout, or try a class with friends for the social perks. Having others around you can make exercise more fun and keep you accountable to moving on a regular basis. Always check with your doctor before starting a new type of exercise program. 

Look around your house and decide on a spot that feels especially inviting and comfortable for times you want to rest and recharge. Stock up the space with blankets, pillows, books, noise-cancelling headphones, a speaker for music, or anything else you can use for a relaxation session. Even if it’s 10 minutes a day, retreating to your special space can put you in a better mindset. 

If you have a partner, you can prioritize togetherness without sacrificing energy or money with a thoughtful stay-at-home date night. Put the kids to bed or settle them into a separate activity, and enjoy a candle-lit dinner with music. Set aside time that’s just for the two of you, and do something you both enjoy – play a board game, watch a movie, or just talk. 

Get creative with supplies you have on hand – a large bowl or bucket for a foot soak, a sock filled with rice for a weighted eye mask, coconut oil for a deep hand moisturizing session, Epsom salts in a bath – and set up an at-home spa. Dim the lights, light some candles, search “spa music” on your smartphone music player of choice, and pamper yourself. 

If you have a large family or an especially tight budget, meal delivery plans may not make sense, but in other cases, it may be worth looking into. Even if it’s only a couple of nights a week, a meal delivery plan could save you mental energy and – depending on the type of meal and how it comes to you – may also save a good bit of physical energy, too. 

Studies show a regular meditation practice can help with mood and cognition. Plus, it grounds you in the moment and helps you manage day-to-day stress of family life and MS. To do it, sit comfortably in a quiet room with your eyes closed and slowly breathe in through your nostrils and out through your mouth. Focus on one calming word (or sound, like “om”) as you breathe. Let your thoughts come and go without judgment. 

Just stepping outside your house for a few minutes into natural light and fresh air when you’re feeling stressed or low can help reset your nervous system. Bonus: If you can take a stroll or meditate while you’re in nature to give yourself a double-dose of emotional regulation. At work all day? Try taking your lunch outside for a midday mood booster.

Yoga is a practice that focuses on breathing, posture, movement, self-awareness, and stretching. It offers a bundle of benefits including decreased pain, improved bladder function, improved flexibility and strength, and mood regulation. You don’t have to spend money on a formal class – many qualified yoga instructors offer online videos you can do at home. 

As a mom, you may feel like your job is to put on a brave face and approach each day with a can-do attitude. But hiding your struggles and faking your energy or mood can take a toll over time – and may zap you for activities you wish you could do with your kids later. Ask for help from friends and family. By building a support system who can take on some of your tasks, you can better spread out your energy and be there for the things that matter most.