Seeing the Forest for the Trees...and the Fog

Fibro-fog, in its every varying degrees, comes and goes as it pleases for most of us. Some times we are "clear" enough to function like the rest of the world, other times mildly foggy but functional, sometimes very foggy, and then there are the times when we are totally fogged in! Adding to the frustration is the fact that stress makes it worse, thus usually when we need to be at our best we almost destined not to be, to one degree or another. At these times, an old phrase with a bit of a twist added applies: "I can't see the forest for the trees...and the Fog!"

One of the things I have found that bothers me most is clutter! My foggy mind recognizes what each pile, stack, etc., represents, but I cannot just pick one and work on it. It always ends one of two ways. I may bounce from one pile to the next, only adding to my fogginess and decreasing my progress or stopping it altogether. Or, may I find myself so overwhelmed that I just walk away, certainly accomplishing nothing. Either way quickly diminishes my self-esteem. The next day, there are usually a few more piles or stacks, the cycle repeats, my self-esteem takes another dip: Another Fibromyalgia-induced endless cycle!

I have found that my corkboard approach helps with this as well!

• If the pile or stack is actually just a sheet of paper or a couple of pages, I just pin it up on my corkboard. If need be, I add a note to identify what it is or what I need to do with it.
  
• If it consists of small items such as receipts, I place them in an envelope, label it, and pin it to the board.
• If a folder is involved, I make sure it is labeled, and move it to my "folder spot". Then, I document its content, action required, etc., and pin the note to the corkboard.
• Books, magazines, etc. are moved to their "spot" and managed the same as folders.
  

This method helps in several ways.

• At first glance, my desk is essentially clean. This eliminates that initial "OMG" reaction which sometimes causes me to just walk away.
  
• Without anything on the desk demanding my immediate attention, my foggy mind immediately hones in on the ONE THING I must accomplish. Whether it is a blog post, dealing with emails, managing prescriptions, paying bills, etc., with nothing else "pressing" upon me, I am able to remain more calm, remind myself that I have only ONE objective, and am more apt to be able to think through it and see it to completion.
• Once that ONE THING is accomplished, if I am able, I then turn to my corkboard, or I return to it later in the day when I have rested. If I am not able to mentally tackle more that day, then I simply accept that and do not return to it until the next day.
  
• To keep my desk clean for the next day I either:
  
  • Deal with whatever comes in that day such as mail or a blog idea, pinning it to the corkboard accordingly
    
  • Create ONE pile, put it aside so my desk is clear for my ONE THING moment the next day, THEN sort and corkboard the items accordingly
    
  • Leave the mail in the box until the next day when I am mentally able to face it. The box is locked so the mail is secure and I have saved myself from mental overload and all the related anxieties.
    

I realize a corkboard is not the answer for everyone, but perhaps you can modify it to help you as it does me. If you already have an effective system, I would love to hear about it and, with your permission, share it with our readers. Your ideas are just as valuable as mine, sometimes even more! We are in this together--LIVING our fibrLIFE to the best of our abilities!

Blessings!
Meshea

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