Show Notes
Do the holidays leave you paying for it with MS fatigue for days afterward? You're not alone in this.
In this episode, I'm breaking down why the holiday season can be a perfect storm for fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS)... and sharing my 4-step plan to help you budget your energy, plan your recovery, and avoid the post-holiday crash.
Last year, I said yes to all the things. Family events, daycare parties, the Polar Express, pictures with Santa. And I paid for each one for days afterward. For people with MS, that feeling can hit even harder.
Here's what we cover:
Why the holidays are a perfect storm for MS fatigue → Long stretches of sitting or standing. Staying in one position tightens your muscles, so getting up and moving takes more effort.
Unfamiliar spaces. A lower couch or toilet, no grab bars, stairs, area rugs... each one asks you to lift your legs higher and move differently to stay safe.
Travel, even down the road. Packing gifts or a dish to pass, plus the mental load of planning, is both physically and cognitively tiring.
Disrupted sleep and routines. Different mealtimes, less water, less downtime, and more activity packed into fewer days.
Temperature changes. Cold can increase muscle tightness (spasticity), and warm rooms or heavy layers can trigger heat intolerance. Both can slow the signals along your nerves, making movement harder.
What MS fatigue actually is. It's your nervous system running low on the energy it needs to send signals around damaged areas of your brain and spinal cord. Being in "go mode" burns through that energy faster, even when you feel fine in the moment.
My 4-step holiday plan: 1️⃣ Know your triggers. Look back at last season and write down what left you depleted. 2️⃣ Budget your energy in advance. Think spoon theory... if your event is at 4 PM, plan your morning so you still have energy left. 3️⃣ Plan your recovery on purpose. Decide ahead of time what a recovery day looks like. 4️⃣ Have a low-energy day plan. Two or three gentle movements, 10 reps, even in bed or on the couch, can help keep one hard day from turning into a lost week (and the balance changes and leg weakness that can follow).
This episode is for you if: ✅ You love the holidays but dread the crash afterward ✅ You feel guilty canceling or bowing out of plans ✅ Unfamiliar homes, stairs, or low seating make you nervous ✅ Heat or cold tends to make your MS symptoms worse ✅ You want a real plan this season, not just hoping for the best
Rest isn't failure. The holidays will ask a lot of you... but you don't have to brace for it and hope. You can walk into this season with an actual plan. You've got this! 🧡
Additional Resources: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/insider
Reach out to Me: [email protected]
Website: www.MSingLink.com
Social:
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→ The Progress Method for MS: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/the-progress-method-for-ms
→ Total Core Program: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TotalCoreProgram
→ The MSing Link: https://www.doctorgretchenhawley.com/TheMSingLink
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