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5 Ways to Stay Mentally Sharp with MS
By Matt Cavallo
I have been struggling a lot at work lately. It seems as though I am not as mentally sharp as I have been in the past and it is affecting my work, specifically around the completion of tasks. This is something I have struggled with off and on since being diagnosed with MS. I had a cognitive relapse in 2007 followed by another major MS relapse in 2016 that affected my cognition.
Try as I may, I have not been as mentally sharp since these two relapses affected my cognitive skills. However, there are some strategies I deploy every day to stay mentally sharp despite the challenges of MS. Here are five ways to help stay mentally sharp with MS.
1. Keep a daily journal
– Write down in the
journal
what you hope to accomplish each day. These tasks can include both work and personal items. Journaling can help you keep track of both long and short term items. If you have a big deadline coming up at work, start notating early in the journal when you should start the work to meet the deadline. If you have a personal event, such as a birthday or anniversary, note in the journal when you need to start preparing for that event. Keep lists of things to do each day in the journal and cross them off as you accomplish them. There is a satisfaction to crossing tasks off a list. You can also go back and review previous days to make sure you completed everything on your list. Having tools such as a daily journal are critical to staying sharp when battling the cognitive challenges linked to MS.
2. Take advantage of smart phone technology –
Your smartphone comes equipped with
all kinds of apps
that can help keep you sharp. You probably also have your smart phone on you at all times. I recommend using your calendar app and setting reminders. These reminders will prompt you as to what you have to do in the day and also when something is due. Similarly, smartphones typically come with a task tracker. This is a way to keep a virtual task list and cross off tasks as you complete them. Even though the device is doing the work, you still get the satisfaction of accomplishing tasks and not forgetting any dates. Using smartphone technology to stay on top of dates and tasks helps assist you in staying sharp with MS.
3. Playing games and puzzles –
Whether it is a Soduko, Crossword puzzle, or other game, these types of games challenge you to think. These games can be found in newspapers, books, or as mobile apps. Most mobile apps have a free version. There are also paid cognitive games such as
Lumosity
. These types of games challenge your memory, word recall, and problem-solving abilities which help to keep you mentally sharp despite the cognitive challenges of MS.
4. Develop a filing system –
Wherever you work and pay bills, make sure to keep that space decluttered. Have only the current items you are working on or the current bills you have to pay out and then file the rest. When filing papers, make sure to create folders with appropriate names, so it is easy to locate the paper later. Once you have completed these tasks make sure to note what you did and when you did it, then file it away. Noting a page before filing it is critical to your memory. For example, when I pay a bill, I write when I paid it and a confirmation number if available. This way if you need to reference the bill later, you know what you paid and when you paid it. If not, you may not remember if you paid the bill or not. The same can be said for work or other items you are tracking. Having a good filing system keeps you sharp when needing to recall what you have worked on in the past.
5. Declutter –
Keeping your space neat is also a way to stay sharp. When there is too much stuff scattered about, it is hard to focus. Putting everything in its place can keep you organized and focused. When your space is cluttered it is hard to know what you have to do. Organize things into to-do piles. If there is nothing to-do, then you can file it away. Decluttering leads to feeling organized and able to accomplish tasks. This will make you feel more sharp and ready to take on MS.