Four Remedies for Forgetfulness

There are few things more frustrating than not being able to remember the name of an old college frown. Or not being able to remember a phone number or street address. Or, worse, forgetting where you left your keys.

We all have these frustrating little lapses in memory sometimes. And here are some things you can do about them.

Be Patient

Sometimes, when we forget something, like a name or telephone number, we try so hard to force ourselves to remember that we push the memory further away.

The next time you're having trouble remembering something, take a deep breath, relax, and let your mind go blank. You might be surprised by how fast the information your trying to remember pops into your head when your mind is in a relaxed state.

Go Through the Motions

Having a hard time remembering where you left your wallet, shoes, or keys? One thing that might help you remember is retracing your steps.

What's the last place you remember being when you last had your keys? Then go back to that room. Do you remember where you went when you left that room? Then go there.

Go through the motions. Either you'll eventually end up retracing your steps back to the place where you left your keys or, in the midst of "reconstructing the events" that lead up to losing your keys, an image of your keys laying on the kitchen counter will suddenly pop into your head.

Remember the Visual Cues

Our minds are always taking in information, even when we don't realize it. And you can sometimes use that information to help jog your memory.

For example, have you ever forgotten where you parked your car? Then, try to remember anything you might have seen when you were getting out of your car.

Was there a storefront or restaurant nearby? A dumbster or light post?

On your way into the department store, did you pass the gardening department? On your way into the dentist's office, did you have to walk around a fire hydrant?

Remembering visual cues can help you retrace your steps and find what you are looking for.

Make a Note

If you tend to forget things frequently, consider carrying a notebook with you. Then, whenever something comes up that you'll need to remember later, take a note.

Makes notes about phone messages, the location of your car in the parking lot, the time a movie you want to see on television is starting, phone numbers that just seem to slip your mind, or anything else you know you'll want to remember later.

Sometimes, just the act of writing things down helps to cement them in your memory so well that you don't even have to look at your notes to remember something. Still, check your notes frequently just to be sure.

Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be able to deal with the all the little lapses in memory you might suffer during an average day.