USEFUL INFORMATION
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Improving your Memory
Tips and techniques to help you remember...
...you know, that thing... I forgot.
Having problems forgetting appointments, to-dos, errands, feeding your children and pets, picking up after yourself, getting out of
bed... not to mention forgetting birthdays, and even anniversaries?
If you are like many people, you will often find yourself forgetting something. In an age of computers, PDA’s, and many other devices
- this my be ok for some folks, unless you forget where you put those devices. Others may want to increase their ability to memorize
things - luckily there are a few creative ways you can improve your long and short term memory.
Use your Senses & Be Aware
Practice creating vivid images/concepts in your head - using all of your senses. Analyze your surroundings by sound, sight, smell, taste,
and touch. Being aware all of your senses will give your mind more ways to associate (and thus remember) when it is time to recall something.
for more info).
Practice this tip of simply being more aware of your surroundings everyday and you will find your general memory greatly improved.
Humor & Vulgarity
If you need to memorize something specific try using humor or vulgarity as a memory aid. Make a nasty or funny limerick about something
that needs to be remembered and you'll have a hard time forgetting. (Great tip for students).
Don't worry, be Mindful
There has been a lot said about the power of positive thinking. Recently, a huge bandwagon of new-age positive thought = positive
outcome theories have been on tips of everyone's tongue from Oprah to your local convenience store clerk. Just do a google search
for "Law of Attraction" or "The Secret" if you aren't in the cult loop.
Negative thoughts fog our minds, but clearing out the negative and focusing on the positive also improves memory & concentration.
Stress is a big brain buster, so minimize stress and negative thoughts to keep your wits.
Apt Quote: “What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack in the ground underneath a giant boulder you can't move, with no hope of
rescue. Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far, which given
your current circumstances seems more likely, consider how lucky you are that it won't be troubling you much longer.”
See the Future
Have trouble remembering to-dos, appointments, meetings, deadlines, birthdays and other future events?
Here is the secret: When you know you have an upcoming event you don't want to forget, picture yourself at the event. What are you doing,
who is there, what does it smell like? Imagine the event...even better: imagine yourself taking the steps that lead to the event.
For example... let's say tommorrow you have to call the someone. Picture yourself in your home/office, picture yourself picking up the
phone, imagine dialing the number and talking to the person of the other end.
Associate
Association is among one of the easiest and most used tools in learning. This is the process of taking the information you wish to memorize,
and linking it mentally to something else that is natural to you. When learning something new, try to associate the new concept with one to
which you are already familiar.
Couple association with being aware using all of your senses and you will have a higher rate of successful recall.
Chunky like your mom
Chunking information is a great mnemonic method to remember multiple items. Many people naturally use chunking to remember phone
numbers: Instead of thinking "17342876642" we chunk it as 1-734-287-6642.
The concept of chunking comes from a famous 1956 paper by George A. Miller: The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some
Limits on our Capacity for Processing Information. If you are a sucker for classic works in the history of psychology (I know, who isn't?)
Write it Down
We generally think of "writing things down" as a means to NOT have to remember something. The paper does the work for -- we just need
to remember where we put that piece of paper...
But, writing things down has another effect: you clear your mind and take away the stress of "having to remember", and by doing so you
actually have more room in your noggin for remembering stuff. I know that explanation wasn't scientific, but it works.
To-do lists are championed by business gurus and soccer moms alike. Try writing everything down for a week or two and see how much
this improves your memory & focus. A great digital tool for "writing things down" is provided by a website called
Nozbe.com -- I recommend
it for clearing your head and also organizing your thoughts.
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Memory and Concentration Games on Blifaloo.com:
Memory 3
Memorize color patterns to test your short term memory.
Music Memory
Test your memory while training your musical ear with this game.
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INFORMATION ON H1N1 VIRUS
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KNOW HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE H1N1 FLU VIRUS
KNOWLEDGE IS YOUR BEST DEFENCE
Get your free H1N1 Preparedness Guide today
Find the Truth about the lethal cause from H1N1 vaccinations, watch the first two
videos especially the second
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Presents a gateway to information on H1N1. Includes general information about the infection, travel health notices, and updates on the situation in Canada ...
