Worried about an inability to multitask? Here’s what helped me.
Reframing and a 'rule of the road' have helped me navigate my new reality
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I have to confess: I envy people who multitask. It is something I used to do with ease, but ALS has firmly put those days in the rearview mirror.
It’s not even that I am “tasking” much these days; I find myself simply reminiscing about the times when I could. For example, nonchalantly carrying on a conversation while strolling with a friend. I yearn for that old freedom to choose what I pay attention to — or to choose to pay no attention at all.
That is the reality of life with ALS: It rarely offers us a choice. As symptoms progress, we are forced to adapt. It is a constant challenge to adjust to a “new normal” while still striving to live a meaningful life.
Change, for most of us, is difficult to accept, and I am no exception. However, I have come to rely on a few specific strategies to understand and cope with these ongoing shifts.
Turning the page
Before my diagnosis, I could multitask with the best of them. I vividly remember teaching adult dance classes; I could call out the steps, demonstrate the footwork, and monitor my students’ movements all at once — all while running through a mental list of on-the-way-home errands. If you asked me today if I’d want to return to that pre-ALS pace, my answer would be a resounding “no way.”
Because that chapter of my life, while busy and stimulating, was also filled with stress and a constant sense of playing catch-up. Living with ALS has taught me the quiet value of slowing down. Now I’m more intentional about how I spend my time and energy and cherish my relationships.
My strategies
When faced with a new physical limitation, I’ve realized I have three choices: do nothing, change my environment, or change my attitude.
Take, for instance, the challenge of answering someone’s question while I walk past them with my rollator. Rather than attempting to speak in mid-step and risking a trip or a fall, I follow a set of self-imposed rules.
If I must reply, I come to a full stop, find my balance, and have a short chat. My other option is to keep walking, ignoring the distraction until I reach a safe spot to sit or stand. Fortunately, I have shared these “rules of the road” with my friends and family, and they kindly oblige. This is an example of changing my environment.
A change of attitude
Reframing is perhaps my most fundamental strategy. I’ve written about the benefits of mindfulness and the importance of doing one thing at a time, a practice that is especially beneficial for those of us living with ALS.
I’m constantly reminding myself that multitasking is actually an illusion. Medical experts agree that our brains can’t perform tasks simultaneously; instead, our brain rapidly toggles between them. This constant switching taxes the brain, leading to fatigue, mistakes, and more time spent completing a single objective. By focusing on one thing at a time, I’m not just prioritizing my physical safety; I am calming my mind as well.
If these creative solutions work for me, I believe they can help you, too. I am cheering for you, and I invite you to learn not just how to live, but how to live well 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 about ALS.
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