So I found the remote, and my glasses...

[HipChick]

The remote went through 2 full washes cycles,and double spins...RIP

and glasses were chilling in the freezer, when I went to grab some ice-cream...

last week I 'lost' my keys...$200+ later after I paid the locksmith to break into my home, and had my car towed to my home because I couldn't find the spare key - I'd left the keys in the bathroom at work

sometimes I go to the store specifically to get something, and when I get there draw a totally blank...

could be a case of general mad scientist distraction or the start of something else...either way, I have a 0% support system, what can I do now about protecting brain functioning? I try to eat a lot of fish, and I'm not even anywhere close to my senile years...what can u do to help memory?

[blogslut]

1. I can totally empathize

I wish I could tell you how not to be absent-minded but I can't because I do the same stuff.

[madmom]

2. I went through a bout of this a few years back. My hubby talked with

my doc about it and he said it could be a sign of depression (luckily for me, it wasn't). Might be wise to have it checked out if possible. Good luck.:hug:

[surrealAmerican]

3. You need routines, strategies, and carabiners.

Have one place, and ONLY one place in your house where you will put your remote. The same goes for glasses, keys, and other things that are vital. Keep a shopping list; never go to the supermarket without it. Put a carabiner on your keyring, and clip those keys onto yourself. Always go through all pockets when putting things in the washer.

It takes a while to get used to stuff like this, but it works in the long run.

[hippywife]

4. If you find yourself very distracted because life is very hectic and

you aren't a very good multi-tasker, try slowing down. I once had a boss tell all of us that even if you're rushed, it only takes a minute to slow down and do the things that need to be done. It's served me well to take that extra minute or two. Things get done and that few extra minutes means they get done right. So take a deep breath and slow down, see if things like this don't stop happening.

Like my sister likes to say, the more things you put on the front of the shelf, the more things fall off the back.

And do let your doctor know you're experiencing these things. Also watch your nutrition. It's amazing how many people don't realize how much bearing that has on every day functioning.

[Flaxbee]

5. Several very good suggestions in this thread so far...

my husband is like that, and I'm the go-to person ... which can be hard, b/c I can't have the focused-memory effort for where HE left things.

If you can, you do need to develop routines. Maybe draft some checklists, too ... like at work, before you leave, ask yourself if you have the keys, your handbag, wallet, whatever. Why did you take the keys to the bathroom? Do you have to have a key to get in? If so, keep those work keys separate from your home and car keys.

We have ONE jar at home where the keys go, often sunglasses are there, too.


On a quiet day, decide how you need help - finding keys, glasses, whatever. And then WRITE DOWN and put on the fridge reminders of what you've decided to do... if you have trouble just with household things, developing a routine might be the best thing to do.

[HipChick]

6. I put dinner in the oven about 2hrs ago...

Just forget to turn the damn thing on..:rant: now I'm hungry..going to be cheese and crackers for a while..

[MajorChode]

7. I have the perfect solution

If only I could remember it.

[lunatica]

8. Stress and constantly pushing your brain to work (as in a job)

can really tire your brain. Many years ago I discovered Phosphatidylserine and it's amazing how it works. It truly improves brain function.

http://www.phosphatidylserine.net/

I used to have a job that called for much multitasking with constant interruptions with everything having major priority at any given moment. By Friday my brain was exhausted, especially after a tougher than normal week and I'd find myself going in circles because I would forget what I was intending to do at that moment. Then I started taking these pills and by Friday I was as fresh as on Mondays and my weekends weren't spent just vegetating because my brain needed rest.

You don't notice it much at first but when you would normally hit that wall and you're brain function is still very good that's when you notice.

I highly recommend it. You can get it in your local health store.

[ellaydubya]

9. I really appreciate this information!

I was not aware of this product but will head to Whole Foods tomorrow to see if they have it- I am very interested in giving it a try since I seem to be a perfect candidate for this.

[lunatica]

10. I hope you find it as beneficial as I have

I feel like my brain function is as good as it's ever been.

[Sanity Claws]

11. Try meditation

Meditation is known to create a quieter mind. If the problem is distraction, the meditation will help you keep your focus.
Yoga may also be useful in focusing the mind. Let me know if you are receptive to meditation and/or yoga and I'll see if I can answer any questions you have on either.

:hug:

[Duer 157099]

12. At the risk of sounding like a broken record...

I'll suggest the same thing that I suggest for a whole slew of complaints:

Are you getting enough vitamin D? Can you have your levels checked?

Once I got my vitamin D up to a good level, my memory has radically improved. But I'm also taking other vitamins (Bs, C, Ca/Mg/Zn, fish oil, etc).

Worth looking into, imho. The Health forum has lots of threads.

[struggle4progress]

13. I find that my brain has finite capacity. If I try to jam too many things into my life,

important mental notes can be hard to retrieve. I used to schedule every minute of my day; then the slightest glitch produced an internal cascade of "Where the f is this?" and "What the f is that?"

Eat good food. Sleep regular hours. Schedule several bits of real relaxation time every day: twenty minutes of zoning out on quiet music, a short walk in the park or half an hour of fun yard work, a bit of yoga or swimming or other enjoyable exercise, a quiet end-of-evening routine involving some pleasant reading before bed ...

[Old Troop]

14. I've found that riddles, crosswords, and things like that seem to help

[trof]

15. Our remote went through the wash and worked fine after it dried.

Don't know your age, but regardless...write things down.
Make lists.
And pay A LOT more attention to where you put your keys.
:eyes:

[Demoiselle]

16. It's because you're incredibly busy and incredibly bright.

Also, perhaps, because you're naturally near-sighted, which means you had to put your distance glasses down to read the labels on the ice cream. (I've done that.)
I too am near-sighted, and incredibly bright and...oh, never mind. I'm going to have to find my prescription sunglasses in a minute (been looking all day) because I'll need them to drive to the eye place tomorrow to get a replacement for my regular distance glasses. Which I broke. I have yet to put the remote into a launderable pocket, but I have locked myself out of the house on occasion. I keep a key hidden now, and I ALWAYS put it back immediately after I've had to use it.
Really, the problem, I am sure, is distraction (not "mad" anything!) You probably are multi tasking all the time. I've certainly not conquered it...but making lists helps. All kinds of lists, even if you have to make numbered notes for your morning routine/evening routine, whatever, that include things like putting your keys in your purse, etc.
I have even spoken slowly and clearly to myself on occasion, ie: "I am putting my keys in the hall cupboard drawer now, and that's where I'll find them in the morning."
Consciously slowing down a little helps too.
At least...that's my theory. I'm going to go look for my sunglasses again now.
Cheers and all the best...

[HopeHoops]

17. The freezer?

:shrug:

Words escape me.

[MiddleFingerMom]

18. Once, when one of my cats had been missing for...

.
...much longer than I was comfortable with (she showed up eventually),
I opened the oven door, the fridge AND the freezer -- just in case she
had jumped in when I wasn't paying attention.
.
:scared: :scared: :scared: :wow:
.

[Bucky]

19. Chick, dude, your mind is going.

You can grow new hair. You can grow new moles. You can grow new hair out of your new moles. You can't grow new gray cells. This is the beginning of the end. You need to skinner box the shit out of your life style and that will preserve at least the outward semblance of your former quality of life during the slow degenerative process that even now is glacially, inevitably, robbing you of your last vestiges of sanity.