Memory Tricks to Ward Off Senior Moments

Let's face it: There are times that I just forget. I forget the name of a movie that I saw the previous day or the actor who starred in it. I forget what it was that I went to the supermarket to buy and more often then not, end up with bags of groceries that I really didn't need, and totally forgetting the item that I went there for in the first place.

I find that there are other little things that I forget and need to concentrate on, in order to remember. However, there are just some things that are much too important to to do, and should not be forgotten. And so, I created little tricks for myself in order to make sure that I never forget what it is that I must remember.

I never want to forget to take my morning pills. This is very important, and since I live alone I have no one to remind me, or to help me to remember which pill I already took, and which pill I still need to take. So I made a few tricks to help me to not forget and since they work so well for me, I thought I would share them with others

Taking my morning pill I take all the pill bottles out of the cabinet and place them all in front of me on my kitchen counter. I take each pill in the same order each day. Once i remove a pill out of the bottle, I swallow it with some water, then replace the bottle cap immediately and put that bottle to the left of my counter, or, on top of the stove. I do the same for each of the required pills. This way if the phone rings, or I get a bit disoriented for a moment, I will always know that I need to take those pills that are on the counter, and that I have already taken those on the stove. After all the pills have been swallowed, I take all those bottles and put them back into the kitchen cabinet where they belong.

Closing the garage door My kitchen leads out into the garage and I have an automatic garage door on the wall . When I leave my house, I click the button on the garage door opener and then back the car out into the street. I usually walk to the mailbox to get my mail, then get into the car and drive away. When i drive about a block or two away, I get a nagging feeling that I forgot to shut the garage door. No matter how much I try to convince myself that, yes, I had closed it, I still have doubts, and turn around and drive back home to be certain. So I made a way to remember. While the garage door is closing, I watch it close, and say to myself out loud, ''the garage door is closing, the garage door is closed.'' That way both my eyes and my ears have seen and heard, and I can relax knowing that the door had been closed.

Where are my keys Since I live alone, my keys are of the utmost importance because if I lose them, or misplace them I cannot get into my car or into my house to care for my cat. So I found a method to always know where they are. I talk to myself and watch where I place them. If they are in my pants pocket I tell myself they are there, and pat on them to make sure I feel them. If I put them into my pocketbook, I do the same thing by telling myself that they are in a particular compartment and actually watching myself place them there. When I get out of the car, and before locking the door, I look at the keys in my hand to see them, I whisper to myself, I have the keys, to assure myself that I had removed it from the car, and then lock the door. I do this because I had locked myself out a few times and had to pay a locksmith $35.00 to open the door for me.

Next day appointments When I have a doctor or dental appointment the following day, I leave a note for myself , the night before, on a piece of paper with the name of where I have to be, and the time I have to be there and put it on the table in front of where I usually sit when having breakfast. At times I I even place my house keys next to or on top of the paper for extra memory help. This way I never forget where I have to be that day, or the time I have to be there.

Driving Safety When you get into the car, always take a moment to recall where it is you have to be, and what direction you have to take. This way you do not end up driving the wrong way, to get to the the wrong place, While driving , don't allow your thoughts to wander. Since this is easy to do, it's important to watch where you are driving, and to drive defensively. Look for the cars on the side of you as well as in front. Remind yourself where you have to make a turn, and watch the traffic lights and the stop signs. Do not use the cell phone, or reach for a tissue. I f you feel yourself starting to day dream, talk yourself out of it by singing. It is important to focus on where you are going and the directions that you need to take to get there, if you are going to get there safely.

Try some of these memory tricks, and help yourself to feel more secure and experiencing perhaps less Senior moments to blame for forgetting things that should not be forgotten. Try creating some of your own tips for those important matters pertaining to your own way of life.