IF, at times, you fear you’re getting dementia, remember this–in two days we’re creating as much information as we created from the dawn of time until 2003, according to former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt.
But it’s all too much!
We’re awash in so much information, that we’re forgetting far more than we can ever remember. Newer caregivers are especially at risk with being able to digest too much information.
I wonder how much of the increase
in dementia diagnoses is due to
the deluge of information!
How often do you hear yourself telling someone, “I’ve read that before, but I can’t remember where or the details. I have a vague recollection, though, that I’ve either seen it or heard of it before.”
What we need is the WISDOM of the Ages.
And we don’t always need to rely on it, virtually.
Listening to our elders share their experiences, can serve powerful lessons in our lives. For example, gerontologist, Karl Pillemer asked 1,500+ Elders for Advice on Living and Loving. Here’s What They Told Him. Without having to touch the proverbial hot stove, we can benefit from the experiences of our elders. Two of the key findings from Pillemer’s study were stop worrying so much and communicate early and often.
Do we drive ourselves crazy
trying to keep up with all the information?
Or, do we take in only the information that nourishes our lives?
Let’s consider what happens at an all-you-can-eat restaurant buffet.
Sure, you may pay for an all-you-can-eat menu, but if you try to eat everything, you’ll get upset. More importantly, your body won’t be able to use all the nutrients. Each time we eat more than we need, we stress our body’s digestive system and then eliminate most of what we’ve taken in–literally, a waste of resources.
The same thing happens when we try to today’s deluge of information from a fire hose.
We waste valuable resources trying to retain all that information when only a fraction sticks.
We need periods of rest to reflect as we digest and categorize the information among the other knowledge in our brains.
This is why when I’m called to provide recommendations to professionals from a family caregiver’s point of view, I advise sharing information in small increments for an overwhelmed caregiver to take in and digest a little at a time.
For related articles, click on:
