What was your name again?
Memory-boosting in midlife, plus a bonus worksheet.
“I’m going to be blogging more over on . . .” I paused.
I was on a Zoom call with a mastermind of a bunch of podcasters, telling them about how I was going to spend more time on Substack getting to know readers. But then the word Substack would not move from my brain to my tongue.
I’d been talking about it often. Substack was not a new word for my brain.
I stalled. What in the world? How can I not remember this?
And then I did the humiliating thing when I’m giving out Password game show cues.
“You know, the platform I was talking about a few weeks ago. You can blog, host a podcast, send newsletters…”
“Substack?” Someone rescued me at last.
Sheesh.
If you’ve ever been in the middle of a conversation and a name or a word just won’t extract from your brain and flow out on your tongue, you know just how frustrating it is. It goes something like this:
“Could you hand me the . . . you know . . . (cutting motion with fingers) the thing with the handles that cuts stuff?”
“I need to stop at the store and pick up some . . . little cups for the coffee maker, some . . . (smacks forehead) K-cups!”
In the middle of a podcast interview: “I’ve really enjoyed your podcast episodes with your co-host . . . Oh my goodness. Now I can’t think of her name.” (Throws caution to the wind and names a name. Nope. Not correct. Digs hole to hide in.)
I’ve come to a point where I’m willing to ask someone again for their name. I’ll admit that I can listen to a show thirty times and still not remember a co-host’s name in the moment I need to repeat it.
I’m also doing all that I can to keep my memory sharp.
This week on the Life Repurposed podcast, I explored the challenges of managing midlife forgetfulness and the power of embracing new experiences to renew your sense of purpose.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the everyday chaos. You have a lot going on in your life. In the episode, we dive into the importance of routines, the impact of clutter, and how engaging in mental exercises can improve brain health. I also provide practical tips, including using smartphone tools more.
If you just choked on the idea of using your smartphone for more than a Facebook tool and a method for texting, listen. You have an amazing tool in your pocket that will help you remember important events and tasks. I use reminders and notes in my phone every day!
The podcast episode includes tips like these:
Embrace Smartphone Tools
Embrace Routines
Stay Organized
I also have a bonus worksheet you can download and print. It has spaces to write and reflect as well as plan your own action steps for boosting your brain power.
Bonus worksheet below for paid subscribers! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Thank you for being a paid subscriber! Enjoy your bonus worksheet!
The worksheet helps you reflect on your current practices, plan for the future, and create action steps.
Use the prompts and questions to reflect on your experiences with memory and organization.
Write down your thoughts and insights in the spaces provided.
Take action by implementing the suggested strategies and tips in your daily life to boost your memory and organization.
Check out www.michellerayburn.com/192 to listen to the podcast episode!