Changing Seasons and Changing Routines

Fall is upon us and as the leaves change color and pile up on lawns across the neighborhood, parents and kids are begrudgingly adjusting to a new school year routine. Humans and animals are naturally creatures of habit – just ask a toddler or a pet during Daylight Saving Time – and changing up a routine can be stressful for anyone.

When you are living with a chronic disease like MS, a change in your daily routine can do more than just throw you off-balance for a day or two. Whether you are going through an employment change or you need to switch to a new medication with a different dosing schedule, there are some small things you can do to help yourself adjust to a new routine:

  • Start Small – Whenever there are big changes, it can feel overwhelming to focus on everything at once. Instead, try focusing on one small change or task at a time.  You can feel more accomplished as you cross each individual task off your to-do list.
  • Use Your Current Routine – Sometimes, the easiest way to establish a new routine, is to adapt the one you already have in place! For example, using your favorite TV show or weekly lunch with a friend as a reminder to take medication can make it easier to keep yourself on track.
  • There’s an App for That – Just take a scroll through the app store for your phone or tablet and you can find many different options to help you organize your day or manage your medications, including MSAA’s My MS Manager™ app. These apps can help you ease into your new routine by setting reminders and audio alerts on your phone or tablet.
  • Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New – Change of any kind can make us feel uncomfortable or afraid because we don’t know what to expect, but that’s ok. Depending on how dramatic the change is, it can take up to 3 months for a new routine to feel like a habit. So don’t get discouraged if you aren’t feeling comfortable yet with your new routine. You may just need a little more time!

Change is almost always hard, even if that change may be for the better.  With a few of these strategies, hopefully, you can more easily navigate whatever life throws at you today.

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New Features Available Now on MSAA’s My MS Manager App

My MS Manager appCheck out the updated features on My MS Manager – MSAA’s mobile phone application, provided free of charge to individuals with MS and their care partners to use on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or your Android mobile device.

My MS Manager, the first-of-its kind app created by MSAA to help individuals with multiple sclerosis better manage their disease, now offers new features – including a way to measure changes in fatigue and a way to connect and share information with your physician!

This free tool allows you to input and store important medical information, track symptoms and disease activity, and generate charts and reports across various metrics such as treatments, moods, symptoms, and more.

Other HIPAA-compliant features include:

  • private reminder settings
  • links to MSAA’s educational materials
  • a fatigue scale
  • **EXCLUSIVE to My MS Manager** – the ability to connect to physicians and members of your healthcare team via the app to share your progress and reports securely and as needed.

“In this world that is increasingly powered by all-things-digital, efficiency and clarity are at the top of my list. Having been diagnosed with MS as a 23-year-old, I wanted to do my best to take control of my health. Having a tool to help me do this has been extremely helpful. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America’s mobile app, My MS Manager, allows me to not only keep track of all of my notes, meds, doctor info, labs, and journals, but also gives me access to local resources, current MS research updates, and so much more. I can now manage my disease with an incredible amount of clarity and efficiency – things I have not had before. A huge thank you to MSAA, for giving me the tools to be in control.” – Anna Webber, My MS Manager App Ambassador

My MS Manager is now available to everyone in the MS community on your Apple or Android mobile devices.

Google Play Store

Apple App Store

If you need assistance with the My MS Manager app, please call (800) 772-8277, ext. 178 or email us at apphelp@mymsaa.org.

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