So often it seems the more you do, the harder it is to keep your head above water. You tell yourself you just need to get through this task. This morning. This day.

Phrases like, “It can wait until tomorrow,” “I don’t need to ask for help,” and “I got this,” fire up your sense of determination. But all they’re really doing is forcing you to burn your candle at both ends, and this leads to, you guessed it, burnout.

We are learning that a key to remedying this kind of overwhelmingness isn’t so much about asking others for help, it’s about connecting with them (and yourself) to hold you accountable.

Accountability is all about taking responsibility for your actions. And responsibility isn’t something you have to handle all by yourself.

Join us for this episode of A Couple Takes on MS Podcast where we open up about the challenges we face when we don't involve someone or something to hold us accountable.

This includes everything from a sleep study that is pushing us to actually get to bed before 1 a.m. or Stella, the 1-year-old Olde English bulldog who made us realize that we aren’t the prime candidates for being puppy parents... right now.

Here are links to the sites we discussed in our accountability conversation:

• Coach, Accountability Buddy, or Friend – Everyday Health Blog essay by iconic MS author Trevis Gleason

• Ask an MS Expert: How MS Can Affect Your Sleep – National MS Society conversation between RealTalk MS host Jon Strum and University of Kansas Medical Center’s Sleep, Health & Wellness Lab Director Catherine (Katie) Siengsukon

• Music and MS: Going beyond the meme – Dan’s MS Focus Exclusive Content essay that digs into how music (including Bruce Springsteen, of course!) has helped him cope with MS realities

• The benefits of living with a pet – Above MS article that highlights the pros of owning a pet

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