Ways I Save Energy Around the House With Myasthenia Gravis

Living with Myasthenia Gravis has forced me to look at energy differently. Before MG, energy felt endless or at least predictable. Now it feels more like a limited daily resource that I have to spend carefully. The frustrating part is that it’s not the same every day. Some mornings I wake up feeling pretty good. Other days I can tell before I even get out of bed that I need to move slower.

Even simple tasks can exhaust me

With MG, even everyday things can take more out of me than most people realize. A grocery trip, vaccuuming, cooking dinner, and even folding laundry can fatigue my muscles quickly. Things that seem simple can quietly drain me fast.

One thing I’m still learning is that conserving energy isn’t being lazy. It’s part of managing this condition and preventing myself from tanking later. I’ve had to let go of doing everything all at once or even doing things the "right" way aka how healthy people would. I have to constantly ask myself: What makes life feel doable today so I can feel accomplished without flaring?

These are a few things that genuinely help me save energy around the house

Grocery delivery services

Grocery delivery or pickup (hello, Instacart) has been huge. A grocery store trip is rarely just a grocery store trip. It’s getting dressed, driving there, walking the store, pushing a heavy cart, unloading groceries, bringing bags inside, putting everything away...and by the end, I’m often wiped, especially in Arizona heat.

Ordering groceries for pickup or delivery saves me so much energy before I ever step foot in the kitchen. It doesn’t mean I never go grocery shopping but having it as an option helps a lot, especially on lower-energy days and especially during flares.

Robot vacuums

Vacuuming or sweeping can wear me out faster than I expect sometimes. This is where robot vacuuming helps tremendously and is another way I can conserve my energy. Using a robot vacuum has helped keep floors manageable without needing me to spend energy on it every day. It’s not perfect, but it helps me keep up with the basics without overdoing it because there is nothing worse than being in a flare and watching the chores pile up.

Asking for help

Which leads me to help with cleaning. Asking your partner, family, kids, or hiring a cleaning company if you have the means is amazing! If you’re able to outsource cleaning, even occasionally, it can make such a difference.

Deep cleaning bathrooms or floors can take more strength than I have to give sometimes. Having help with the heavier stuff means I can use my energy for the day to day things I actually need to do or allows me to completely rest without the guilt. Although honestly, I've learned over time that protecting my body is worth more than having to prove I can do it all myself.

Convenience foods

Next up is convenience foods which are completely worth it! I stick to a very clean "diet" so I don't mean fast food. Pre-cut fruit, fozen veggies, rotisserie chicken, salad kits, etc. make life so much easier especially if you have a family to take care of too. I used to feel guilty about things like that, but now I see them as a necessity. If buying food partially prepped saves my overall energy and still gets a nourishing meal (or snacks) on the table, that’s a win.

Taking a seat

Sitting while cooking is also an added tip! Actually, sitting and resting whenever possible is ideal for those of us with MG altogether. I recently saw a recommendation for those with MG (used in physical therapy) where it says after 20 minutes of work, we should then rest for 40 minutes.

This sounds simple, but it helps more than I expected. These moments of rest after tasks throughout the day can help perserve and stretch my energy further. This has probably been the hardest lesson for me because my mind could keep going. I've learned that my mind needs to listen to my body though.

Heeding my body's call

I also try to pay attention to my body’s early warning signs: muscle heaviness, droopy eyelids, blurry vision, shaky arms, or that feeling where I know I’m starting to hit my limit.

I’m learning that stopping at the first signs of fatigue usually goes much better than pushing through and paying for it later, because sometimes overdoing it doesn’t just mean needing a short break, it can mean being wiped out for the rest of the day or even the next few days or weeks.

Which makes asking for help sooner so important. I am also still working on this one, but I’m learning it’s easier to ask for help before I’m completely running on empty. Let someone else carry the heavy basket. Let the kids help unload groceries. Let dinner be simple. Let things wait. Not everything has to get done right now. Making life easier for ourselves isn't only allowed, it's crucial to our health.

Energy is valuable

One thing MG has taught me is that energy is valuable. I don’t have unlimited reserves, which means I have to protect what I do have. That means giving myself permission to use the shortcuts, accept the help, buy the convenience item, sit down when I need to, and rest before my body forces me to. Making life easier isn’t giving up; it’s the very thing that allows me to keep going, it's symptom mamagement. It’s preserving strength for what matters most: our health, our family, and our quality of life.