Why Did I Just Walk Into The Kitchen?

Written by Carol Caulk, Wellness Director

Ever walk into a room and forget why you were going there in the first place? You turn around and return to the room you were in to help you remember why. 

Yep, me too! Happens more and more lately. 

As I approach my 56th birthday, thoughts of my parents and grandparents and their memory struggles seem to come to mind more often. 

I am in that sandwich generation. The one where we still have kids in high school and college, and we also have aging parents who require our attention and care. I am the primary caregiver for my mom. She just turned 80 and is doing pretty good. My mom is Korean so that genetics might be in her favor. She did not always take the best care of herself. She has a long history of drinking and smoking. She quit both around 20 years ago. She is healthier now than when she was 60! She eats relatively well, walks daily, has a few close friends, and is active at her church. She has written the entire bible out in Korean twice! What has helped my mom stay fairly sharp at her age? 

1. Diet; 

2. Sleep; 

3. Walking; 

4. Having a purpose; and 

5. Having a few good friends 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “It’s never too late to slow memory loss.” They also recommend these brain-healthy lifestyle modifications to help us with our memory. You can read the full article here. 

We live in a fast-paced society. Overwhelmed with the overabundance of “information.” Some reliable, some not so much. Our reliance on our phones and other devices has made our brains lazy. We do not memorize phone numbers, recipes, song lyrics, etc. Why should we – when you can pull that information up on a search engine with a few clicks or thumb taps? 

Below are some practical ways you can improve your Brain Health/Cognitive Function: 

Write down funny stories from your childhood to share with your kids and grandkids. Read more here from Psychology Today: "Writing by hand can boost brain connectivity.” Work on getting quality sleep! Deep Delta Sleep is so essential to brain health and cognitive function. Even though it accounts for much less time, deep, delta sleep is necessary for proper rest and brain functioning. Sleep scientists believe this is when your brain cleans itself of waste. Delta sleep might also be when you consolidate memories and learning. 

Yoga for a sharper brain. “When you lift weights, your muscles get stronger and bigger. When you do yoga, your brain cells develop new connections, and changes occur in the brain structure, resulting in improved cognitive skills such as learning and memory. Yoga strengthens parts of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought, and language. Think of it as weightlifting for the brain.” Yoga for better mental health 

Growing older is inevitable. Growing healthier is a choice. The choice is yours.