Yesterday was a fulfilling day for me. It was one of those days where I felt I had really accomplished something. I finished a rather large project I had been working on and it felt good to feel that sense of accomplishment for having done so.
Accomplishing something makes you feel good because it activates your brain’s reward system. It triggers the release of dopamine which is associated with motivation, pleasure and reinforcement. Accomplishments also provide a sense of forward momentum, reinforcing your drive to succeed.
The nice part about accomplishing something is it doesn’t have to be anything big. Even small wins, like checking something off your to-do list, can give you a little boost and provide the motivation to keep going.
While I had a large win yesterday, I utilize small wins all the time. Wins are what keep me going. They give me the sense of reward as well as the inspiration to reach higher.
One of the small wins I’ve found helpful is completing a jigsaw puzzle on my iPad. There’s all kinds of jigsaw puzzle apps out there and I couldn’t recommend one over the other. All I know is when I finish that puzzle and get to reveal the entire picture. It makes me feel good. I don’t do exceptionally hard puzzles. Even a puzzle with less than 100 pieces feels like an accomplishment. I especially like it when the completion of one puzzle opens up a special puzzle as an added prize.
I also enjoy doing Mahjong on my iPad. Completing a game is satisfying, but the best part about playing a game like this is it takes my mind off of everything going on around me. When I’m feeling aches and pains, I forget about those aches and pains when I’m busy concentrating on a game of Mahjong. It’s a distraction from negative thoughts and provides focus on accomplishment (positive thoughts).
I’m not saying you should spend all day on your iPad or allow it to keep you from doing things you actually ought to be doing, but if you have a few idle moments or you just need to get away from life for a few moments, try one of these games to help you.
With Myasthenia Gravis, we sometimes get too focused on how we’re feeling or what we can or cannot do. Distractions, such as online games, can be a helpful way to get away from focusing too much on our problems. Just don’t allow online games to become a problem by making them your only source of accomplishment.
It’s still important to take care of responsibilities. It’s still important to adhere to our regimen of medications and exercise. It’s still important to eat right and take care of ourselves. But if you have all your responsibilities covered, treat yourself to an online game. Those small little wins may make your day a little better.