{"id":871,"date":"2013-10-12T21:11:02","date_gmt":"2013-10-12T21:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=871"},"modified":"2013-10-15T17:25:17","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T17:25:17","slug":"brain-fog-and-list-less","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/10\/brain-fog-and-list-less.html","title":{"rendered":"Brain fog and list-less?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maureen<\/a>Brain fog is one of the key maladies that can really frustrate, confound, and seriously crimp a day’s activities – it truly can feel as if the whole world around is shrouded in thick fog, making it hard to figure out how, what, or where you’re supposed to be headed. Unfortunately, many of us experience it, whether because of chronic illness (such as lupus or MS) or as the result of certain medications or treatments (even after chemotherapy, for example, cancer survivors might still have significant brain fog). I’ve written a piece for Beliefnet about spiritual tools to help with coping with brain fog (here’s the link: http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/Health\/5-Spiritual-Tools-for-Coping-with-Brain-Fog.aspx?b=1<\/a>\u00a0)\u00a0, but here, I thought I’d talk about the importance of lists – and ways to make them more than just a vehicle for practical activities (such as grocery shopping).<\/p>\n

Especially when brain fog is bad, I rely on some lists as ways to navigate through the day. What do I absolutely have to accomplish? What do I need to get from the store? Which prescriptions do I need to refill? \u00a0Some lists include timelines. How many days until I need to finish my next article? How many days until a friend’s birthday (so I know when to buy the card and have it arrive in time)?<\/p>\n

But, I also have lists that serve other, often more important, purposes. A prayer list that helps me remember for whom I said I’d pray and for what. A praise list, which reminds me of all the wonderful gifts, large and small, that God brings into my life. A list of goals, which reminds me that, yes, it is possible to have goals when you live with chronic illness (moreover, it’s very important) – and this particular list includes the small steps to take when i can to making those goals achieveable.<\/p>\n

Other possible lists include one of favorite moments, to call upon when times are particularly tough. Favorite music, to help recall the healing and uplifting essense of song. Favorite Scripture verses, to serve as food for a sagging spirit.<\/p>\n

Brain fog might settle in for awhile, or lift and fall unexpectedly. Sometimes, a list kept that chronicles when it happens in relation to certain activities, foods, or other disease symptoms can help you and your doctor figure out ways to curtail it.<\/p>\n

Each list is not only a useful tool, it also is a statement that, when that ol’ nasty brain fog does come, you’re prepared. You’ve taken charge of the situation. You might have brain fog, but it doesn’t have you.<\/p>\n

If you have brain fog, and you’re list-less, picking up pen and paper and setting down some lists might be the first step in a whole, new, beautifully clear direction!<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brain fog is one of the key maladies that can really frustrate, confound, and seriously crimp a day’s activities – it truly can feel as if the whole world around is shrouded in thick fog, making it hard to figure out how, what, or where you’re supposed to be headed. Unfortunately, many of us experience…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,43,4,383,379],"tags":[748,79,329,728,750,78,751,749],"class_list":["post-871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-encouragement-in-life","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","category-heart-health","category-lupus-2","tag-brain-fog","tag-cancer","tag-chemotherapy","tag-coping","tag-coping-with-chronic-illness","tag-frustration","tag-sagging-spirit","tag-thinking"],"yoast_head":"\nBrain fog and list-less? - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/10\/brain-fog-and-list-less.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brain fog and list-less? - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Brain fog is one of the key maladies that can really frustrate, confound, and seriously crimp a day’s activities – it truly can feel as if the whole world around is shrouded in thick fog, making it hard to figure out how, what, or where you’re supposed to be headed. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=871"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":880,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871\/revisions\/880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}