Sometimes I find myself Google searching things too late in the grand scheme of it all.
What I mostly mean is that I try to make mental notes on something that may interest me or make me question what I believe is a fact.
I’ve got a penchant for wanting to always be “right” all the time, so Google searching to ensure I’m correct is a tangent I enjoy.
Plus, it’s always fun to be able to present the truth and facts as correctly as possible - even if it does ruin some of the entertainment I’m getting at the moment.
And it’s a way of storing random tidbits of information in case I ever get roped into a trivia game.
With the world at my fingertips via my smartphone, I have to jockey between interrupting whatever else it is that I’m doing or has my attention and making a mental note to check it out later.
Even if that “later” time is days or weeks later.
Over half the time, I’ve forgotten what it was that I was supposed to look up or investigate until something jogs the memory back into place.
Or, you know, however memory recall works.
Sometimes I think the queries are lost to the ether forever only to have them appear again years later or when I watch a certain movie or show again.
Sadly, I’ve come across such memory problems as being part of ADHD.
Research shows that while people with ADHD don’t have problems with long-term memories, they can have trouble with the short-term version.
Short-term memory problems affect “working memory” like completing tasks that require focus and concentration.
Working memory is the small amount of information that your mind holds as you’re working to complete a task.
It’s also the reason why I go to the store with a very thorough list of items in hand and a Sharpie marker to mark things off as I get them.
I’ve tried the digital version and sadly, it isn’t as satisfying as the physical one.
When I like to live dangerously and without budget constraints, I go to the store without a list and just see if I can remember everything I know I need.
Granted, that’s not a very safe or practical way to do it, but, I like to think of it as a memory challenge.
Though to be fair, I can only recall about 6-10 different items at a time, and that even involves me repeating them over and over out loud to myself in the car.
Overall, I do enjoy the challenge of trying to bolster my short-term memory, but, when it comes to super important events, items or schedules, I’ll keep writing them down and taking physical notes.
After all, if I can’t trust my brain to keep up with it, then I have to make effort some other way.
Maybe I’ll work on transitioning my lists and schedules to my digital calendar as part of my New Year’s resolutions.
We’ll just have to wait and see if I can stick with it or drop in by the end of the month.