Are you a "list maker"? - Page 3

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

While I respect the pro OR con on the issue, I think the 'excercing your brain' concept might be displaced here.

Personally, I do numerous things every single day to exercise my rapidly degenerating brain. I think it's probably what keeps me from just becoming a blob. Heck, I have to re-remember several times every day what freaking day it is. Maybe I should pin that to my forehead! It's frustrating, but one does what one can to exercise the brain, within reason and practicality.

For me, the little lists are important. I don't need to have to concentrate what bit of cognitive thought abilities I have left on grocery lists. Last week I had two things on my list. Somehow I ended up at the store without that list, which is pretty weird because I'm usually extremely careful about such things. Anyway, because of my inability to recall stuff like that, I could not remember either of the two things on the list.

I concentrate the exercising of my brain in other areas just to do as well as I still can. Believe it or not, I was not always this bumbling fool I've become. But you work with what you have and I hope others who have no idea what it's like have to deal with this at some point. I didn't always have to write everything down. Now I have to write EVERYTHING down. Sometimes I find myself with the same mindset of 'oh, I'll remember that'. Guess what? 100% of the time I just plain don't.

Surfnturf · ‎03-09-2010

On 11/10/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
On 11/10/2014 occasional rain said:
No, it wastes time and results in a lazy brain. What happens if you misplace the list, you're lost in a sea of where am I, what am I supposed to be doing, what should I buy...

I respectfully disagree. We teach our students in our college prep program to keep a planner of what they need to do. Studies have shown that when you write things down, you are more likely to accomplish them. Regarding dementia, I think people who make lists ARE using their brain functions . It requires you to focus and analyze what you need to do, when you need to do it, what you need to buy, etc. I think it is definitely a good use of thinking skills ad opposed to remembering and then forgetting things willy nilly. Not to say that there aren't people, and you may be one, who have photographic memories and never forget a thing. I have a pretty good memory, but lists help me to organize my thoughts and plan better. At any rate, I'm not going to worry about dementia. Studies show that people who speak more than one language have less risk, and since I speak three in addition to English, I'm.not worried.

Even people with photographic memories benefit from making lists, and keeping journals. I think the problem for most of us is short term memory. When I DO make a grocery list, it shortens my shopping time, and I don't forget anything. When I don't, which in my case is often, I invariably forget something I needed.

brewhaha · ‎07-25-2010

Let me check my list. Yes I am.

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

YES, YES, YES! When I was working, I kept a notebook @ with lists...when I was @ lunch, my boss your write down stuff & draw silly pics in my notebook...wouldn't discover it until he was out the door...always had a good chuckle with that! At home, I have a list for each day...and keep a notepad by my bed & bathroom sink. I even start a Topic List whenever I go out to dinner...and when I meet my trainer. They LOVE 'the list'...like spinning the topic wheel. Too many thoughts in my head...get'em one paper!

Montana · ‎03-09-2010

On 11/10/2014 qualitygal said:
I'm an "oldest" child, and we are known to be list makers and I am!! LOL Nothing to do with age/memory of course!! LOL ${#emotions_dlg.lol}$

I love to make lists, but did not know about the oldest child thing. So that explains it. :-) I am the oldest of three.

Preds · ‎12-17-2012

I'm a list maker, but DH is a master at it! He has lists everywhere for everything and goes by every one of them. Marks off or updates as needed.

Fate whispers to her, "You cannot withstand the storm." She whispers back, "I am the storm."

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

""Marks off..as need."" Yeah...feels good to take one of those big ole yellow highlighters & mark off stuff.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

On 11/10/2014 occasional rain said:
On 11/10/2014 brii said:
On 11/10/2014 occasional rain said:
No, it wastes time and results in a lazy brain. What happens if you misplace the list, you're lost in a sea of where am I, what am I supposed to be doing, what should I buy...

lol

Always a treat, OR.

Don't ask the question, if you don't want answers both pro and con.

Maybe a study should be done on the percentage of list makers who end up with dementia as opposed to those who rely on their memory. If exercising benefits one's body, it stands to reason that one's mind would benefit from exercising it's memory.

OFCOL

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 11/10/2014 occasional rain said:
No, it wastes time and results in a lazy brain. What happens if you misplace the list, you're lost in a sea of where am I, what am I supposed to be doing, what should I buy...

I have found that when I make a grocery list, then misplace it or leave it at home or in the car, I can remember most everything I wrote down. So just the act of making the list jogs my memory without it.

I noticed this in college (and high school too, I guess). I was an avid note taker, with the notes in outline form. I studied the notes, and had great recall, kind of seeing the notes in my head when it came time to take a test. This was helpful for things that I understood the general concept, but, say the list of things was long or hard to remember under a specific topic.

Yahooey · ‎07-09-2010

A big YES! I already written ingredients that I need to buy for Thanksgiving. I already started to tick off items purchased. I also have lists used for vacations. You don't want to caught without certain key items when camping. I also keep a reading list listing favorite authors and the books in order that I haven't read yet.