Is there anything I can to improve my memory?

[ironpony]

I feel like it's getting worse as I get older. I forget things at people's houses for example, or forget to take things home from places, and I have been forgetting to pay my bills till it's late a few times recently.

 

And whenever I think of it, I can't do it at the time, until later, but then when I wait till later, I forget. People say to put it in my phone, but half the time I don't have my phone with me, cause I forgot it, and the other half, the reminders go off at a time that I mis-predicted when I would be available to do it, then later when I am, I have forgotten.

 

So is there anything I can do to solve the problem at it's core, and just make my memory better somehow?

[Foxhall]

Perhaps learning a language,

 

I am learning spanish at the moment on the duolingo app, find that very good,

 

I am sure I have many inadequacies but one thing I have always had is a great memory.

[alphamale]

fish oil supplements

[ironpony]

Perhaps learning a language,

 

I am learning spanish at the moment on the duolingo app, find that very good,

 

I am sure I have many inadequacies but one thing I have always had is a great memory.

 

Oh I was told to do things like crossword puzzles to keep my brain thinking. However, I think that is the reason why my memory has been poor lately, is that I have so much going on the past few months that I am suffering from brain overload. So I thought that I need to give my brain a rest when I could and not have it think more, unless the more thinking, the better for memory.

[RecentChange]

How much proper sleep are you getting, and what kind of medications are you on?

 

Both can really affect memory and ability to focus.

 

Personally, my work as a project manager (multiple projects at once) keeps me really busy, and I tend to get tugged around like a rag doll which can affect my focus.

 

I use calendar reminders religiously, and if I can't do it right then, I snooze it - maybe 5 mins, maybe half a day - but I essentially nag myself to death about it so it gets done.

 

As for forgetting the phone - routine keeps things like grabbing my phone etc in check (and well while working I couldn't function without it).

 

I have a routine when leaving the house. A routine when starting the car etc that helps make sure nothing is missed.

[alphamale]

studies show that the more forgetful you are the smarter and more productive you are

[Fair]

Exercise.

 

Improves cognitive function.

[ironpony]

How much proper sleep are you getting, and what kind of medications are you on?

 

Both can really affect memory and ability to focus.

 

Personally, my work as a project manager (multiple projects at once) keeps me really busy, and I tend to get tugged around like a rag doll which can affect my focus.

 

I use calendar reminders religiously, and if I can't do it right then, I snooze it - maybe 5 mins, maybe half a day - but I essentially nag myself to death about it so it gets done.

 

As for forgetting the phone - routine keeps things like grabbing my phone etc in check (and well while working I couldn't function without it).

 

I have a routine when leaving the house. A routine when starting the car etc that helps make sure nothing is missed.

 

Well I posted before, that I am suffering from insomnia. Even though I take melatonin so far, it still only works for about 4-5 hours, for me.

 

So there is that. Calendar doesn't help for me often though, cause things change so much.

[ironpony]

Well I want to exercise but I have a knee injury and was told to lay off any exercise that involves bending my knee too much, back and forth. What about sit ups and push ups, can they help memory, or does it have to be certain types of exercises?

 

Also my memory is getting much worse. I missed a really important appointment I was suppose to be at, cause of memory problems, and now I am screwed on something career wise. This memory problem is freaking me out.

[clia]

Well I want to exercise but I have a knee injury and was told to lay off any exercise that involves bending my knee too much, back and forth. What about sit ups and push ups, can they help memory, or does it have to be certain types of exercises?

 

I would think any kind of exercise will help you because exercise should help you to sleep more and better. If you have to stay off your knee, look into wheel chair exercises or seated exercises. There is a lot you can do with your upper body. If you can walk, then go for long walks. Sit ups and push ups are also probably good, as long as they don't bother your knee.

 

Also my memory is getting much worse. I missed a really important appointment I was suppose to be at, cause of memory problems, and now I am screwed on something career wise. This memory problem is freaking me out.

 

Some of this may just be getting older, and you seem disorganized.

 

I have to write down all of my appointments or I would forget them. At the beginning of each week I look at my schedule to remind myself what I have that week. Then I look again each morning so I know what I have to do each day.

 

I also keep a running "to do" list so I don't forget things. I also look at that every day and revise it at the end of each week.

