How to Work When You Can't Work: Managing Illness and Cognitive Impairment

Managing Cognitive Impairment (Brain Fog)

• 💡 Cognitive impairment, often called brain fog, can manifest as distraction, inability to finish sentences, or difficulty focusing due to pain or other issues.
• 📝 Use a daily checklist for basic tasks like checking email, voicemail, and preparing for meetings, even on good days, to build habits.
• 🛡️ Create safety nets to prevent mistakes or mitigate their consequences, such as double-checking time zones on meeting invites or using time zone planner tools.

Leveraging Support and Checklists

• 🤝 Don't hesitate to ask others for help with tasks like checking your work; it's a way to support each other and build stronger relationships.
• ✅ Implement checklists for repeating tasks done more than three times to avoid errors and ensure completion, especially when feeling unwell.
• 📌 Maintain lists of meeting topics and take extensive notes, whether handwritten or digital, to capture important information and recall details later.

Documentation and Externalization

• 📚 Create a substitute binder or digital documentation with essential information, contacts, and procedures to allow others to cover for you if you're absent.
• 🧠 Externalize information from your head into a reliable system (digital or handwritten) to reduce reliance on memory when cognitive function is impaired.
• 🛠️ Utilize external supports like calendar reminders, templates, and commonly used numbers in your phone to save energy for more important tasks.

Communication and Relationships

• 🗣️ Apologize and take responsibility when you forget something or make a mistake, rather than pretending or trying to cover it up; this strengthens relationships.
• 💬 Communicate openly about having good days and bad days with trusted colleagues; many people are more understanding and supportive than you might expect.
• 💖 Building relationships and showing appreciation, even with a simple thank you note or a small gift, creates a support system and fosters goodwill.

Utilizing Good Times and Maintaining Balance

• ⏳ Use good times to build systems and processes that will support you during bad times, such as creating checklists or a 'black book' of useful information.
• ⚖️ Balance personal recovery with work tasks during good periods; dedicating some energy to work ensures stability and preparation for future challenges.
• 💪 Engage in activities that promote health and a sense of accomplishment within your limitations, as even small successes can make a significant difference.