You started cognitive stimulation with enthusiasm. In the first weeks, you were diligent, motivated, eager to discover the exercises. Then, gradually, the initial enthusiasm faded. Sessions became less regular, then occasional, then... you stopped. Does this story resonate with you? You are not alone. Maintaining a habit over the long term is a universal challenge, even more difficult when living with fatigue and the constraints of MS. This article gives you the keys to transform your practice into a sustainable habit.

Why Motivation Fades

Understanding why motivation decreases over time is the first step to remedying it. Several mechanisms come into play, and they are perfectly normal. Don’t blame yourself if you’ve ever given up: it’s human and it happens to everyone.

Specific Obstacles of MS

• Fluctuating Fatigue: Some days, energy is lacking for everything, including 15 minutes of cognitive exercises
• Flare-ups: A flare-up can interrupt the routine for weeks, and resuming afterward is difficult
• Discouragement: When symptoms worsen, one might wonder "what's the point"
• Mental Load: Managing a chronic illness already requires a lot of energy and organization
• Isolation: Practicing alone, without support or encouragement, is more difficult

Pillars of Sustainable Motivation

1. Find Your Deep "Why"

Superficial motivation ("it's good for the brain") doesn’t last. You need to identify your deep, personal, emotional reason. Why is it really important for YOU to maintain your cognitive abilities?

• To continue working and maintain your financial independence?
• To stay mentally present for your children or grandchildren?
• To continue practicing a passion that requires concentration?
• To prove to yourself that you won’t be defeated by illness?
• To keep control over something in an illness that often feels uncontrollable?

Write down your "why" and reread it when motivation wanes. It’s your anchor, your compass.

My why is my 4-year-old granddaughter. I want to be able to play with her, read her stories, remember our moments together. Whenever I feel lazy about doing my exercises, I think of her and I’m instantly motivated again.

Geneviève, 62, has had MS for 20 years

2. Celebrate Small Victories

Don’t wait for spectacular results to congratulate yourself. Every completed session is a victory. Every week of regular practice is a success. Learn to recognize and celebrate these small victories that, when added together, make a big difference.

3. Accept Imperfection

Perfection is the enemy of good. If you set a goal to never miss a session, the first missed day will discourage you and could cause everything to fall apart. Accept that you will miss days, that some periods will be less regular than others, and that it’s normal.

The important thing is not to never fall, but to always get back up. A missed day doesn’t erase weeks of practice. A week off during a flare-up doesn’t negate everything. What matters is to resume, again and again.

4. Vary the Pleasures

Monotony kills motivation. EDITH and JOE offer many different games: explore them all, alternate your favorites, try new exercises regularly. Variety keeps interest alive and engages different cognitive functions.

Practical Strategies for Long-Term Adherence

The 2-Day Rule

Never miss two days in a row. A missed day happens and it’s okay. Two days in a row is the start of a slippery slope. If you missed yesterday, do at least 5 minutes today, even if you don’t feel like it.

The Contract with Yourself

Write a commitment to yourself: "I commit to doing at least 10 minutes of cognitive stimulation 5 days a week for the next 3 months." Sign it, date it, display it. This formal commitment has real psychological power.

The Sponsorship System

Find an "accountability partner": a loved one, a friend, a member of a patient group, with whom you mutually commit. Send each other a message every day to confirm that you’ve done your exercises. This mutual accountability is a powerful motivator.

I have a friend who also has MS. We promised to send each other an emoji every day after our exercises. If one of us doesn’t send anything, the other sends a little encouragement message. It’s been three years and we’ve hardly ever let it drop!

Nadia, 47, has had MS for 12 years

The Facilitating Environment

Make practice as easy as possible. Your tablet should be charged and accessible. The app should be on the home screen. Your practice area should be comfortable and ready. The more friction there is, the easier it is to give up.

Overcoming Difficult Periods

During a Flare-Up

A flare-up can interrupt your routine for days or weeks. This is normal and necessary: your priority is to recover. Don’t feel guilty. When you feel better, resume very gradually, with short and easy sessions. The important thing is to reconnect with the habit, not to make up for lost time.

When Discouragement Sets In

If you’re asking yourself "what’s the point," return to your deep "why." Talk about it with your neurologist or a psychologist. Discouragement can be a sign of depression, which is common in MS, and deserves attention. Cognitive stimulation can’t do everything, and asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

When Life Becomes Overwhelming

Sometimes, life circumstances make practice difficult: moving, family issues, work overload. During these times, reduce your ambitions rather than giving up completely. Even 5 minutes a day, even 3 times a week, is better than nothing and keeps the thread of the habit alive.

Measuring Progress to Stay Motivated

What gets measured improves, and what is visible encourages. EDITH and JOE allow you to track your statistics and progress. Use this data to motivate yourself.

• Check your statistics regularly: Every week, take the time to see your progress
• Compare yourself to yourself: Not to others, but to your level from a month ago, three months ago, a year ago
• Note your best scores: And celebrate when you beat them
• Observe trends: Even if daily performance fluctuates, is the overall trend positive?

At first, I didn’t see any difference. I almost quit. Then I looked at my stats over three months and realized my response times had improved by 20%. That motivated me instantly. Now I check my progress every Sunday and it makes me want to keep going.

Pascale, 55, has had MS for 8 years