Remaining independent: Tips & tricks for creating good habits

@lmspencerpac, Hi, Lindsay, I’m not a health professional and haven’t had to endure the covid illness. Just wanted to share another welcome to the group with you and let you know how much I regret your lingering, prolonged symptoms.

As @mkqq shared, it sounds as if the aftermath and 100% recovery takes a very long and painful time. I hope you have help with your children and that your employer will agree to allow you full recovery before insisting that you go back to work. Would your physician agree to write a letter to your employer stating that you are not yet well enough to return to work?

@zeiracorp, Thank you for sharing “We Are Not In the Same Boat”. During this period of growing divisiveness in the U.S. which is threatening to tear our country apart, I readily admit that I’d like throw those elected leaders urging reopening before guidelines have been met on top of a fire ant hill. (for those who haven’t been both bitten and stung by fire ants, you can’t imagine the pain!) However, this piece is well worth individually contemplating and sharing with others.

@moonlightlady, Thank you for acknowledging my post. It was intended for “live alones” especially but the title got changed.

@lioness, Hi friend, Yes, I’m not driving but with the walks in the neighborhood, I am thinking of upgrading to the Alert 1 version for traveling away from home. Mine will respond if at the alley dumpster and across the street in neighbor’s yard but the distance covered is limited. The upgrade, which is the same cost as the “instant alert at home version which I’m using” is the same, approx. $30/mo.

@sueinmn, and fellow gardening enthusiasts, because of our erratic temps, I’ve not yet planted any veggie seeds. While perennials and self-seeding flowers are popping into bloom, I’m missing starter veggie plants that are usually in place by this time. While I don't know how to upload photos on the computer...or for that matter even turn on the camera, I've been trying out this method on celery and green onions. You can't imagine the Thrill of watching those tiny green shoots start up from the centers. R E A L L Y this is great fun!

So far, the only drawback is that Precious prefers onion/celery water to her daily refreshed water in her bowl. No difference noted in her breath so far but then we don't get nose-to-nose often. Also elevated the water containers by placing on the step ladder in entry with front door open for most sun. Now I have to remember to keep the celery water replenished and the front wooden door closed each night. All in a day for the new “enterprising” life of a retiree practicing covid cautions! Maybe by Memorial Day, veggie seeds will go in and I’ll be eating home grown celery and shallots. Smiles to all.

How to Grow Green Onions in Water on Your Windowsill ......https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/grow-green-onions-water-windowsill-210000286.html

@becsbuddy, So glad we’ll be continuing our “virtual walks”. I completed another week on Sat. but do admit to wishing for a bit of newer scenery in my still “too quiet” neighborhood. The cyber support of the walking group is really helpful and appreciated.

@helenfrances, Your post and sense of humor brought a smile! I got stung by a bumblebee as a small child. Always blamed that sting on my flakiness growing up. My parents never agreed..grins

@jimhd, I’m with you 100% on the lessening energy. I am so glad I bought an electric lawn mower and can still use my weed eater in the alley. However, the gal who used to think nothing of going after any limb with her chain saw and spending hours with the electric shrub trimmer just doesn’t attempt that now. I’m just not as strong or fearless as I once was. I think one of the hardest and most important challenges aging and changing health issues create is learning to adapt while still doing whatever we can that brings us pleasure. Sorry, still too many weeds in my own yard to tackle so can’t come over to play with you in your dirt. However, if you do get caught up, feel free to mosey over my way. Smiles

@merpreb, Merry, I’ve lived alone for so long now that I can barely remember those years of compromising and living with an overly protective hubby. Always fiercely independent, that may be one of the reasons I now live alone…??? lol

@fiesty76 Hi friend yes I think I would also When I go out I would feel safer is I had the Alert 1 anywhere . I dont think you could walk over to your daughter,s I know it would take me probably half a day I would have to stop and rest alot . Hope your doing well today . About the garden . I started beets in my apt had a large pot so they are coming up ,yea. When I had my garden in Pa. it was a decision as to when to plant . The tomatoes where after Memmorial day as we always had a freeze in May . Mostly everything else I could plant before then . Early peas sometime in April . Nothing like fresh vegies.

Update on the garage door, @gingerw, @johnbishop, @virgo1952, @sueinmn, @jo54, @danab, @robbie1952,@merpreb, @lioness, After weeks of keeping the garage door down and preening my feathers for being so consistent, last night about 9:45pm a neighbor called to tell me the door was open and the light was on.

