Re: Looking for Advice

[Guest guest]

Hi, I wrote this out long ago, and am going to copy/paste it here without much

editing. I hope some of it applies to what you are asking. Using these

techniques for the last 5.5 years has been a lifesaver for me.

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I went thru six months of speech therapy post injury.

My memory was greatly impaired, and I know many/most of you deal with these

problems as well. So, I wanted to start a topic here for some tips on how to

keep on track throughout a day.

After my injury, I kept working for 3 years and these tips helped me to keep at

it, even though it eventually all fried my brain (the work) and caused more NL

sx!

Alot of problems with memory are due to poor " attending. " Basically, not paying

attention as much as you think you are, or that you should. You get distracted.

There are various types of tools you can use to help you with these challenges.

ON your desk (or kitchen counter or shop work bench and all of the above), keep

a notebook open at all times. This is your working memory.

This is where you write down anything you think of throughout a day and you

don't want to forget. Like a, in another thread, caused me to want to ask

the speech pathologist when I see her about thyroid levels. I need to write that

in my " working memory. "

You can date your thoughts on each page or not, however it works for you. You

don't have to be neat, you just need to write down your to-do lists, your

thoughts while on the phone, something you want to remember to do, just anything

at all. Anything and everything in random fashion. Do not try to be organized in

this. Do not make sections for this or for that, that causes it all to become

too onerous, too confusing. Just write, write, write.

My book is open on my desk (I've been doing this for almost six years, and it

works! When a book is filled up, I keep it, put it on a shelf with others. I may

never access them again, but if I need to, I can) and I can see notes such as

" These things cause me swallowing problems: do not do light fixtures; do not use

hoe, do not weedeat. " " Call Mom, " " Look up swallowing. " " clean office " " turn in

mileage " " call in Actonel RX "

whatever, just write it down there and cross it off when you have done it. The

crossing off becomes a reward, and allows you to feel and know you have

accomplished things.

I write down names of books I want to buy; quotes I like (I heard this one on TV

that was very dark and morose, but so poetic, written by a WWI aviator: " I woke

up every morning with a millstone around my neck and its name was tomorrow. " I'd

never remember that quote if I had not written it down.)

I write down appointments with docs as I talk and set them up on the phone. If I

see a bird out the window I want to identify, I write down the description.

Here's one I wrote about using my Pronex cervical traction device: " Go to bed or

nap, or put on collar post pronex "

So, you have the idea.

Next, you keep another notebook or it can be a day planner or whatever works,

but it's called your " Executive Function "

This is more organized than the Working Memory notebook. It may be a calendar

(that is what I use) with big blocks on the dates to write in.

Be detailed and even record the small things you " think " you'll remember. EAch

month, I record the date I need to call in our elec. meter reading...the date to

take my Actonel each week...transfer doc appts from my scribbled working memory

to the Executive Function. I think this one is something that most people will

already use and rely on.

If you are up to it, you can color code things (I don't)...

Most of us are not working now, so what I learned from my speech therapist is

that my health and learning to survive with my condition IS my job! This might

all sound like a lot, but it truly is something you can do and it becomes habit

and also you get a sense of pride in being more efficient.

You might think, oh no, something else on my list to do! But it's really just

getting notebooks, having them open on your desk and starting with day one, the

day you start. Nothing to setting them up. I use the cheap, $1 college

composition books.

Now, my speech therapist also suggested some other notebooks that I used when I

was working and the job was intense and I needed even more recording ability.

So, I had a notebook for " Mail sent, received, faxed, etc "

This would just be dates I mailed what. today, this sort of thing goes into my

working memory notebook.

I also had another book titled, " Where Things Are STored. " Bet you all can

relate to that one!!

The options are endless, but using these tips will go a long way to making you

feel more secure, and also, your brain is less cluttered because you are not

struggling to memorize or contain these things in your mind.

I will share some more thoughts from my ST...as I remember them and have time.

But this is a good start.

Remember, working memory...and executive function. NO, don't remember, write it

down in your working memory!

I hope this helps even one person.

V.

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chiari1090 wrote:

> I've used a planner in the past, this became too difficult to keep up with,

but maybe I need to adjust to it better?. . . .

>

> I've thought of using an electronic organizing device like a blackberry,

smartphone, PDA or cellphone (with extras for a calendar and listing tasks).

>

> Anyone struggle with this? If so, how do you manage? This alone can be

frustrating, please help with any advice.

>

> Thanks!

>