Keeping our minds sharp

[Grandma Helen]

We all know that as we get older it's sometimes a challenge to keep our minds as sharp as they used to be.  What are some of the things you do to either stay sharp or make sure you do things you need to do, like take medication or put the trash out on the right day?  I know my cell phone is constantly ringing. 

[Eaglewoman]

As some of you know from my previous post, in one day I had a stroke, heart attack, and a brain infection and coma for 3days and a broken pelvis. My dr told me to play lots of games.I bought a Nintendo DS game, play lots of math and word games.I belong to a group Active Minds, they have discussion on current events, politics and history. They are held all over town, so could go any day of the week.Also belong to a group run by the hospital, they have game days, discussions, lectures, lunches and tours.Belong to 2 different book clubs. I pretty much do the same thing all the time. Have a pill tray for all my pills, fill it every sun night.Shop from a list and have a color coded calender,yellow highlights for dr appt. pink for discussions and such and orange for dinners, movies.Wear my cell phone around my neck, and have a rack for my keys by the door, put them away first before I do anything else.When I was in the nursing home after the stroke they were making me balance a check book, my son and his wife call it my tune up, so if I forget or do something silly they always ask me If I need to go in for another tune up.

[ozzieowl]

I can really see the benefit in having a color coded calender Eaglewoman,

that's a great idea! You have been through and survived so much,

and now here as bright as ever, so the worst is over,

and you can look ahead for decades to come now.

[flippr 2.0]

i have a pointed head,so i guess my brain is sharp,haha,hi helen

[Grandma Helen]

Hi Tim.  I watch Jeopardy also.  Of course, writing on these groups keeps me having to think how to spell.  I find that one of the more difficult things to cope with, since I used to be the go to person for correct spelling.  Just had to learn to laugh at myself. 

[flippr 2.0]

you kidding?i laugh at myself all the time,after all,if i don't laugh at me,who will?

[mercerquietman]

Sudoku puzzles. Monday through Saturday they appear in the newspaper, Monday is easy and each progressive day gets harder. From 1 star (Monday) to 5 stars (Friday); Saturday is five bold stars. I've gotten steadily better over time. There was a time Thursday, Friday and Saturday were too hard for me. Now I consistenty do Thursday, more often than not do Friday, but Saturday...Well, you have to have something to shoot for.

I also go out of my way to use software (Word and Excel) for tasks I really don't need to use them for, but do so to keep my skills up. I was considered an Excel wiz years ago. I want to keep up that knowledge.

[Eaglewoman]

thank you ozzie owl, I feel very fortunate to be here and able to do as much as I can,I have also had 2 knee replacements and 1 hip replacement and stage 3 kidney disease. So I am thinking  life is good and often think that there is a reason I am still here and OK, just haven't figured out what it is that I am supposed to be doing. Our Monk says whatever I am doing is what I am supposed to do?

[ozzieowl]

Our precious life is both a miracle and a mystery Eaglewoman -

I wonder if we are related, and I think you can soar higher than I. lol.

[oldmike]

I'm a daily and weekend NY Times Crossword fanatic. I also work and read a lot. I still feel like my mind is fading...what were we talking about?

[ozzieowl]

Lol oldmike, I'm not sure, but it might have been the watch-a-may-call-it

on the thing-a-me-jig.....

[Serenity]

Stay sharp?  Going to law school in my 50's - holy moses.  Learning American Sign Language.  

[Grandma Helen]

Serenity, you have really pushed it doing those two things in your 50's.  Law school, I understand, is difficult at any age.  You must be pretty sharp.