Unlocking Your Energy: How Women with MS Can Thrive in Summer Heat

Summer is supposed to be the season of sunshine, holidays, BBQs, family outings, and making memories.

A few summers ago, I kept wondering why I felt completely wiped out by noon. I blamed myself for not being organized enough, not exercising enough, not trying hard enough. 

The reality? My body was fighting both MS and heat at the same time. And summer felt less like freedom and more like survival.

The heat kicks in. Your fatigue goes through the roof. The kids are home. Everyone wants to do ALL the things. And meanwhile, you're wondering why a quick trip to the supermarket suddenly feels like you've run a marathon.

If this sounds familiar, please know this:

You're not doing anything wrong.

Heat sensitivity is incredibly common for women with MS, and it can temporarily worsen fatigue, brain fog, weakness, and other symptoms.

But here's the good news: you don't have to spend the entire summer pushing through and paying for it later.

A few small shifts can help you work with your body instead of constantly fighting against it.

Let's talk about how.

Why Summer Feels So Much Harder with MS

MS fatigue isn't the kind of tiredness that disappears after a good night's sleep.

It's often a deep, overwhelming exhaustion that can affect your body, your brain, not to mention your emotional resilience. If everything feels like “too much” lately… it might be additional fatigue, not just some kind of depression.

Add summer heat into the mix, and things become even more complicated.

Many women with MS notice that:

• Their legs feel heavier (and it's not just poor circulation...)

• Brain fog increases (you search for a word you've known your entire life and start wondering if your brain has simply left the chat)

• Everyday tasks take longer (when was the last time you had enough energy for a proper shower without needing a rest afterwards?)

• Fatigue hits earlier in the day (even your morning coffee seems to have lost its superpowers)

• Recovery takes longer after activity (is it still called a nap when you need two hours of sleep to recover from cleaning the house?)

And let me tell you this: It’s not because you did too much.

It’s because your nervous system is working overtime.

Find Your Personal Energy Windows

One of the biggest mindset shifts I made after years of living with MS was this:

Stop planning your day according to the clock. Start planning it according to your energy. 

So you can still thrive during summer… and not just wait for the season to be over.

Most of us have moments during the day when we naturally feel better.

For some women, that's early morning. 

For others, it's mid-morning after coffee.

For some, it's an unexpected second wind in the evening.

The key is figuring out your pattern.

A Simple Experiment

For one week, keep a small note on your phone and ask yourself:

• How is my energy right now?

• What have I been doing?

• How warm am I?

• What helped?

• What drained me?

You don't need a complicated spreadsheet.

Just a few quick notes.

After several days, you'll probably start seeing patterns.

You may discover that:

✅ You feel strongest between 8 and 11 AM.

✅ School / Summer Camp pick-up completely depletes you.

✅ Heat after 2 PM is your biggest energy thief.

✅ Working in short bursts preserves more energy than trying to power through.

These insights are gold.

Schedule Your Priorities When Your Energy Is Highest

Once you've identified your high-energy windows, protect them fiercely.

Think of them as your daily energy budget (or spoons).

You wouldn't spend your entire salary on the first day of the month. Your energy deserves the same respect.

For example:

During High-Energy Periods

Consider scheduling:

• Important (work) tasks

• Medical appointments

• Grocery shopping

• Household chores

• Exercise or movement

During Lower-Energy Periods

Save space for:

• Reading

• Administrative tasks

• Phone calls

• Planning meals (just planning, not cooking)

• Resting without guilt

Notice I didn't say "do nothing."

I said "match the task to the energy available."

That small distinction changes everything. It avoids mental overloads, thinking about everything you’ll have to do once you have energy again.

Hidden Energy Drains Most Women with MS Overlook

When we think about fatigue, we usually focus on what we're doing… or the heat…

But sometimes the real problem is what's happening behind the scenes.

Heavy Meals

Have you ever enjoyed a lovely lunch and then found yourself needing a nap before you've even cleared the dishes?

You're not imagining it.

Digesting heavy meals requires energy.

During heatwaves, try lighter options such as:

• Salads with protein

• Fresh fruit

• Yogurt

• Nuts

• Smoothies or cold soups

The goal isn't dieting.

The goal is conserving precious energy.

Decision Fatigue

Summer can be full of constant questions:

"What should we eat?"

"What are we doing today?"

"What time are we leaving?"

“What should I do with the pile of clothes waiting to be ironed?”

Every decision costs energy. When your battery is already running low, even deciding what to have for dinner can feel like solving a complex math problem.

One thing that helps me is making certain decisions in advance. Meal plans. Shopping lists. Simple routines with break-down tasks.

Less decision-making = more energy for what actually matters.

Cool Body, More Energy

When it comes to managing Multiple Sclerosis in summer, cooling isn't a luxury.

It's a complete strategy.

Some options you can experiment with:

• Cooling towels

• Cooling vests

• Ice water bottles

• Fans beside your desk and a little spray of water to refresh your body even more quickly

• Running errands early in the morning (or very late if this is when you have the most energy)

And don't underestimate the power of cooling your house overnight. Open your windows when temperatures drop and let that cooler air circulate through the rooms.

Remember: walls, floors, furniture, and even your appliances store heat throughout the day. If your home never gets a chance to release that heat, you'll still be battling it long after the sun has gone down.

It's not you being sensitive.

It's just physics working against an already tired nervous system.

Rest Before You Crash

This one took me years to learn.

Don't wait until you're exhausted to rest.

Rest proactively.

Think of it like charging your phone at 20%, not 1%.

Maybe that's:

• 10 minutes with your eyes closed and legs slightly higher than your chest

• A quiet cup of iced tea

• Sitting in the shade

• Listening to music

• A short power nap

Rest isn't a reward you earn after you've done enough.

It's part of your energy management strategy.

Give Yourself the Same Compassion You Give Everyone Else

Let's be honest.

Many women with MS are brilliant at supporting everyone else.

But themselves?

Not so much.

When fatigue hits, it's easy to enter the guilt spiral:

"I should be doing more."

"Why can't I keep up?"

"Everyone else seems fine."

But your body isn't failing you.

It's communicating with you. 

The sooner we stop treating fatigue as a personal failure, the sooner we can start responding to it with kindness instead of frustration.

Learning to listen instead of fight is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Especially in summer.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

One of the most comforting things about connecting with other women with MS is realizing you're not the only one experiencing these challenges.

The supermarket fatigue.

The heat crashes.

The cancelled plans.

The frustration of wanting to do more than your body allows.

There is incredible power in hearing someone say:

"Me too."

That's exactly why I created the Nessasways community to remind women with MS that they're never navigating this journey alone.

Your Summer Doesn't Have to Be About Surviving

Living with Multiple Sclerosis means learning a different rhythm.

Not a worse one.

A different one.

When you begin to identify your energy patterns, protect your high-energy windows, embrace strategic rest, and adapt to the summer heat, everything starts to feel a little easier.

Not perfect.

Not symptom-free.

But more manageable.

And sometimes that's exactly what we need.

Ready to Protect Your Energy This Summer?

Download my free Summer Energy Protection Basics Checklistand discover simple ways to protect your energy, stay cooler, avoid unnecessary crashes, and enjoy more of the moments that truly matter this summer.

Because summer should be about making memories… not recovering from them.

.

With you,

Vanessa