Fixing or compensating for forgetfulness

matisyahu

So last week I was coming home from lunch and set my leftover sandwich on the porch while I took the garbage to the street. I thought "don't forget about this sandwich because it's going to be delicious and this is exactly the sort of thing you'd forget about," but sure enough, the next morning I had to throw i away because I forgot it on the porch. This was pretty much the last straw.

This week I forgot to take the trash out completely, I frequently forget about birthdays, appointments and other important things to do. I'm only 22 so I shouldn't have Alzheimer's yet, but my shoddy memory is starting to scare me. Maybe all the procrastination I learned in college has weaseled its way into my subconscious, but whatever the case, I'm looking for a variety of suggestions--strategies, tactics, magic--to improve my functional memory.

Chanus

I am exactly the same way: Mentally fit-as-a-fiddle, but I can't remember crap (29 here, but been that way since I can... remember).

Repeat things to yourself over and over, ie: "Don't forget your sandwich, don't forget your sandwich". Try not to do multiple things at once unless they're along the same lines (like taking out the garbage and also checking the mail, rather than remembering your sandwich since you're going to roughly the same place in the former example).

Write notes to yourself if it's something you want to remember to do later. My cell phone has a note/alarm function so I can set a note to pop up a couple hours later to remind me of things.

I think it may have something to do with being slightly ADD. I just get distracted really easily, and often find myself going into another room and immediately forgetting why.

cooljammer00

The writing notes thing is pretty ace. If you don't want to carry a notepad, you can write stuff into your phone.

tallgeeze

I have this problem as well. I always usually set up things in a way that I am forced to do something later when I think about it now. Like your trash example. I forget all the time because I'm in a rush in the morning. The night before I take the trash bag and it put it in front of the door, so I know "hey, this needs to be taken out". For the sandwich I would put it on top of my car if you happen to pass it on your way to take out the trash.

We absent minded folk must look into the future to see where and when we will possibly fuck up in any given task. Then we set up counter measures in advance.

Basketballs

I can't really help with missing appointments and stuff like that. But, I've found that if you imagine an object exploding in a spectacular Hollywood fashion you don't forget about the object later.

Wiley

I'm pretty forgetful. I've found a combination of notes, slowing down and trying to stay out of situations where I'm rushed, and doing things like putting the sandwich in the refridgerator first and then doing the trash because I know I'll leave it laying out otherwise is the best solution.

Saddler

Use your cell phone's reminder service/calender. Mine buzzes and rings 20 minutes before I have to move my car to the other side of the street due to street sweeping. It has saved me a lot of money in parking tickets.

Kris

While I don't have any advice to give, I just want to say that it's really nice to hear that I'm not the only one dealing with forgetfulness and other memory issues at the tender age of 22. You have slightly eased my worries!

Monolithic_Dome

I tend to have what I call the "note taker's paradox." If I write something down, I'll remember it because I wrote it down, without ever having to look at the note. Some kinda muscle memory thing, idk.

Anyway, my big problem with notes is they get all crumpled in my pocket and I'm hosed if I don't have a pen handy.

This thread reminded me that I saw This handy thing at an airport a few weeks ago, a metal notepad with built-in pen. The pic makes it look bigger than it is, it's about the size of a business card. I just ordered one. we'll see if I get better at taking notes.

TL DR

Keep a planner. It really really helps.

http://lifehacker.com/5321204/take-18-minutes-to-keep-your-days-on-track

Dman

Yeah, a physical planner or an electronic one work well. I actually like using a large wall calendar because you can have more than one person's information on it which is especially handy if you're sharing a car and whatnot.

Figgy

If you have a cell phone, check to see if there is any sort of calendar application on there. If you have a smart phone (BB, iPhone, whatever), you're golden.

Just plug every single thing into that (appointments, work shifts, birthdays, etc.) and you'll get reminders automatically.

Solandra

I have to do things in the same order in the mornings to keep it all on track, and if I get off track in the early morning the remainder of the day is probably hosed. If I get off track I don't freak out, mind you, but the things I do forget might cause grumpiness.

So on a typical day, I let the dogs out, turn on the shower, take my meds, bathe, dress, let the dogs back in, and then comb my hair, the rest of the morning (laundry, taking out the trash, fixing my lunch, etc) goes smoothly, and the evening goes well, too. This morning, I let the dogs out but had to take care of a catbox problem, checked my email, showered, dressed and then left for work - without taking my meds, combing my hair or putting on my engagement ring. No problem, I think, as I'm combing my hair at my desk, I'm going by the house at lunch time, and I can take my meds, put on my ring, take out something for dinner, etc. I managed to remember my ring.

I don't want to think about tonight.

