Sometimes — perhaps a good bit of the time — it seems I turn around and find myself at the bottom of a pile of priorities, deadlines, and commitments.
Sometimes they are someone else’s priorities, soft deadlines, or my own overcommitments. And then sometimes they’re just regular, day-to-day tasks that seem more than I can handle at the time.
I’ve heard from many of you with multiple sclerosis (MS) that you find it almost impossible to multitask, or at least to do so in the manner to which you were once accustomed.
Some of us can’t walk and chew gum at the same time any longer.
Too Many Tasks in a Row Are Too Much
Over the years, I’ve noticed that it’s not even multitasking that’s an issue: I can’t seem to put two tasks on end without feeling an unpleasant cocktail of overwhelmed and under-able.
But then again, what’s the old definition of insanity? “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”
If the phone is ringing, the dogs need letting out, and the postman is at the door, you might as well just nail the toe of my shoe to the floor and watch me spin around in circles. My ability to cope with A, then B, then C has gone the way of long soaks in a hot tub and full-time employment.
I just can’t do it anymore. Thanks MS!
How to Respect My Limits?
But here’s where that “insanity” comes in. I know that it’s going to happen. It feels like the guy standing in front of the steam roller in the old Austin Powers film. I can see the thing coming, and I seem to do nothing about it.
Sometimes, I’ll admit, there is a bit of procrastination in the build-up of things that must be done. But most of the time I’m fighting MS with one arm, one leg, and three-quarters of my strength. Trying to get anything of substance done with that pulling me down, it’s no wonder that a four-item to-do list can feel the length of War and Peace.
When friends with MS tell me of such troubles in their lives, I’m quick with a careful and tender answer. When it happens to me, however, out comes the hammer of self-loathing and the spike of disappointment.
Oh, there are times it gets me down.
Time to Shorten My To-Do List
I don’t have the answers to this MS dilemma. I can’t fix how MS has messed with my brain (and mind).
What I can do is understand that it has and not set myself up with anything more than two “must be done” tasks in a day — then hope that the doorbell, telephone, and oven timer don’t all go off at once.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Cheers,
Trevis
