short-term memory is sucking

[bryanthompson]

I have been attributing this to stress, but it is getting to the point where I feel like I'm losing my mind.

I can't seem to remember pieces of information even after immediately reading them, unless the subject is computer or work related. When I meet people, I pretty much forget their names as soon as the conversation is over. Looking through my inbox, I have about 8 emails to myself reminding me to do one thing or another, and my monitor is covered in sticky notes.

Is this just an effect of working 80 hours a week and going being a full-time student, or is it possible I have a problem? Is there some kind of mental training I can try that will exercise my short-term memory? I'm starting to freak out a little bit.

[bryanthompson]

Aaand, just for good measure. One of the greatest SNL skits ever. Couldn't find it on You-Tube.



Maybe my problem is a short attention span. Lord knows I can't focus on one..... oh look, a kitty!!

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
...working 80 hours a week and going being a full-time student, ...

I'd say that's it.
I can't imagine myself doing that.

[FrayAdjacent911]

Welcome to my life. I can remember some of the most trivial sjit, but I forget people's names after a few moments. It sucks.

[Don Plumley]

I'm sorry...what did you say again?

[nostatic]

who the hell are you and what are you doing in my kitchen?!?!?

[jyl]

You're just overworked and tired out. I'll bet you aren't getting enough sleep either.

[cantdrv55]

Weed will do that to you.

Weed will do what again?

[StevoRocket]

A plain and simple case of sensory overload. Yes you may be losing your mind. A breakdown is a possibility.
Re-set your priorities - write them down. Develop a way of working and studying that reduces stress.
Have a daily plan.
Dont let other people steal your time or deflect you from your plan - dont be a victim of their needs.
Take exercise, dont booze too much. Eat sensibly.
Make sure you have time for fun and relaxation.
Oh - and lighten up!

[livi]

Thats the story of my life. Both short and long term memory is embarrassingly weak. I will sometime concentrate on remembering what the guy I meet is called. Five minutes later its gone, no matter how I try.

I make sure the list of "must remember" is written down and as short as possible.

Most likely there is a stress related component. But then, we are who we are. I have a friend with at least the same amount of stress, that seems to remember every single detail during a day. On a long term scale he even claims he recalls most of his days in kindergarten. Would not be surprised if he still have vivid nightmares of his own birth..

[RoninLB]

some attack memory as an exercise. The older you get the more you need the workout.


If interested,
"Building Left Brain Power", by Allen D Bragdon & David Gamon, ISBN 0-8027-7683-3, USA

www.walkerbooks.com

[StevoRocket]

Try this too....

http://www.managementconsultingnews.com/interviews/buzan_interview.php

[bryanthompson]

Thanks, guys I'll see how setting a schedule for work/school/sleep works. Right now, there's no schedule... and that's probably a lot of my problem.

[kach22i]

Don't masterbate or have sex for ten days and report back here.

If you don't experience a difference we will all know what you were doing.

[craigster59]

Question: How many kids with ADD does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Answer: Wanna ride bikes?!!

[cantdrv55]

lol!

[Jeff Higgins]

I think that's pretty common. I can remember the tiniest detail from projects I worked on months or years in the past, but I can't remember what I had for breakfast. I can get my kindergarten class picture out and name all the kids, but can't remember the name of the guy I just met.

I think level of interest, or importance, might have something to do with it. I can read a section in my Porsche shop manual, crawl under the car, and do everything it said without ever looking at it again. I can have a cookbook open in front of me in the kitchen ("helping" my wife cook) and forget how many eggs I need between there and the refrigerator. Weird stuff sticks in the memory and relevant stuff sometimes does not. I think we all experience that.

[Wrecked944]

I'm not a big fan of "herbal" remedies. But I can't deny that taking ginko has noticably improved my memory. Despite the hype, it actually works . It also reduced the ringing in my ears (from my misspent youth playing punk rock). About two weeks after I began taking ginko, I started to "catch" myself remembering things that I'd normally forget. For instance, I'd suddenly realize I hadn't opened my personal phone book in a week. Or I'd notice that I no longer needed to check my "todo" list every five minutes.

[turbo6bar]

You're only working 80 hours?

[Icemaster]

Originally posted by turbo6bar
You're only working 80 hours?

My thoughts exactly.

Think it's bad now? Wait til you have kids.