 

If I want to remind myself to bring something with me or to take something home, I put it right next to something I know I won't forget -- for example, my shoes, coat, phone, or purse. Or if it's not reasonable to put it next to one of those items, I put a sticky note next to that item to remind me. Or I put it in a place where I will see it before I leave, e.g., on a shelf right next to the door or by the door.

 

If reminders aren't working or are going off at the wrong time, you need to set more of them.

 

If calendars don't work because things change, then you update the calendar as things change.

 

Try writing things down and see how that works.

[ironpony]

Oh okay thanks. In my job, we are not allowed to have phones on the factory floor, so I have mine on silent, so no one hears it. But if I miss a reminder, the phone doesn't remind me again, and you only get that one chance, unless you specifically look at the calendar, which I keep forgetting to do. I'll try to remember.

 

But there are other things I have been forgetting lately. I have been forgetting to eat meals, and I never had to write down to remind myself to eat. The routine was just enough before but lately, I've been forgetting and getting hungry, when I am in a situation where I cannot eat and think, why didn't I eat breakfast or lunch, I always remembered that before, etc.

[beldar]

Well I've read down to here but I'm afraid I've lost my train of thought.

 

 

What was the question again?

[clia]

Oh okay thanks. In my job, we are not allowed to have phones on the factory floor, so I have mine on silent, so no one hears it. But if I miss a reminder, the phone doesn't remind me again, and you only get that one chance, unless you specifically look at the calendar, which I keep forgetting to do. I'll try to remember.

 

Then maybe phone reminders won't be effective for you. Or set them to go off when you are not at work. I personally hate phone reminders and don't use them. I put everything in my calendar or on a to do list.

 

Forgetting to look at the calendar...I don't really know how to help you there because I am person who wakes up in the morning and thinks about what I need to do that day, so I look at my calendar and to do list to help me figure it out and plan out my day. Don't you think in the morning about what you have to do that day or if you made plans to be somewhere? Wouldn't that line of thought spur you to look at your calendar?

 

But there are other things I have been forgetting lately. I have been forgetting to eat meals, and I never had to write down to remind myself to eat. The routine was just enough before but lately, I've been forgetting and getting hungry, when I am in a situation where I cannot eat and think, why didn't I eat breakfast or lunch, I always remembered that before, etc.

 

I don't really follow this. If you are experiencing hunger and you eat when you are hungry, then you should be fine. I don't think it's that abnormal to get really busy doing something and forget to eat at a normal mealtime, but you do eventually eat. For most people, either the routine or the hunger is what spurs them to eat. Are you just so busy that you are working through meal times? Don't you get breaks at work? Are you just forgetting to eat during your break? If so, what do you do during lunch break when everyone else is eating? Maybe for these situations a phone reminder at meal times would help you?

[carhill]

 

So is there anything I can do to solve the problem at it's core, and just make my memory better somehow?

I noticed, when experimenting with complete cessation of eating red meat, that my memory got progressively worse over months. Something as simple as buying a couple pounds of hamburger and making tacos or bunless burgers appeared to reverse the process. That's an anecdote from a 60+ male. YMMV. I also noted, in the past, when under high levels of stress, I would forget the most routine of things. I remember one time going to Home Depot and wandering the aisles for what seemed like hours trying to remember what I was there for. I finally gave up and left. It was really scary. That was when I was caring for a demented person. Little sleep, lots of stress.

[ironpony]

Oh okay. Well the phone reminders and calendar has not been very helpful, since I forget to look or the phone is off at the time, etc.

 

I feel it's getting worse though, cause I was on the toilet for example, and I remembered to do something important and kept telling myself to remember it so I can write make a note of it on the calendar and phone after I got off the toilet. But by the time, I got off, I completely forgot about it for a couple of days and it was too late by then. What do you do with that?

 

As for forgetting to eat, when I first get up, I don't feel as hungry so I forget to eat breakfast till I am already at work, but then I get really hungry and regret forgetting. And yes, I do have lunch breaks at work, and I think of eating lunch then, cause it's a lunch break, but when you forget to bring your lunch, is what I mean by forgetting.

 

I feel that something is wrong with my brain though and calendar and phone can only do so much and I must fix the brain problem at it's core, whatever that is.

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

When is the last time you got extensive bloodwork done?

[ironpony]

Before my current relationship, checking for STDs and what not. So about two years ago. Why?