to do more to help my brain. Yesterday, I began a new regimen, and it is something I'm sure I can stick with for as long as my mind is able.🙂
I get up and have a high-protein breakfast.
Then I do a word puzzle, and one or two worksheets of math. This is challenging to me because I haven't used my brain for these types of things for a while.
Then I do a couple of hours of diamond gem painting. This is strengthening my hand to eye cordination. This really improves my mood for reasons I am not sure of yet.🤔 This is new to me because I always thought I didn't have a creative bone in my body, and I have never done anything with crafts before. This makes this a challenging activity for my mind.
Then I walk 1-2 miles a day.
Then I read for an hour or two, depending on what is going on with my family. I read books offline. I think limiting my screen time is helping as well.🤔
I have cut back to only eating 2 times a day with a high-protein snack in there somewhere. I think I was overeating before because I was really, really bored, but now I have so many really great things to do filling up my day, that I don't focus on eating. 🙂
In a way, this happening at the age I am at now is a blessing. I no longer have to do all the cooking or cleaning. We have 4 adult kids that live at home, and two of them don't work, so their siblings pay them to do the housekeeping and cooking. This frees up a whole lot of time for me to be able to do this self-work that I really need to do now. This is the first time in my whole entire life, I have had the time to think about myself. At first, it was a struggle to get my mind to think it was ok to focus on myself, but now I am really loving it.
Anyway, I think this is a good start, and I know I will be adding more things as I go along, but today I am more hopeful that I might be able to slow this whole process down some. Even if I can't, today I am happier than I remember being in so many years that I can't even tell you if or when I have ever been this happy.🙂
I also want to thank everyone here who helped me think of things I needed to do to help my brain work harder, and how to change my diet, what things I needed to avoid (like aluminum), and who have just been so kind and supportive. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all and how grateful I am for all your help.🙂
I'm currently caring for someone with progressing dementia this is the best thing you can do for yourself right now and I agree getting your diet right and sharpening your brain can help. My father-in-law although he was an avid reader he tended to err on the side of zen philosophy.
So he just peacefully sat still most of the time he often listened to music on the TV which didn't really have any interactive purpose just some nice scenery and calming music which is now the only thing that calms him down or that he can remember to do. He never wanted to do any crossword puzzles or any types of brain exercises and he basically just shut off when he came home. When we found out he had acquired this we asked how it could happen and what things are preventative and everything you just talked about is the right thing to do and I hope it works for you I'm trying myself a few new things like the diamond painting and definitely taking time to read more things or interact my brain
@LaLumieriThank you so much for sharing some of your own personal experiences and for letting me know I am on the right track. I think it is really good that you are working on yourself, too. From what I have been learning, this stuff is very hereditary. I do wish you and your father the very best. Please take care.❤
