Living alone with a rare disease or chronic illness is such a personal decision with so many factors that go into it. Every single chore takes extra energy that may or may not be worth it for you.

I absolutely love it, but know it might not be for everyone. I can’t make recommendations for you, but I can share ways I have made living alone work for me and things that make my life a little simpler. I wish I had someone share this advice with me when I was newly diagnosed.

Just a quick note- there are affiliate links in this post, and I can earn a small commission when anything is purchased through these links. You don’t pay anything more.

Kitchen

I don’t know what I would do without my air fryer. I’m not much of a cook, but prefer to make meals at home that fit into the categories of quick, easy, and healthy. My air fryer is perfect for this.

Tip: Meal-prepping is awesome, but of course takes a lot of time and energy. I prefer prepping something like a large container of salad or massaged kale for the week.

I like to have easy, grab-and-go items always stocked, including apples, bananas, and Clif Bars.

For caffeine, I’m a huge fan of my Nespresso machine. Just pop in a pod, press a button, and you have a great cup of coffee in seconds. I also like to switch up my coffee intake with Celsius.

Living Area:

I love a plethora of candles creating a cozy, lovely ambiance. However, with FA, it’s not safe or practical to light loads of candles. I’ve discovered battery-operated candles that are controlled by a remote. Now, I can “light” all of my candles from my couch with a touch of a button. I still like to light a real candle for the scent, (this is my favorite for year-round).

I love these remote-controlled taper candles and these pillar candles.

My life changed for the better when I invested in a Roomba. It’s really amazing to see what it picks up. If you have pets, this is more like a need.

I use my Amazon Echo probably hourly for music, timers, weather, alarms, etc. It’s hard to imagine life without one.

Bedroom:

A few years ago, I changed from using a top sheet to a duvet cover, because it’s so much easier to make the bed each morning. My morning routine always involves making the bed. The less time and energy this takes, the better.

Duvet covers take a little more effort to wash, but it makes making the bed so simple it’s definitely worth it for me.

Tip: It’s helpful to have two sets of bedding so that when you change your sheets/duvet you don’t have to immediately wash them.

In my bedroom, I use Amazon plugs that are connected to my Echo to turn on or off lamps.

Bathroom:

I’m obsessed with this Shower Bench. I’m all about making a space aesthetically pleasing, especially when it involves adaptive equipment. My bathroom is all white with matte black finishes, so this black wooden shower bench fits perfectly.

Tip: When cleaning the bathroom became too big of a chore, I quickly realized I needed to build better habits. One thing I’ve learned is that magic erasers are actually magic. I always keep them stocked up, and once in a while wipe the shower or the counter.

When I was first diagnosed with ataxia, my dentist strongly encouraged me to switch to an electric toothbrush. It saves me so much energy, and we can all use more of that, right? Here’s the one I’ve been using and love.

Check out my Amazon Storefront Idea List for links to the items I mentioned above and many more random things that simply make my life easier.