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php - Cached
How do I know if my child has swine flu or a regular flu?
Without laboratory testing, it's difficult to tell the difference between swine flu and seasonal
flu. Because swine flu has established itself in communities all across Canada, and because
most cases are mild, doctors are no longer testing to determine which types of flu people
have. Those who are hospitalized with severe flu or flu-like illness, and those with chronic
disease are tested.
The symptoms of swine flu in kids older than five are similar to those of regular flu. They are:
fever of 38 C (100.4 F) or higher when measured orally
coughing, and sore throat
fatigue
lack of appetite
sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, especially in younger children
Babies and toddlers under the age of five
can have different symptoms:
Fever may be the only symptom. Toddlers and babies usually have higher temperatures, often
over 39.5C (103.1F) when measured orally
About half of children under three years old have symptoms that include nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea and stomach pain
Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children
Some babies may not be able to drink fluids or breastfeed
Stiff neck may appear in some babies
Toddlers and babies may have a hoarse cry and a barking cough.
When should I keep my child home from school?
If your child has a fever, they should stay at home, even if they seem to have a mild case.
That way your child won't infect other children, including those who could develop severe
illness.
In most kids, the flu will run its course over a week, though the cough and fatigue can last
a few weeks in some patients.
How long should I keep my children at home if they have mild cases?
People infected with swine flu -- or any flu for that matter -- can infect others from one day
before showing symptoms to up to seven days afterward. Just like with seasonal flu, swine
flu is most contagious during the first days a patient starts showing symptoms, when they
have "a high viral load."
Most experts agree it's best to keep sick kids home for at least five days or until they are
able to resume daily activities, whichever is shorter.
If your child's symptoms do not improve after a week, call your doctor, as your child may
have developed complications.
How do I treat flu in my kids?
To bring down the fever, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to instructions on the
label or advice from a health care provider
Ibuprofen can treat muscle aches but should not be used for babies younger than six
months of age. Children younger than 18 years of age should not take Aspirin or any
products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
Encourage your child to rest or engage in quiet activities. Do not allow them to socialize
with others.
Offer water or juice often
Dress your child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature at 20C (68F). Do not
use cool baths or alcohol rubs
Try saline nose drops to help relieve stuffy nose or cough
When should we see a doctor?
You should seek medical care immediately if your child or teen develops flu symptoms and
has any of the following medical conditions:
lung or heart disease
any chronic health problem that requires regular medical attention
an illness that might affect their immune systems, such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS
is pregnant
If your child develops any of the following warning signs, you should call your child's doctor:
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not drinking enough fluids. Goes to the bathroom less often than every six hours while
awake if two years of age or older
Not waking up or not interacting. Loses interest in playing, watching TV, eating or drinking
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held and cries a lot
Flu symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
Call
911 right away if your child:
has severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
is so sleepy that he doesn't respond when you try to get him up, or isn't able to move
seems confused
has a seizure
How can I protect my children from getting sick?
Swine flu is spread from person to person in the same way as seasonal flu: through
coughing or sneezing and by touching surfaces contaminated with infected droplets.
Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to guard against the flu. Flu viruses can live
on your hands for up to five minutes, and can live on hard surfaces, like countertops and
telephones, for up to two days. To reduce transmission:
encourage your kids to clean their hands and clean them often to keep them and others
from passing the flu. They should clean their hands after sneezing or coughing, before and
after eating, after going to the washroom, and after playing outside.
keep alcohol-based sanitizers handy in gel or wipe form, at home or in their backpack for
times when they can't wash their hands.
teach your children to cough or sneeze into their arms or sleeves
encourage your child not to share personal items or drinks
consider having your child vaccinated against swine flu once the vaccine becomes available,
sometime in November
Health Canada - Home Page
Main page of the Health Canada Web site; links to topics covered on the Web site
, latest advisories, news releases and current Web site highlights.
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php - Cached - Similar
NEWS & USEFUL INFORMATION
