Zen and the art of keeping track of your keys, cell phone, and wallet for starters
Why do we misplace our keys, cell phone, and wallet at times?
It’s likely about being a bit mindless when we simply put any one of anything down and carry on with moving toward whatever the moment or destination we had in mind.
We know about the concepts of past, present and future. For this story to unfold think of the present as more than a split second dividing the past and future.
Mindfulness is about moment to moment awareness. The present timeline lingers longer when we are surfing a wave, playing a competitive tennis match, cutting the lawn, washing the car, or simply moving somewhat mindlessly from point A to point B on autopilot. That’s when anyone can leave and lose their Cell Phone somewhere and simply not remember its location. It happens to us all. We are heading through a moment in time for a destination in which to arrive and it’s a mindless decision to put down any excess (call it baggage). …and then later - Hmmm, now where did I leave IT?
So. What’s the answer in helping solve the mindless moment when we don’t remember where we placed the lost item?
It’s about creating a conceptual insert to help remember the importance of being mindful in keeping routine task actions remembered and not forgotten.
I always check out Recommended by Pocket on my Firefox browser, each day, as one of my morning routines and I came across an article titled - The Japanese Skill Copied by the World. It went on to say mindfulness is trendy in the world but the Japanese have ingrained it into their culture, especially suited for employees who have to remember routine tasks for reasons of safety. The article URL is at the bottom of this post. Please read the whole article later to get a better understanding about this post suggestion…
The Japanese call it Shisa Kanko, which simply translates to - checking and calling. Routines like putting something down a car key, or a cell phone, whatever, are named out loud and pointed to & visualized to in their placement.
It has been a start point that I find valuable as I age, not losing things and being panicked when I can’t find the keys to car, wallet when i need it, and cell phone that also often hides on me.
Routines like putting something down are named out loud and pointed to & visualized in their place. (Whisper it if you’re embarrassed with company or tell about what you’re doing.)
Wallet, Keys, Cell Phone (the big 3) - point and say -> _____are on the table by the back door, (the only place I would otherwise put them )
Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness.
Furthermore.
All portable items have a final resting place each day. The Cell Phone beside the bed or the same place each night of your choosing. Wallet and Keys are safely tucked in the (left Kitchen drawer) any time before retiring. They will be there in the morning, waiting, not hiding in places where they might possibly elusively outlive me.
Keeping and putting your cell phone, keys, and wallet together in a purse, murse, or the right pocket, the kitchen drawer is home plate for the big 3 is a good idea. Focus on that place to stow whatever wherever you are. In the garage, the car, the basement, wherever - check and call when you put the phone down, preferably in a pre chosen placement, and be mindful of the prioity to take the time when getting into the car, at home, in a restaurant, a motel room, the gym, wherever, to mindfully do Shisa Kanko - checking and calling.
And it seems to work. A 1994 study by Japan’s Railway Technical Research Institute, cited in The Japan Times, showed that when asked to perform a simple task workers typically make 2.38 mistakes per 100 actions. When using shisa kanko, this number reduced to just 0.38 – a massive 85 percent drop.
Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness. Copy & paste the URL below for further reading…
—> https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-japanese-skill-copied-by-the-world?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us
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PostScripts about memory loss
We've all experienced it: The frustration of entering a room and forgetting what we were going to do. Or get. Or find. New research from University of Notre Dame Psychology Professor Gabriel Radvansky suggests that passing through doorways is the cause of these memory lapses . (Nov.16, 2011)
As all those of middle age who have ever fumbled for a name to fit a face will believe, the brain begins to lose sharpness of memory and powers of reasoning and understanding not from 60 as previously thought, but from as early as 45, scientists say. (Jan 6, 2012)
Memory loss: 8 tips to improve your memory
Be physically active every day. Physical activity raises blood flow to the whole body, including the brain. ...
Stay mentally active. ...
Spend time with others. ...
Stay organized. ...
Sleep well. ...
Eat a healthy diet. ...
Manage chronic health problems.
Learn to be mindful, mindfulness is a moment-to-moment awareness.
PPS… Early symptoms of dementia Increasing confusion. Reduced concentration. Personality or Behaviour changes. Apathy and withdrawal or depression. (listen to opinions and suggestions from family, friends, and loved ones about seeing your doctor.)
