I did not think that at the grand old age of 33 one of my main worries in life would be that I was losing my memory.
I’ve always been aware that my memory isn’t the best, and throughout my twenties I put it down to the amount of alcohol consumed at uni. However, I don’t drink anywhere near as much now, so that is no longer a valid excuse. Here are a couple of recent examples of how my memory has let me down.
- For part of my brother’s birthday present I bought him what I considered to be a really thoughtful gift – the DVD of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (which I also mentioned in our Guilty Pleasures post last week – do read the comments if you haven’t done so, they were just brilliant!). We used to watch it when we were younger and would find it hilarious. So I was mortified when he told me that I had now bought him the same present for two years running. Even as I type, my memory is failing me – was it two years running or three?
- The other week I got chatting to a German lady at a playgroup. I mentioned that I had lived in Germany a few years ago. When she asked me whereabouts, I could not for the life of me remember the name of the town (Bayreuth) and ended up blurting out “Freiburg”. I knew as soon as I said it that it was wrong but it was too late to correct myself. I would have looked either extremely dense, which I possibly am, or like a big fat liar. It got worse. She was excited to tell me that there was another mum at the playgroup who was actually from Freiburg and took me over to her to introduce us, and I had to keep up this ridiculous pretence of having lived in Freiburg.
And it seems I’m not the only one. Stylish-Susan-from-the-office tells me that her cousin calls her ‘The Life-Ruiner’ because she can’t remember all the childhood experiences they shared. And one of the girls from my netball team actually went to see a doctor because she was so concerned about her memory, only to forget to ring up to get the results of the blood test…
I can’t help thinking that part of the reason my brain is turning to mush is due to my reliance on technology. It’s a vicious circle – I rely on notes and reminders on my iphone but it’s probably because of these apps that my brain is getting lazy and not having to retain information. Similarly, I use the camera on my phone on an almost-daily basis, but research tells me that if I want to remember experiences then I should be putting the smartphone away.
Are you worried about the state of your memory? Do you, like me, often find yourself in a room having completely forgotten why you went in there, or get back from the supermarket sans the one item you intended to buy?
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Oh this is such a struggle for me.
I’m a lawyer, which means that everyone I work with seems to have a superhuman memory…except me! I can barely remember what I worked on yesterday, and by contrast colleagues say things like ‘can you just find the email where so-and-so told us such-and-such? I think they sent it in November. I’m pretty sure it was a Tuesday’ (No joke, this has actually happened on more than one occasion). And I can read a case and forget hours later what the point of it was.
But then, I have an absolutely amazing memory for some selective things. Numbers and important dates in particular seem to stick in my brain for ages. Which, admittedly, is useful but I just can’t understand why I’m so inconsistent!
A Tuesday in November Stacey…seriously?!! I bet being a lawyer people expect you to have a superhuman memory too.
At least you’ve got the saving grace of being able to remember important dates. I would be lost without my calendar (I’m old school and still rely on a paper one). The only thing I seem to have a good memory for is song lyrics, not useful in the slightest! X
This is my main worry too! I walk in and out of rooms so many times now before it dawns on me what I was doing. The phrase in one ear and out the other seems to apply to my brain, as soon as I’ve had a thought to do something, I’ve forgotten it!!
What are we going to do??
Argh it’s SO frustrating isn’t it. The phrase ‘I would forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on’ is the one that applies to me.
Lauren has suggested drinking more water. Except I don’t like water. Maybe drinking more squash will help. x
Oh Lisa I feel for you!!!
I’m in my twenties, and am worried about my horrific memory. It used to be brilliant, but now I really struggle. I can remember a conversation (or part of it) but not the who or when or where. Or even the outcome.
I put it down to baby brain but as my youngest is now 18 months I don’t think I can use that excuse!!
I feel like I’m in a bit of a bubble sometimes. On the bright side I can re read a book and it’s as if I’m reading it for the first time!
X
It is nice to know I’m not the only one Emily!
Yup as Lyra is 2 and a half I really can’t blame baby brain either…
But you are right about it having pros – I can watch a film I’ve seen before and not remember the twist. And Rich is a brilliant storyteller and he likes the fact that after a year or so I’ve forgotten a story so he can re-tell it to me and I will enjoy it just as much the first time! x
Oh my god this is so well timed, I was thinking about this the other day and actually wondered if I should see the doctor or at last google if this is normal. I remember stuff and I know where I’ve been but there are things from my past that I simply can’t remember. Like the fact I can’t remember how I told my parents I was pregnant, it was 2 years ago! Did we go to their house, I think I might have but did they cry, how long did they hug me? I don’t mind walking into rooms and forgetting stuff I have a lot going on and many a list floating around but why can’t I recall important facts from my past, should I be worried?
I know Claire…I can completely sympathise. You should ask your parents, it will probably trigger the memory?!
Having done a bit of googling whilst writing this post it did put my mind at rest that it is pretty normal, but still worrying nevertheless x
This post made me laugh Lisa. I thought I was probably the only person who’d bought my brother the same present two years in a row, but I’m not alone after all! My dad also recently pointed out to me that I’d got him the same birthday card three times. Ooops.
I like to tell myself this is totally normal, and when I need an excuse I blame baby brain – who cares that my daughter is 19 months old now! 🙂 x
No way Tracy M! That makes me feel a LOT better and I am going to show your comment to my brother 🙂
I’m 25 and have been worrying for the last 6 years that I might possibly have Early Onset Alzheimer’s…..I obviously know I’m over reacting and that I’m definitely fine, but still, my failing memory really freaks me out sometimes.
