How To Deal With Short Term Memory Problems: 11 Proven Strategies

In today’s article you’re going to learn everything you need to know about how to deal with short term memory problems.

If you ever came to the end of the stairs without knowing why you went down, you had short-term memory problems. Whether your problems are due to a medical condition or simply to carelessness, here are some strategies to live with. Until you are able to use these ideas in your everyday life, print them out or put a bookmark on this page to help you remember.

How To Deal With Short Term Memory Problems:

1. Visualize.

Draw it in your mind what you need to do, visualize yourself as you perform the action, in as much detail as possible. If you need to remember to lock the door, for example, imagine closing the door and looking at your hand on the handle. Then imagine removing the keys from the pocket, inserting them into the lock and turning them over, removing them and putting them back in your pocket. The more you go into details, the more likely it is that the action will fit into your head.

2. Take complete notes.

When you’re in class, at a meeting, or just for personal reasons, take notes. Even if you never read them again, the act of writing them down will help you remember that information. And if you need to refresh your memory, you’ll know where to look.

Use a different notebook for each topic, project or interest. Choose them in different colors and shapes to help you distinguish between them. If you decide to take notes with a computer, a desktop search engine like Google Desktop or Copernic can help you find old notes by searching for keywords. This means you’ll spend less time keeping them tidy.

3. Make some action plans.

For example, if you cook for your family, write down the menus for each day of the week. Once you’ve written the plan, follow it. In this example, go and buy the things you need for all the meals of the week and prepare them daily.

SEE ALSO: How To Develop Reading Habit That Will Stick: 7 Practical Tips

4. Put the objects in a visible place.

If, for example, you always forget fresh vegetables until they rot in the cupboard, hang them on a shelf in a transparent bag instead.

If you have to stack a lot of things on your desk to remember them, do so. Use baskets or containers if you want to make your room look neater. If you need to take things with you when you’re going somewhere, leave them in a bag when you’re not using them. There are cheap bags, so get one for every activity you have to do.

Make sure you don’t have to remember. If you always leave your shoes at the foot of the bed, or near the door, place them where you usually leave a container and give them a place to put your shoes.

5. Keep a calendar or an agenda where you can write down the things you’ll have to do every day.

Remember to write them down right after you’re told and check your calendar every day. Use only one calendar for work and personal commitments.

6. Be careful.

Many short-term memory problems can be attributed to your ability to concentrate rather than to your brain’s ability to remember. If you have already forgotten the name of the person you have just been introduced to, it may not just be a memory problem.

Were you listening when you were introduced or were you thinking about what you would say next? Next time, look her in the eyes when you shake her hand and repeat the name out loud. Then repeat it silently a couple of times. Make a conscious and active effort to be careful when you know that you will probably forget something.

7. Make lists of things to do.

If there’s something you do regularly, write down the order of things to do. They can be simple actions such as the order of things to do to prepare for the morning, or more complex actions inherent to your work. You can write your list on an electronic device or on a sheet of paper inside a plastic folder.

8. Create a system.

Leave the objects where they are visible and leave them in view until you have used them. This can mean putting things upstairs at the bottom of the stairs, putting bills in a prominent place until you’ve paid for them, or putting cat food on the cookie shelf you use for breakfast.

It can help you combine particular actions with a day of the week or actions you do regularly. For example, if you have a cactus that you have to water once every two weeks, do it every time your football team plays at home.

We all know the power of habit, why not use it to your advantage? Create habits to help you do things instinctively, so that you don’t just depend on your conscious mind to remember. Connect a new habit to an old one, like taking your medicine every time you brush your teeth.

9. Write.

Whatever you’re trying to remember, make a habit of writing it. Use a blackboard, a post-it board, a notebook, the palm of your hand or whatever you have on hand. Write down the shopping list, your commissions, your appointments, and even what you needed to get downstairs if necessary.

SEE ALSO: Want To Be A Learning God? Here’s How To Learn Faster And Remember More

10. Use a computer.

There are programs and websites that allow you to create a digital calendar where you can write down your commitments and reminders.

11. Trust yourself.

Memory has a lot to do with trust. If you think you have a memory problem, it is much more likely that this problem will recur. This is especially true if you try to remember something. Your lack of trust will prevent you from remembering. Develop confidence by congratulating yourself every time you remember something you normally forget.

Thank you for reading this article about how to deal with short term memory problems and I really hope that you take action my advice. I wish you good luck and I hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here