Migraines Suck: Here Are 5 Hacks That Make Them Better

That moment when a run-of-the-mill headache starts to turn a corner and head toward a full-blown, day-derailing migraine—it’s an experience I, unfortunately, know all too well.

For me, that change could come from something simple. It could come from too much screen time (sorry, TikTok), not eating enough throughout the day, or lighting a strongly-scented candle. Other times, migraines sneak up on me because of hormonal changes, being overtired, or feeling especially stressed or overwhelmed. 

Although dealing with the head-splitting pain—and, in my case, nausea— that comes with migraines really sucks, I’ve experienced enough of these headaches over the years to know what helps alleviate my symptoms. Migraine-relief suggestions are definitely not one-size-fits-all, but if any of my tried-and-true tips can help someone else feel a little bit better, they’re worth sharing. Read on for the five hacks I rely on to help combat migraine pain.

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

When I feel a migraine coming on, the very first thing I do is stop everything and drink a bunch of water. I try hard to stay hydrated during the day, but I often get distracted by work and life (sound familiar?) and fall behind with my water intake. So, when a headache begins, I do everything I can to get hydrated in hopes that it’ll temper some of my migraine symptoms. 

My secret weapon here is to have Liquid I.V. packs on hand. I add one to my water tumbler to boost my electrolytes and hydrate faster. Then, I continue drinking water as my migraine progresses to stay hydrated and, hopefully, ease my pain sooner. 

I started using Equilibria’s Relief Balm after The Everygirl’s CEO, Alaina Kaz, told me it significantly helped her migraines. To be honest, my first thought was, “OK, it can’t be that good.” But I’m here to tell you she was totally right. This topical cream works wonders on my headache pain. 

When I have a migraine, I generously apply Equilibria’s Relief Balm to my temples or forehead and deeply massage the cream into my skin. I usually spend about 10 minutes doing this over and over until I start to feel the cooling sensation of the balm kick in. Then, it starts alleviating the throbbing in my head.

Since I often use this balm, I appreciate that it’s made with six all-natural ingredients: coconut oil, shea butter, arnica, menthol, lavender, and rosemary. Paired with full-spectrum hemp flower oil that is Colorado-grown, this product is vegan, gluten-free, and organic, so I can feel good about using it on my skin. 

If you suffer from migraines, take my word for it (and Alaina’s, too!) and give Equilibria’s Relief Balm a try. It’s become a must-have in my headache arsenal for its fast-acting and soothing pain-relief qualities. I really can’t recommend it enough. 

3. Get out the ice roller

I first bought this $18 Amazon ice roller to use as part of my morning skincare routine to reduce puffiness. While it does that, it also helps reduce my migraine symptoms because it essentially numbs my face and head as I use it. I keep this in my freezer and pull it out whenever I feel a splitting headache coming on. I start rolling the ice pack all over my face, forehead, the back of my neck, and even the top of my head. Plus, it somehow helps curb the nausea I experience during migraines, too. Trust me with this hack, and hit “add to cart.”

4. Use a weighted sleep mask

When I experience a migraine, I often feel an intense sensitivity to light and sound in addition to throbbing headache pain. I’ve found that putting gentle pressure on my eyes and forehead while lying down can help temper these symptoms, so I invested in a weighted sleep mask to do just that.

I especially like the design of the one linked below from Nodpod because it’s a nice, substantial size, is super soft, and doesn’t require elastic or velcro to keep it on. (Plus, you can pop it in the freezer for added cooling relief.) It’s also wearable in several sleeping positions. Before this upgrade, I previously used a small, rectangular eye mask filled with beads that I essentially had to balance on my forehead to feel relief. And, since I’m a side sleeper, that setup didn’t cut it after a while. The Nodpod allows me to sleep in any comfortable position and stays on while I rest. I usually wear it over my eyes, but you can also wrap it around your head. 

5. Sleep it off

This final hack may seem obvious, but any migraine sufferer knows it’s important to do. When one of my migraines begins, I step away from my phone, computer, and TV, start hydrating, use my Equilibria Relief Balm and ice roller, and head to bed in a completely dark room with my Nodpod weighted sleep mask. I’m not always in a position to fully unplug from my life and go to sleep when a migraine hits. However, if I can, sleeping off the pain is really the only thing that kicks my migraine to the curb. Plus, getting enough rest on a regular basis helps keep my migraines at bay. 

Please consult a doctor or health professional before beginning any supplements or treatments. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goal. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

This post is sponsored by Equilibria, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.

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