How strategic triggers help me get unstuck in life with ALS

Some days, my motivation just gets stuck. Even though I’ve got interesting plans and projects to do, I can’t get started on any of them. The reasons why can include not getting enough hours of sleep the night before, being caught up in the latest news cycle, or simply reflecting on the past, present, and future of my ALS. No matter the cause, getting unstuck is important, or else I’ll end up lost in negative thoughts and weaken the positive mindset I’ve worked so hard to create that helps me live with ALS.

How do I get going again? By building strategic triggers into my day.

My triggers are intentional nudges that elicit an automatic response from my brain. They’re simple and don’t require much thought, but they kick-start my mind in a new direction.

Here’s another way of explaining this process. If I said, “Row, row, row your boat” and stopped, your brain would automatically fill in the next line of the song with “Gently down the stream.” You might even finish the whole song, it’s so automatic. Similar to that, my triggers have a sequence, which helps me do the next thing, and the rest just falls into place.

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Morning and afternoon triggers

For example, I’ll be the first to admit that on cloudy, overcast mornings, I’d rather stay in bed with the covers pulled over my eyes. But I also know a day full of activity awaits me. So my trigger is to roll onto my back, draw my knees up to my chest, and wrap my arms around them. I begin a series of slow rocks from side to side, which leads me into my morning stretching routine, where one movement flows into another. Within 15 minutes, I’m feeling awake and ready to tackle the day.

Mid-afternoons are also a sticky point for me, so I’ve built in the trigger of having a 3 p.m. smoothie. The type of drink isn’t important, just that it’s nutritious and makes me push away from my computer and stand at the kitchen counter to drink it. My blood sugar gets a boost, my body is able to stretch and move, and my eyes can relax. While there, I follow a series of mindfulness drills by noticing objects, colors, and sounds.

What’s the benefit?

If I didn’t invent triggers to pull me out of a mental funk, I’d be squandering my most precious resource: time. How we spend our time is important to all who live with ALS. That makes me especially careful regarding what I do now. I often tell myself to do something because future me will appreciate it, and you know what? Future me, when I get there, always does. I’m thankful I had those triggers that helped me make the present more pleasant.

Think about your days. Are you consciously structuring in triggers that will help you get unstuck? Of course, my triggers have changed over time because of evolving circumstances, and yours will, too. The idea is that you make the necessary adjustments and maintain the triggers that work and will ultimately get you from where you are to where you want to be.

I’ve found that following the strategy of relying on my special triggers helps to keep my energy up and my attitude positive. Try it — it’s easy to do. Let’s continue to learn to live well while living with ALS.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.