I have a terrible short-term memory. It's one of my biggest limitations, if I recall correctly.
I can watch a movie and by the time next weekend rolls around, I can watch it again as if it were a new movie. I can have a 15 minute conversation with a colleague and have to go back for a reminder a minute later.
That being said, my long term memory seems to be doing just fine. Last month, I ran into a familiar face at the grocery store (as crazy as the grocery store is, some headphones and a shopping list are my best friends there). We were both having issues at the self-checkout and we were both looking around for help. We both recognized one another, and started chatting. It took me two guesses to place where I knew her from. I had met her at a placement in 1998 when I was a student – over 20 years ago! I remember that I would always practice my French when chatting with her. I hadn’t spoken to her since that summer! We had a pleasant conversation as the attendant cleared the errors from both our self-checkouts and then we went our separate ways.
I can name you all the teachers I had in elementary school, I can probably give you the first and last names of most of the kids in my grade 1 class as well, if you were to show me a picture. I remember the 7 character licence plate of my first new car. But I may not be able to tell you what I had for breakfast last week, or what I worked on yesterday.
But all hope is not lost! I have a few strategies that I employ to try and fill the memory gaps:
- Post-it notes at work with a task list
- Google Keep
- Calendar reminders on my phone
- Post-it notes in my wallet
- A whiteboard in the kitchen that includes a todo list
- Repeat things to myself
- Make up silly songs
And if all else fails, ummm. I forget what happens if all else fails. I probably should have written it down.
[ Photo by Emily Morter ]