TheGreat2nd

cooljammer00 wrote: »

The writing notes thing is pretty ace. If you don't want to carry a notepad, you can write stuff into your phone.

Natch.

cooljammer00

TheGreat2nd wrote: »

cooljammer00 wrote: »

The writing notes thing is pretty ace. If you don't want to carry a notepad, you can write stuff into your phone.

Natch.

Also, not that it's useful here, but I find having a Twitter could potentially help you not forget little musings and thoughts by posting them. I always write little things down because I want to post them later.

Reckless

http://www.moleskines.com/moleskine-cahier-journals.html

Buy a few packs of these and carry them in one of your back pockets plus keep a pen handy.

seasleepy

This is a pretty obvious set of observations, but here's what has been helping me when dealing with my own forgetfulness lately:

All the notepads in the world won't be useful to you unless you use them. And you are going to have to force yourself to do it for the first while. Anytime you think "I have to remember...", you should be reaching for pen and paper. Relatedly, have pen and paper available immediately anytime you're going to write a note. If you don't want to be carrying one single notepad around with you at all times, make sure you have pen and paper in every room and a small pen and an envelope or something with your keys and wallet.

The other side of this is that all the notes in the world won't help unless you use them. Writing stuff down does help keep it in memory a lot of the time, but you can't always rely on it. And having "buy eggs" on the notepad in the living room and "buy milk" on the notepad in the kitchen won't really help when you're in the grocery store. So.
If you're writing looseleaf notes, have an inbox. If you write a note somewhere else, you put it in the inbox ASAP. (This doesn't have to be a physical box. If you're really worried about forgetting about your notes, you could even make your desk chair your "inbox".)
Make a routine of going through your notes. Depending on how many notes you're writing yourself, this could be every evening, lunch and evening every day, every time you sit down at your kitchen table/desk, etc. (If you're worried about forgetting a note from somewhere, take the time right before you go through your inbox to check your notepads around the house and your pockets for misplaced notes.)
Get rid of the ones that don't apply anymore (no matter how diligent you are at going through your notes, you're probably going to forget to throw away some of your old ones).
Make reminders for the ones that still do (using your phone, paper calendar, whatever).
Aggregate applicable notes into grocery lists, errand lists, etc.
Figure out some way to store any other notes you're going to want in the future (whether that's in a physical notebook, computer-based note-taking program, personal wiki, emailing yourself, text files on your computer, etc).

pinenut_canary

Monolithic_Dome wrote: »

I tend to have what I call the "note taker's paradox." If I write something down, I'll remember it because I wrote it down, without ever having to look at the note. Some kinda muscle memory thing, idk.

Anyway, my big problem with notes is they get all crumpled in my pocket and I'm hosed if I don't have a pen handy.

This thread reminded me that I saw This handy thing at an airport a few weeks ago, a metal notepad with built-in pen. The pic makes it look bigger than it is, it's about the size of a business card. I just ordered one. we'll see if I get better at taking notes.

Reckless wrote: »

http://www.moleskines.com/moleskine-cahier-journals.html

Buy a few packs of these and carry them in one of your back pockets plus keep a pen handy.

I use these exact notebooks, write everything down, and just the action itself is enough to remind me. Many times I've written down 20-30 things for grocery shopping, and after writing them down, I only have to look at my notebook once or twice to remind me of what I forgot. It might not be the same for you, but writing things down, whether with a notepad or a phone helps a lot.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

Glad to hear other young adults are also forgetful.

I do a muscle memory patdown, as I used to lose my wallet / keys / phone twenty four seven. Before I leave any room, I ask myself "Is there anything I need to do in here?" It usually helps.

The LandoStander

Moving mental "things" around in your working memory is really the best to help with forgetfulness. So forming a quick mental image of the thing you need to remember in a place that is out of context can help. So for the sandwich as an example, picture the sandwich stuck between a line of books at the library or sitting on top of your washing machine, a sort of nonsense scene. It'll make you visualize the sandwich and sort of move it about in your spatial memory.

Physical habits are also good. I also do a pat down of myself every time I go for the door. If I have a trip coming up I put a post it note right at eye level on the door with a list of everything that I should have, right down to the power cable for my 360 if I'm taking it with.

