Finding Motivation and Keeping It | My Cayston Community™

It is so easy to be overwhelmed sometimes by the amount of time and energy it takes to manage your cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), and that is okay! Being overwhelmed doesn’t mean you are doing a bad job. It is totally normal. Just remember, when it comes to prioritizing treatments, each person has a different recipe that works for them and their lives!

The easiest place to start is to find your specific “why”! The answer to “why you are doing your treatments” will help you find the energy to be motivated to do them! My “why” is because I dream of having a family one day. I'm hoping if I follow my dosing regimen, I can have more healthy tomorrows to help achieve that goal! Knowing what motivates you is huge! Write it on a piece of paper and put it on your mirror, by your treatment station, anywhere that will remind you to prioritize your treatments!

It is also easy to feel down and to forget why it is important to do your treatments, especially when you may still feel poorly afterward. It is times like these when we forget that motivation, and it is helpful to rely on others for support. Having a family member or friend who supports you and your treatments can be so beneficial! Facetiming with a friend while I’m doing my treatments makes the time go by faster and helps me feel less alone. I also love to set aside my treatment time as a time to do something I enjoy, whether that is watching my favorite show, crafting, going on social media, or something else that you are passionate about!

Having a family member or friend who supports you and your treatments can be so beneficial! Facetiming with a friend while I’m doing my treatments makes the time go by faster and helps me feel less alone.

Remember, it is always good to be in touch with your CF Care team to learn more about the new medical advancements in CF & Pa. With CF and Pa, we have so little control of our health, but our consistency in our treatments is something we have full control over. Ensuring consistency helps me feel more in control of my life, and doing my treatments feels like an investment in my future!

Each of our treatment regimens is unique to you and your CF and Pa. So, remember not to change or discontinue taking medications without talking to your care team and to be honest about challenges you may be having with your treatments. There is so much support available to you. Reach out to your care team before deciding on your own because skipping or not finishing your full course of treatments can make them less effective or result in antibiotic resistance.

In addition to finding out your “why” for doing treatments, planning is another key factor in prioritizing treatments. When planning my days, I start with my treatments and then fill in everything else! This ensures I am less likely to forget to do them because they are already planned into my schedule, and there are no conflicts. Remember to be easy on yourself. If you do forget a treatment, learn from why you forgot and set yourself up for success in the future. Every moment is an opportunity to reevaluate your priorities and move in a new direction!