Health Topics

The Impact of Hurrying on Your Memory

Many times, something pops up unexpectedly and all of a sudden you are rushing around and probably forgetting something.


Kathryn Kilpatrick offers suggestions for lifelong learning and successful aging. As a speech-language pathologist with over four decades of experience working with older adults, Kathryn Kilpatrick specializes in working with older adults and their families facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In the last decade people of all ages seem to be complaining about their memory.

Have you noticed that your memory is not what it used to be? Join the many people, both young and old, complaining about forgetting something or trying to figure what they were just doing. There is no quick fix for improving your memory. Like losing weight, you need to be aware of what will help in your particular situation then make a conscious effort to work your plan.

The Impact of Hurrying on Your Memory

There can be something very invigorating about being busy and having things you look forward to doing when you have some free time. More often than not, something pops up unexpectedly and all of a sudden you are rushing around and probably even overlooking or forgetting something.

Getting ready to go out of town over the holidays, I decided to make a few last minute phones calls while I finished packing up the car. I had been on the road awhile and could not recall if I had unplugged the coffeepot. I had to be sure so I drove back to check and I had. My problem was that I did it while rushing around with the last minute details. Sound familiar?

HURRYING:

In the book Rest in the Storm, Kirk Byron Jones mentions some of the vocabulary we use such as I am going as fast as I can, got a minute, running late, and the sooner the better to name just as few. You get the point. Do slow people annoy you? Does this busyness make you less patient? Do you find your pace picking up when it really doesn’t need to? What happens is that you are also more likely to forget things and who knows what little meaningful things are being missed.

TO DO THIS WEEK:

Notice the words you use to indicate that you are in that “hurrying” mode. Take more moments to pause. Schedule some time on your calendar a few times this week just for you to unplug from the hurrying. Maybe you can take a few hours. If not, just make time for 5 – 10 minutes and avoid the temptation to fill it with something else. Be open to whatever feels right.


Kathryn Kilpatrick received her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 1968 from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked in a variety of settings, primarily in Ohio, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and for decades in the area of home health care. Kathryn is president of Memory Fitness Matters and Communication Connection. She offers memory coaching for all ages and has a geriatric consulting practice. She is a national motivational speaker and author of more than 30 products to enhance communication and connection as well as a Memory Fitness Toolkit. Kathryn brings her decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist to all those wanting to enhance their quality of life, particularly when there are communication, memory and cognitive challenges. Her websites offer information on a wide variety of topics related to elder care concerns as well as memory fitness and successful aging.