2021: Putting Your Best Foot Forward

It's been a very eventful year for most people with COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, the U.S. presidential elections, etc. and for people with restless legs syndrome (RLS), we've had to fight this battle mostly silently just because in the larger scheme of things, our unseen illness wouldn't make a lick of sense to people who do not know or understand RLS.

7 tips to find more comfort in 2021

However, a new year is here. Time to declutter, make vision boards, New Year's resolutions, and the whole nine yards. With RLS, we can't 'RESOLUTION' it away but we can put a few systems in place to make our lives a tad easier this coming year.

I have put together 7 ways to put your best foot forward in 2021.

1. See a physician

As basic as this may sound, a lot of people with RLS have never seen their doctors about it and those who have, haven't bothered to go in for a review in years. We just manage it day by day and just read about other people's experiences and what helps them.

However, I've found that RLS is very specific to individuals. What triggers mine may not be what triggers yours, hence my treatment plan wouldn't do a thing for you.

Also, it is important to be sure you actually have RLS because other things mirror RLS. The feeling in your legs just might be a symptom of something else happening in your body (e.g. fibromyalgia, pregnancy, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or a severe iron deficiency). Bottomline: see your doctor.

2. Improve your diet

Overhaul your food cabinet. Apart from RLS, a good diet will do wonders for your general well-being. Say yes to spinach, citrus, eggs, nuts, avocado, liver, asparagus, and the likes with folates and magnesium. While you need to see your doctor about your iron levels, you can incorporate iron-fortified cereals, red meat, beans, lentils, and other such food rich in iron.

I have personally found that cutting off caffeine, sugar, fried foods, and white chocolate has helped with easing my RLS. This is something I realized over the years with a lot of hits and misses. Listening closely to your body is key to identifying what does what for your body.

3. Incorporate more exercise

Unless you're 100 percent sure you'll stick to it, I do not recommend paying for a gym membership. However, a simple exercise routine like jogging, jumping ropes, and pilates can do wonders for your legs.

Get a routine according to when your RLS is worse and try as much as you can to stick to it. Mine gets worse at work in the afternoon and at night so I do my best to exercise in the morning before I head into work and last thing at night before bedtime.

4. Speak up at work

If you have a job and RLS hinders it in some way, you may need to speak to your boss or HR about it. Revise your break time, get a better chair, get a good footrest to lift your feet at an angle rather than resting your feet on the floor, opt for comfortable shoes and if need be, have a portable heater under your desk.

5. Don't be afraid to try the miscellaneous

This is something that almost anyone with RLS will tell you but since we are heading into a new year and this might also be someone's first article on RLS, I feel the need to reiterate. Try a bunch of things! These range from hot water bottles to Epsom salt soaks, weighted blankets, Polysporin, foot wraps, massages, cold packs etc.

6. Indulge in crappy entertainment

This could be in form of books or moving pictures. Find the ones that distract you long enough to forget your moving legs for a short while but the right amount of boring to put you right to sleep. You don't want something that will have you on a binge till the early hours of the morning, that defeats the purpose.

It took me a while but I eventually found out that watching YouTube clothing hauls on my phone with the brightness significantly lowered at night keeps my attention away from my legs for a few minutes and on my lucky days, I fall asleep before my legs call my attention back to them. You can also keep a journal for things that work overtime so you can go back and review them when needed.

7. Seek support from others

RLS is very frustrating and the fact that there isn't a cure can take its toll on one's mental health. It is a very lonely illness especially since you can't exactly explain it to others.

You are very welcome to join our community here or on Facebook and Twitter where you can talk to others who understand exactly what you're going through.

I hope some of these tips help you get through 2021 with a tad bit of comfort. Happy New Year.