I have been having memory issues of late, mostly short term stuff. Almost like I just can't retain anything and it's been EXTREMELY frustrating because I've always been a person with a fairly decent memory. Granted, I can still recall situations that happened at cons a few years ago, but trying to remember something as simple as what I was going to do before I got distracted has been difficult which leads to me being frustrated. I get these emails from Women's Health about things and I decided to make this list becaue it helps boost brainpower and it seems fairly easy.
1. Dance, Dance, Dance- this should be fairly easy as I want to start bellydancing again more seriously as well as just wanting to have a time that's almost like a drum circle where music plays and we just dance no matter how dumb we look.
2. Visit the gym- something I am going to start doing by going to our fitness center across the street for the complex I work in. I have free access to it, dammit, I need to start using it like I was back in June when I was going at least 4 days a week religiously.
3. Crack some eggs- I think this goes along with the meditterranean diet I want to do as well. An egg a morning won't hurt. Just can't overdo it. That is a weakness of mine that's slowly fading because my stomach can't handle the overeating anymore.
4. Keep On Moving On- it's suggested to not multi-task as much because it's like kryptonite to brain matter. Focus on projects one at a time for an hour each, but if something takes more than 60 minutes, set aside time to come back to it so you can re-charge working on something else.
5. Hydrate your mind- Two things with this one. 3 or more 4-ounce glasses of fruit or veggie juice has shown to decrease the chances of Alzheimer's disease. Score. Plus, as much as I like water, sometimes you got mix it up for variety so you don't get bored. V-8 Fruit Fusion is probably THE best invention ever. You get a full serving of fruits and veggies together and it tastes damn good. Then I tend to drink water like a fiend while at work since they provide bottled water.
6. Take a YouTube timeout- This surprised me but it makes sense. Essentially watching videos that will make you laugh because laughter counteracts stress. Need to do this on my breaks.
7. Hit the Hay- This goes without saying and it's slowly getting better for me, though I have some bad nights when I can't handle having the CPAP mask on, or I have nights like last night where apparently at some point I woke up, turned the machine off and took the mask off. Have no memory of doing it, but my guess is I got up for whatever reason and didn't put it back on or I noticed I was having a night where it was one of THOSE nights and took it off so I could sleep. It's not the easiest thing to wear at night, and while I am generally used to it, there are those nights where I can't because of a stuffed up nose or something. Surprisingly, my left nostril seems to be the clearest at night and that's the side I have pierced.
8. Disconnect the cable- They suggest only watching TV for 2 hours a day because it seems to up the ante for people developing Alzheimer's later in life. The goofy side of me wonders if drink fruit and/or veggie juice so much cancels this one out. Highly unlikely if it's on this list.
9. Raid the Spice Rack- Use rosemary on side dishes. Can help reduce the risk of stroke and shield brain cells from free-radical damage. Cinnamon, tumeric, basil, oregano, thyme and sage can also protect the brain. Actually, I have heard that cinnamon also helps those with diabetes as well as prevent it in those at risk for it. Something I need to get back to. I used to have applesauce or yogurt and sprinkled cinnamon into them each morning. Just a teaspoon works. The article also suggests sprinkling 1 teaspoon of it into your coffee. I bet the same can be said for tea. Though it does suggest a teaspoon of rosemary into tea.
10. Study Another Language- Buh wah? Now this one is interesting. Apparently a study was done and it was shown that bilingual seniors kept the worst effects of dementia at bay for 4 years longer than those who didn't know another language. It appears that learning a second language increases the density of gray matter in the areas of your brain the govern attention and memory. Makes sense. Guess this just increases my urge to learn Italian. Need to dig out my CDs again for the car. :-D Hadn't been listening to them because I have such a short commute, though I do drive for lunches every day too...
11. Floss Your Teeth- ... Huh, didn't know that one, but I guess it makes sense that gum disease can cause issues as it travels through the blood stream to other vital organs. Looks like I need to floss more. I need to get to the dentist soon as well anyway, stupid hole in my tooth.
12. Go Green- Drinking 5 or more cups of green tea per day can make you 20% less likely to experience psychological distress than if you drank less than a cup. Hm. Looks like I need to up my intake of green tea. Between the water, veggie/fruit juice and tea they are suggesting, I'm gonna float away...
x-posted to LJ
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