You should be feeling pretty powerful this morning. You have given yourself a quick once-over as to what may be your triggers for stress, you have practiced saying "No" to a number of people and in a number of situations, and you have started to organize your daily planner. 3 super accomplishments!
With that planner, have you been able to incorporate VITE? Vital - got to attend to; Important - but it for a few hours, days, or weeks; Table - let it simmer and re-evaluate later; and Eliminate - I simply do not need or want to do this.
As I refocused on my planner, implementing this acronym, I started to see blank areas begin to appear in my otherwise stuffed calendar. VITE clarified what I want to do, where I want to be, and with whom I want to spend time. Very helpful. I had to admit to myself, that some things that I'd like to eliminate, I can't. I'm already midway through some projects and to drop them now would not be fair to the rest of the stakeholders. But with a new focus I will be able to avoid some of these time-and-energy-sucking projects.

Yesterday's advice concerned saying "No". How are you doing? No is a very tough word to incorporate into your vocabulary when you have always been the go-to, yes-person at home, with your family, at work, in clubs and organizations, in life. Most people, especially women, are pleasers. They like things done right; they like things done on time; they like people happy; they like life organized. And what is the best way to accomplish all three? By taking charge, by agreeing, by saying, "Yes".
Yes is certainly an OK word - what would we do if no one every offered to help or to lead? Matters would be continually at loose ends, with little or nothing ever been completed. Now that would be no fun. However, Yes can also be exhausting, and unless you have a planner and are jotting down your calls to duty, it is easy to overbook, over-offer, over-do-it. And that just leads to stress.
So after practicing saying the word "No" (yesterday's assignment!), my second advice is get a planner. If you already have one, fill it out; if you have already filled it out, it's time to check it over to see what items are vital, important, able to be tabled, and what needs to be eliminated. Just reading through, purging, and prioritizing is a powerful step.

Again, your 4 labels for your planner:
V - Vital (must do/must complete/must have; these things keep you awake at night because of their value, however, when the day dawns, sometimes they are forgotten and/or shuffled to a back burner. Attend to them now).
I - Important (must do, but it does not have to be today. Paying bills might be such an item - you have to do it, but since payday is not until next week, this can wait).
T - Tabled (it's got to be done or planned for but the due date is down the road weeks or months from now. Set it aside, but if it is Important or about to become Vital, do not let this responsibility slip away. If it is due in June, move to May on your calendar and jot this item down as a reminder).
E - Eliminate (it isn't that important and really, who cares?).
VITE - that's life! Enjoy it as you de-stress and re-organize.

De-stressing to Enhance Mental Cognition - Saying "No"

While there are many roads that may lead to Alzheimer's disease and/or other dementias, there are also many ways to detect a different underlying cognitive problem, one that can be "fixed", so to speak. From my observations, probably the biggest impact on cognition for those 20-60 years of age, is stress. We are running left, right, up, and down to solve, attend to, manage, balance, and survive. Whether self-imposed (the most likely) or imposed upon, we tend to think that we have to do and be everything to everyone at all times.
A first step to de-stressing is learning to say, "No." It is also the hardest step. If you are a pleaser, or you just like to see matters taken care of efficiently and effectively, this "No" word is difficult. Having a vision, recognizing how you want things to unfold, saying "No" puts someone else in charge. So, yes, you have some freedom now, but you all have to settle for having things completed (or left undone) in a fashion of which you do not approve. And if your name is on the package as part of the "set-up" or "put-together" team, this can be unnerving as well as discouraging.
Plus when you have responded "Yes" to every request, it is hard for others to know what to do when you do say "No". Most often these folks do not realize how hard it is for you to utter this word, and how even harder it is for you to follow through. People get around you by saying, "Well, if you will not chair this production, with all of your talents and insight, will you please assume the role for Part B? We need you."
Flattery or truth, saying "No" now may be even harder. It is important to accept that saying "Yes" at this point also means loosing control of certain aspects as someone else is now in charge. Without a doubt, you are even more stressed with the situation. After all, things will probably not roll out to your liking.
This is just part of the reason saying "No" and sticking to it is amazingly difficult - nearly impossible.
Your homework, then is to list your responsibilities (please stop at 10), and then analyze them as to significance and value. This could take quite some time but it will be worth it as you develop your "No" abilities.
On the side, as you work on your list and analysis, practice saying "No" - just that 1 word to begin with and later we will work on adding your reasons/reasoning why.
Happy "No" Day to You!

How is your mental cognition?

As we age we tend to forget things. Sometimes this is good as harboring bad feelings hurts the body and the soul. But at other times we forget things like where they car keys were placed, how to perform a specific function on the computer, or easy directions to a familiar location. What does this mean? Well, only a thorough examination by your neurologist can tell - and then maybe not. An exam can uncover problems with medication,  an infection, or stress. So current forgetfulness may be completely insignificant or better said, rectified simply.
As we age, some medications react differently, so that prescription taken for 20 years may now be ineffective or problematic. It is amazing the number of times that cognitive problems radiate from an infection - especially UT. It is rather routine for people to breeze on, ignoring warning signs of infection, while feeling absolutely miserable. However, once a prescription comes into play, life (and mind) return to normal.
One of the biggest trials we face is stress. Americans, especially women, are stressed. (And I believe this stress and women part is true worldwide). Women carry tremendous expectations for caring for family, working outside of the home, balancing 192 activities, and remaining pleasant, affable, and concerned with every aspect of life. Many of these expectations are self-inflicted - the desire to be perfect - while others are placed on us by society.
Do you find yourself floating in the stress boat, seeking a paddle or lifejacket to guide you safely to shore? Stay tuned for some insight on de-stressing your life. Or perhaps you have some advice for me.

What is age- and dementia-friendly?

What is more important than living in a safe community that has everything to offer from the day you are born, throughout your life? That is what age- and dementia-friendly is all about. With a survey (or 4-5) take the time to learn what your community already has, what needs to be adjusted, and what you need to add. That's what Winnemucca did and we are up, running, and excited to unite with like minded individuals across Nevada, the US, and the world.