When I was younger my recall at school was amazing. I used to be able to memorise paragraphs of text or lists of facts and figures like a photograph. (Although being able to recall early childhood memories was never great.)
First year of university was where everything started going downhill however. It started with names. I would be introduced to someone and forget their name within seconds of hearing it. (This NEVER used to be a problem before.) Revision for my exams went horrendously, which resulted in me achieving a much lower grade than I know I am capable of.
Now I’m working, my biggest issue is phone calls and people asking me to do something for them. Within seconds of coming off the phone or reading an email I have immediately forgotten about it, even if I write notes! It’s a nightmare. Recalling words is also an issue a lot of the time. (Both when writing and speaking.)
I’m also not sure if drinking during uni may have had an effect. But like you, I agree that modern technology may also be to blame, but perhaps for different reasons. I find that with my phone/computer/ipad/tv always to hand, I never fully focus on anything I’m doing, often flicking between tabs at work or facebook/instagram/snapchat on my phone. My brain is addicted to technological procrastination. Maybe this post is the kick up the butt I need to turn everything off!
(Might download some brain training apps first though haha!)
xx
It’s so unfair isn’t it.
Rich and I have literally just had the conversation about forgetting people’s names (he is terrible for it). It’s bad because it makes you seem like you don’t care enough to remember someone’s name when that really isn’t the case!
I also have the same issue with remembering words which makes me look a bit thick mid-conversation at times!
And yes completely agree about the modern technology thing – constantly being distracted means never being able to concentrate fully. In reality I don’t think I’ll be giving up fb/insta any time soon so I’m going to join you with the brain training apps 🙂
Oh god yeah I can sympathise – I’ve taken to setting up a spreadsheet for what I’ve bought as presents so I can refer back! Geeky but necessary.
Brilliant idea Lynsey! My brother will thank you 🙂
I keep using the wrong words for things too, such as spoon instead of Fork!? Molly is five and is always like ‘You mean hole on to the trolley not the pram we’re at the supermarket mummy!’ I’m constantly saying kitchen instead of dining room. Oh dear! At least I’m not alone x
Yes that too! Also leaving stuff in random places, like my phone in the fridge, and my purse in the cupboard ?
Lisa, I love your blogs – it’s like a quick lunchtime natter even when I don’t see you!
You know I have this problem, and I completely agree that it has to do with technology meaning that we never exercise certain brain functions – use it or lose it is a cliche for a reason, and we rarely use our memories as everything we need to know is in our phones!
Brain training has been on my to-do list since I had Jovan (nearly 4 years ago!!) and waved goodbye to the teeny tiny bit of memory I had at that point. Maybe at some point I will bump it up the list and actually do it!
x
Oh hey Stylish Susan! ? Let’s do some brain training the next time we’re both in the office together xx
Um, I meant to comment on this post this morning then promptly forgot! I have a good memory for random things from my past. I can remember colours that people wore or exactly what I said to them but I need a list for my day to day life otherwise I forget everything x
Ha ha Lottie! At least you remembered in the end!
Isn’t it funny, the random things we do and don’t remember and the way our brains work. I’m the same, love a list x
Oh my, this is actually MY LIFE! My husband gets so annoyed with me when I forget things we did or places we went, wondering how on earth I can’t remember all the big things. I too have gifted the same presents more than once (my brother also the unfortunate reciprocate), names escape me seconds after hearing them and more recently (still blaming baby brain 12 months) I find myself stopping mid sentence without the foggiest idea of what I was just saying… or about to say. Scary!
Lol Maddy! Maybe brothers shouldn’t be so bloody hard to buy for 🙂
Seems like having kids might have something to do with it…?! Which kind of makes sense, there’s SO MUCH to remember when you’ve got a little one to think about too x
I just can’t seem to find a system that works for me to help remember. At work, I’m super organised – I use a calendar, set up reminders, write to-do lists and it all works fine. My personal life – it’s all in my head. Birthdays, holidays, appointments… And obviously subject to brain fail lol. Such as the time I woke up one Saturday and thought ‘I think I’m supposed to be somewhere…’ And then realised it was a hair appointment that was in 10mins time (and I was still in my PJs!). Cue an embarrassed call to cancel where I pretended I was ill… The shame.
But it seems that if I write it down, I’m actually more likely to forget it! Doesn’t matter whether it’s a phone reminder (I get annoyed by them), on a calendar (don’t look at it) or in a diary (I’ll forget it). So it just has to stay in my head and hope for the best!
However I’ve got a weird memory when it comes to places. I can remember layouts of my friends houses that I only visited a handful of times yet even they can’t remember it as clearly (even though they grew up there!)
Ha ha Jo G. At least you remembered your hair appointment at the last minute!
It is SO strange how our memories work. I know what you mean about the phone reminders – even though I use them it’s a bit like having someone nag at you to do something! X
Oh god this is such a problem for me too. I am forever forgetting things and people may as well not tell me their names. A friend did once tell me a trick to repeat it back to them when they introduce themselves, but I always forget! Oh the irony!!
I am glad it’s not just me. But it is super embarrassing and not being able to remember any facts does make me come across as a complete bimbo during the Xmas family quizzes! ? Xx
[…] *I am not condoning under-age drinking in any way. In fact it’s probably the reason why my memory is so terrible. […]