“Momnesia”: A rare, or maybe not so rare, form of amnesia contracted by women as a result of having children. Before I had Logan I never had too much trouble remembering things. Now, well that’s a different story and I’m afraid it’s gotten even worse as a single mother! There is just so much going on in our lives all the time that I can barely keep anything straight anymore. I’m lucky if I can remember my own name some days, let alone doctor appointments, school schedules, or play dates! At least when I was married there was someone else there to help remind me every once in a while. Now it is up to me to keep track of everything! If you too suffer from a bad case of “Momnesia” here are a few tips to help boost that memory of yours.
The easiest way to give your brain a little boost is to eat foods that are rich in B vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Some great brain foods are nuts and berries, oranges, milk, dark leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Ever heard Benjamin Franklin’s phrase, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise?” Well that goes for you too women! Now, I don’t know about the wealthy part, but the rest of it is right on the money! As a single parent, I know it is hard to get the sleep that you need. There is no one else to get up with the kids and quite frankly your only real break is after they are off to bed. I understand, I am a night owl too, but if you want to boost your brain power you’ll have to roll over and get some shut eye. It is also important that you are consistent with your sleep schedule, even on the weekends. I know it is a pain, but studies have shown just how important a good night’s rest is, and really don’t we all feel more ready to face the day’s challenges if we are well rested? I know I am.
Keep yourself organized! Have a calendar to write down important events, appointments, birthdays, etc. and refer to it often! If you have it written down you are much less likely to forget about it. Your brain is much less overwhelmed if you have a method to keep track of things. Whether it is a calendar or writing it down on the fridge have a system that works for you.
And last but not least, don’t forget to use your brain! Your brain is no different than any other muscle in your body. The more you use it the stronger it gets. Do something each day to get the wheels turning. Stimulate your brain doing something you enjoy; reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle, writing some poetry, whatever sounds interesting to you. It doesn’t take much, just a few minutes each day.
While I’m afraid there is no cure for “Momnesia” (sorry moms, it is part of motherhood!) these little tricks might give your brain just that little extra boost it needs to get through the day!