Is there hope for a scatterbrain like me?

I forget where I left the car keys, I wonder if I closed the garage door ten minutes after leaving the house, I send e-mails without attachments and I leave the house wearing slippers. While annoying, those are only minor distractions. But to be told you left the stove on? Not once, not twice, but several times? I accept I am a full-fledged scatterbrain and I’ve got to do something about it before I burn the house down.

We usually don’t realize how often we are on autopilot. We spend our day in an out-of-body experience, and when we start noticing these moments of absent-mindedness, we need to pay attention to them for the red flags they are. But what is a scatterbrain like me to do? Being fully in the moment is harder than it sounds, especially in a world that constantly demands our time and attention.

It turns out there is hope. According to Dr. Erin Olivo, author of Wise Mind Living, “one of the most effective ways to combat absent-mindedness and turn off the ‘auto-pilot’ way of living is by practicing mindfulness”. There is plenty of research to show such a practice brings benefits to our memory, competence, and overall well-being. What exactly is mindfulness? According to Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist,

I don’t need convincing that I need to practice mindfulness. I need it and badly so. The ideal would be to establish a regular meditation practice where you sit quietly and breathe deeply in and out for the recommended minimum of 20–30 minutes. But I believe in starting small to outsmart that part of my brain that wants to avoid huge commitments. I choose instead to sprinkle small doses of mindfulness throughout my day.

My car keys now always go back into my purse as I mindfully open the zipper, breathing in and out. In front of the driveway, I push the button to close the garage door, noticing the physical sensations in my body at that moment. I happily leave, knowing the house will not be vandalized due to negligence. Each e-mail I send offers an opportunity to ground myself in the moment. Do I have the correct contacts? Did I include that attachment? No more apologies for forgetting to do so. As for wearing slippers? I mindfully decide if that is the fashion statement I choose to make. More importantly, for the brightest red flag, I put my hand on the stove knob and feel myself turning it before I take the pot away, fully reassured that there is hope for a scatterbrain like me.

What are some red flags in your own life? How can you sprinkle small doses of mindfulness throughout your day?

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