Showing posts with label fibro fog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fibro fog. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Simplify - 12 easy things to reduce Fibro Fog


My wonderful Mother in law came for a visit last week.  She really is amazing.  She used to be a life-coach, professional organizer and author, now she is a national speaker and starting an organization about faith and work.  We had a really good conversation on the day she left about Fibro Fog.  I was telling her some of my struggles.  She asked me what I was doing that was helping.  I told her about eating right, exercising and taking Omegas, but that I still had trouble with it when I was stressed or tired.  She told me I was doing a great job to help things INTERNALLY, but there are things I could do EXTERNALLY to greatly help the symptoms of Fibro Fog.  It’s all about simplifying.

   The idea is to make things as easy on your brain as possible.  The less processing it has to do of everyday tasks, the better!  Days when Fibro Fog is bad for me, I’m very forgetful, my mind is fuzzy, I can’t even read, I can’t understand things that people say, and words come out all wrong.  It’s very frustrating.  I'm going to try this...
      

12 easy things to simplify your life and reduce Fibro Fog


  • Hang your keys on a hook by the door (I have been doing this for months, and it helps so much not to have to search for keys in my purse every time I’m heading out the door) 

  • Keep a running grocery list (when you run out of something, or get an idea for a meal, write it down so you don’t have to think about it until shopping time)

  • De-clutter your space (especially spaces you use every day.  Don’t wait until it’s too overwhelming!)

  • Put your bills on auto-pay (we’ve done this for years and I can’t tell you how nice it is to never have to think about paying bills!)

  • Store garbage bags in the bottom of the can (been doing this one for years too)

  • Reduce your wardrobe (only keep the clothes you wear on a regular basis)

  • Put kitchen items you use every day in a convenient spot (keep things close so you don’t have to bend over and look for the pots & pans you use every day)

  • Write everything down (everything.  Right when you think about it)

  • Download your brain, journal (when thoughts are jumbled, or if you mind races, spend some time writing down everything you are thinking of.  This gets it out of your brain and onto paper so you no longer have to spend brain energy thinking about it.  My counselor taught me that one and it works!)

  • Keep a simple family calendar (mine is in the kitchen.  I can quickly see what everyone has going on, so I don’t have to try and keep schedules and appointments in my brain)

  • Keep a regular schedule (eat at the same time, do household chores at the same time, schedule appointments at the same time, go to bed at the same time each night, keeping a regular schedule will help your brain relax)

  • Clean out your purse/wallet (I do this while waiting to pick my son up from school, keeps it trash & clutter free so I don’t have to search very long for a pen when I need it)



Here are my keys hanging by my door.  Ok, just kidding, but I do tell all my kids friends that these are keys to my dungeon.

Here are my actual keys hanging right by the garage door.













Monday, July 30, 2012

Rest – Required


Last night I took a nice hot bath, soothed my aching muscles with the heat after a busy weekend getting ready for the first day of school.  It’s something I don’t do very often.
(I forget why?)  I threw in some lovely aroma therapy oils, kept the room dark and just relaxed.  That is until a happy little 2 year old skipped into my room and decided to hop in with me (oh yeah, that’s why).  Not so relaxing when you end up with grapes floating around in the water and get splashed in the face.  I wouldn’t have changed a thing though, I know these moments will soon be memories.
 


I must admit, I have always had to take extra rest, even before I developed fibro.  I’m an introvert and it always has made me very tired to go out and do anything, including being with other people (yes even people I love).  I need to have some peace and quiet and alone time to feel restored.  Having this syndrome has made me much more aware of this and from what I hear from others, it is necessary for us to recuperate after even simple everyday activities like grocery shopping or going to a lunch meeting.  Problems arise when we don’t take this time to rest.  Pain, more fatigue and brain fog are quick to creep up on us when we push too far.  The longer the activity, or more energy exerted, the more rest we need.


There are different types of rest described for us in the Scriptures.

Sabbath rest
Future rest in God
Rest/peace for the soul

We as humans need them all!  But I’d like to focus on a few verses that speak about rest/peace for our souls.  These are the verses we can cling to when we know we need rest and can be encouraged that God will provide it for us!



Jesus speaks right to us in Matthew, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29.

He promises rest and peace from anxiety, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

Sometimes we don’t even know we need rest and God provides opportunities for us.  (Oh how He loves us!)  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” 
Psalm 23:1-3.
I love love love Psalm 23 and encourage you to read and study the entire Psalm and find your rest in God today!

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”
Psalm 62:5