At my current job I really only have one task so I don't need much help there but when I used to work as a Music Movies and Books specialist at Target years ago I bought a little flip journal and kept a half sized pen in my back pocket or cargo pocket and just about any conversation I had with a supervisor or co-worker about things we needed to do or had done I would write them down either during or shortly after. That physical checklist saved my ass several times when it was time for performance reviews or visits from higher-ups.

matisyahu

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. My phone is garbanzo so I'll be going the tiny notebook route for my daily stuff. I still have the problem of the keys / phone type things though. After leaving a restaurant, I often forget whether or not I was wearing my glasses so I have to ask my friends if I was wearing glasses when we got there. Last week I drove 45 minutes to my parents lake house only to discover that I'd forgotten my swim trunks. I want to be more alert but I don't want to be riddled with anxiety, constantly warning myself against forgetting my keys.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud wrote: »

I do a muscle memory patdown, as I used to lose my wallet / keys / phone twenty four seven. Before I leave any room, I ask myself "Is there anything I need to do in here?" It usually helps.

I will start doing this.

edit: Do they have these half-sized pens at regular office stores?

cooljammer00

Golf pencils.

oldsak

matisyahu wrote: »

So last week I was coming home from lunch and set my leftover sandwich on the porch while I took the garbage to the street.

I think the real question here is: Why did you leave your sandwich on the porch?

Put the sandwich in the fridge, then take out the trash.

If you focus on one thing at a time and complete the task in front of you, it will alleviate the need the need to rely on your memory as much.

I know, doesn't really help you improve your memory, but if you can take care of something sooner, then you don't have to remember to do it later.

PeregrineFalcon

Also guilty of this. If something doesn't get written down, I'll forget to do it.

Phone does the reminders, but for anything more than a "HEY, GO DO X NOW" it gets written down in a little notepad.

Viscountalpha

http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Workbook-Breakthrough-Techniques-Exercise/dp/1572242582

This. The techniques learned in this will help immensely. I've still only gone through the first few chapters but it's an Invaluable book. Learning how your memory works is the most important part of making it work.

1 out of 19 reviews makes it fall under my 5 fucktards for every 100 people, which is about right. (the things I learn from ebay)

Also, B complex and simple vitamins are helpful in brain function and vitality. Just don't go overboard.

Locust76

Basketballs wrote: »

I can't really help with missing appointments and stuff like that. But, I've found that if you imagine an object exploding in a spectacular Hollywood fashion you don't forget about the object later.

I can attest to this working... not necessarily the explosion bit, but if you associate something completely ridiculous to something, you have a better chance of remembering it. For example, you could have thought about the sandwich coming to life with nasty big pointy teeth an attacking you for leaving it out on the porch....

I learned about this technique when I was 13 or so and I still remember some key associations 17 years later.

Viscountalpha

I will say this again. THE MEMORY WORKBOOK WILL HELP. these memory tricks are covered in more detail. With proper examples of what causes a memory to stay and learning to essentially configure your brain. Unless you understand what is going on and why your memorys are linked they way they are, the trick may or may not let your mind stick, or unstick as it were.

StormCrow420

oldsak wrote: »

If you focus on one thing at a time and complete the task in front of you, it will alleviate the need the need to rely on your memory as much.

This. Gotta focus on getting one thing done at a time, no matter how good a multi-tasker you are. Set priorities. Delicious Sandwich > Take out trash any day.

I have one of those big At-A-Glance wall calenders that you can write on in my office, I use Microsoft Outlook for email, a very handy tool for reminders and scheduling your time, I also write out a list of everything I need to get done in my day 1st thing in the morning, and when i finish something I check it off. I keep these lists in a binder labeled 'daily diary' so I know how long I have been trying to get something done, also helps remind me of when I did what.

Your brain is a muscle, and it needs regular exercise to stay sharp. I do alot of book reading. And puzzles, I like puzzles. For you it could be crosswords, or all those crazy asian word games that I don't understand. Museums, historical landmarks, day trips to large balls of twine.

Using chopsticks is supposed to help with memory too.

There are foods and vitamins that help with memory as well, with a little research you can probably find some of them. Memory problems only get worse with age so now is the time to start.

The ganja doesn't help either, obviously.

PeregrineFalcon

StormCrow420 wrote: »

The ganja doesn't help either, obviously.

short term what?

SilverCat

It's good to hear that other young people struggle with memory as much as me, i'm 20 and i forget everything, birthdays, directions (even like 30 seconds after being told), where i put my wallet, keys, phone, parked my car etc. I also lack concentration and stare into space a lot, probably stems from something similar.

I find that i need to forget something at least once in order to make myself remember it. Like when i go swimming, ill forget my towel and then next time i'll make sure to remember my towel but i'll foget my trunks or something..

I'd suggest a notebook too but if your as bad as me you'd probably forget where you put it after going to bed :P

I'm definitely guna try some of the things in this thread..

Pixel Blue

-

StormCrow420

PeregrineFalcon wrote: »

StormCrow420 wrote: »

The ganja doesn't help either, obviously.

short term what?

Yeah tell your friend to stay away from Taco Bell with his sword.

Wait, what's this thread about again?