Earlier Ginger had responded how lucky I was to have a good neighbor to alert and check on me. Others of you made me feel better by your responses and suggestions. I thought I'd really solved the problem by turning on the utility hall light and leaving it on, regardless of time night or day, whenever I entered the garage. It had worked so well and I was so proud of little self for finding a solution that was working.

When she told me, I impulsively wailed: "Ohh, but I've been so good!" Now does that sound like a wizened adult to anybody else??? ummm, what I thought.

Of course I thanked her but was so put out with myself. I Knew it had been daylight when I'd opened the garage to take tools to the backyard and hadn't been in the garage since. Finally dawned on me that instead of turning on the garage light, I'd flipped on the utility light next to it. Bizarre to find comfort in realizing my negligence was a result of not turning on the right light but we take our comfort where we find it, yes? So maybe a strip of painter's tape over the garage switch will do the trick??? Stay tuned...foibles occur frequently here. Smiles and best to all.

@fiesty76 Yes I can definitely relate im the same we try so hard to remember something and just when were patty ourselves on the back it happens again. Oh well just makes us humble I guess.
Have a Blessed Day
Dana

Thanks for your response, @danab. Smiling because humility isn't one of my top traits however, I'm becoming more and more familiar with the concept as time passes. Be safe and well.

You are not alone. The spouse (or I) left the door up all night one night last week.

This is a pain to deal with…I am almost 84 and worry about doing things out of sync….(I hang paintings on my fence to cheer up people walking by…and have to bring them in at nightfall)I have found that putting up a Visuel reminder sign where I am going to see it first thing in the AM or last thing in the PM. I also have a short reminder list that I go through daily when working something into my daily routine…My son thinks this is silly and takes down my notes but I persevere and make other more discrete note for myself. I wonder if you could install a buzzer system that would buzz until you closed the garage door? Also being stressed I find makes it harder to remember to do things….so try to avoid stressful interactions too…Good luck hope you are able to solve this problem

I have a list by the door. Keys, phone, watch, wallet, pills, SHOES, mask. hat, oximeter.
yes, I have gotten a block from home and looked down and had my SLIPPERS on!
I take lots of notes but often they are incomplete and useless.
I have a routine for everything. Since I do volunteer work I have a super young assistant and I am lucky enough to have half a brain left IF I don't fall asleep in the middle of a sentence. Where I live if you don't close up tight you may not wake up so I do my closing and bed routine a few times (did I bolt the door?) I know how everyone feels on this memory business.

see my other comment but
NOTES everywhere. Taped above the door knob. On the place, your eyes first see when you open the door. on the fridge, on the commode EVERYWHERE
we have a problem but we are still viable people.
o

This is a great reflective topic. Both my husband and myself have been having bouts of forgetfulness or as my husband say brain farts. 😄
No-one as they age want to accept signs of memory issues. But I have found the sooner you recognize and accept cognizant challenges and changes the quicker you can address underlying issues causing them and then come up with ways to help you address how to tackle the issue.

My husband and I did just that. What we came up with is we had interrupted sleep patterns. We noticed that going to bed at 9:00 we were getting up to use the bathroom at 1:00 or various odd hours. We also noticed that we both experienced hot flashes at night which interrupted our sleep patterns as we are throwing covers on and off the body and or getting up to remove clothing from sweating.

Another thing that interrupted sleep patterns was the occasional snoring we both do. We howl like wolves 🐺 Some sleep apnea issues.

We also have some toxic family issues that have kept us up at night.

We come to realize that those issues causes lack of sleep and seriously impacted our short and long term memory. 😅 We are grateful we analyzed our ourselves because dementia is always lurking in the background.

We are aiming at getting in more exercise and continue to modify our eating and drinking (occasional alcoholic beverages) habits.

We have stop drinking liquids at 6:00 to address night time bathroom trips. We try to eat our last meal no later than 4:00 and move around to allow our body to digest food better before bedtime. We take cool baths before bedtime and put the house at a comfortable temperature to address hot flashes.

We address toxic issues and people right away and if no resolution we remove them. Life is too short to be stressed out about others nonsensical lifestyles and decisions.

We have had some good success making these changes and are getting good results and experiencing some good night sleeps. Man a good night sleep does foster a clear refreshed memory. It’s a work in progress but thank God for his interventions.

Hopefully this helps someone. Happy stress free living, laughing and loving.