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Let’s face it. Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis was probably one of the toughest challenges of your life. There is the unpredictability of the disease, never knowing where, when, or for how long it will strike. MS can be dormant and then, all of the sudden, it is back and worse than ever. 

Even when MS symptoms are held at bay, there is the constant fatigue that most of us experience. Fatigue combined with any kind of brain fog or physical symptoms can easily have a person feel like they are in an MS rut. Other factors like the change of seasons, diet and exercise, or problems with relationships can trap us in a rut. 

Getting into an MS rut is easy. Getting our groove back once we have fallen into a rut is difficult. Here are five steps to get your groove back once you have fallen into an MS rut.

1. Take some time off. Life can be very busy. We often save our time off for a vacation or a big event. When we are in a MS rut the best way to break out of it is to just take some time off and recharge the battery. Unscheduled time off allows you to relax, recharge, and work at getting back in the groove.

2. Set a small goal and accomplish it. When we fall into an MS rut, it feels like we can’t get anything done. If you set a small, attainable goal and accomplish it, that small success can be the positive momentum that you need to get your groove back.

3. Breathe in the fresh air. I have often found that the change of seasons can contribute to my MS rut. Many of us have been trapped inside all winter breathing recycled air. Get outside and breathe the fresh spring air preferably in a peaceful, serene setting like a park. Being out in the fresh air away from the hustle and bustle can definitely get you grooving again.

4. Do something different. Climbing out of a MS rut means that you have to change what you are doing today. Believe it or not, being in a rut is a comfortable, miserable feeling. Getting out of the rut means making a change. Change is hard and uncomfortable, but may be the shot in the arm you need to start grooving again. 

5. Put in the work. When you are stuck in an MS rut, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Taking any kind of action when in a rut seems like it would be more energy and effort than you have to give. If you want to change how you are feeling, you have to be willing to work hard to understand what factors contributed to you losing your groove in the first place. By identifying the causes of the rut, you can start to form an action plan to get your groove back and hopefully look for warning signs in the future to keep you rut-free.