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Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful
#1

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

So I have always been a scatterbrain. I would often lose things that are important, forget important things, have poor organization, leave things to the last minute, forget peoples names who I have met many times...

This is really becoming a huge problem for me. I am in my mid 20s, so I am just getting out of school. I was always "smart" enough in school to pass with good grades on minimal effort. While others could take hours writing a paper I could bang it out quickly and do better than most. I got high grades on standardized tests, etc.

However in the professional world, these habits are killing me and I desperately need to overcome them and become organized and focused. Has anyone gone through this and achieved organization and focus after having been scatterbrained for their entire lives?
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#2

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Yoga and meditation are probably the most powerful methods for increasing your concentration and energy levels.

So you are working in the professional world, a corporate office somewhere? I'd go so far as to say that human beings are not meant to sit behind computers all day, so not being able to concentrate is normal.
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#3

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Quote: (06-09-2014 10:24 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

So I have always been a scatterbrain. I would often lose things that are important, forget important things, have poor organization, leave things to the last minute, forget peoples names who I have met many times...

This is really becoming a huge problem for me. I am in my mid 20s, so I am just getting out of school. I was always "smart" enough in school to pass with good grades on minimal effort. While others could take hours writing a paper I could bang it out quickly and do better than most. I got high grades on standardized tests, etc.

However in the professional world, these habits are killing me and I desperately need to overcome them and become organized and focused. Has anyone gone through this and achieved organization and focus after having been scatterbrained for their entire lives?

Kind of sounds a bit like me. I could never study in college, but I would do well on tests and I could hammer out good papers in a short period of time. Now I just limit my distractions when I work. I make sure I stay organized (even if it is an unorthodox system that only I would understand). I work best when I am listening to fast/aggressive/chaotic music. I just attack my work and get it done. Podcasts also help me keep focused on the task in front of me. If real reading comprehension is needed then I pause what I am listening to so I can read and comprehend. Then I turn it back on.
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#4

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Start making lists and put important upcoming events into your calendar.
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#5

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

As said above. Make To Do lists every day. Start organizing your life. There are all kinds of phone apps you can use to organize lists like Remember the Milk. Post it notes work too.

As for remembering names. Immediately repeat their name after they tell you their name. Then repeat it in your mind 3 times while looking at them.

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#6

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Quote: (06-09-2014 10:24 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

have poor organization
leave things to the last minute
forget peoples names who I have met many times...

This is really becoming a huge problem for me

I am in my mid 20s

I was always "smart" enough in school to pass with good grades on minimal effort. While others could take hours writing a paper I could bang it out quickly and do better than most. I got high grades on standardized tests, etc.

^^ Describes me.

Long story short, I noticed improvements after cutting down my alcohol intake and my fapping. I still struggle with both addictions but when I was heavy into both my organization and memory were in constant turmoil. Could be psychosomatic/placebo too but my $0.02
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#7

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Use reminder software or a cheap virtual assistant. They will remind or focus you. Essentially turn the detailed parts of your life into recipes that you just need to follow, get done and move onto the next things.

Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? Psalm 2:1 KJV
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#8

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

I find I'm scatterbrained after being in front of my computer or looking at my phone for a while. Doing either or both destroys my attention span.

Perhaps limit those if possible.

'Logic Over Emotion Since 2013'
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#9

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

Cal Newport advocates using a "Today + To Remember" list in conjunction with a calender.

Take a small sheet of paper. Write two columns: Today and To Remember. Under the first one, write down things you need to do for the day. In the second, write down whatever task that you will need to complete at a later date. Perhaps you went to class, and you find out there's reading that's due for Friday's class. Jot that down there.

At the end of the day, take everything from your "To Remember" column, and everything you didn't complete in "Today", and put them in your calendar. Also, get a calender.

In theory, this is a great system. I have not been able to properly implement it as of yet. I fall off the wagon too easily. (see my other thread) I am starting small, with habits, and just making it a point to actually shower first thing in the morning, LOL.
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#10

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

I'm going to quote in full a superb post made by Nemencine in a recent and similar thread because every word of what he says fully applies here.

Follow the advice below, and you can solve your problem, one step at a time.

Quote: (06-05-2014 06:25 AM)Nemencine Wrote:  

Habit. Habit formation. There is no other cure. Habit formation = auto-piloting

I am guessing you know this already. As such, your problem is not knowledge, your problem is implementation. This is true for a lot of things in life. Even picking up women.

So, how do you establish habit formation?

You choose something that is easy to do, and then do it repeatedly, over and over again. To build the force of habit.

I dont care what it is. It could be anything. It doesnt matter. Just something that is easy, then setup a time for it, and repeat it everyday for a month. Every day.

Whenever you break this rule, start all over again. Repeat this until you generate complete consistency for a solid month. Trust me, if you cannot do something that is thoroughly easy, and do it everyday at a specific time for a month, you wont be able to do something difficult or complex at an allotted time, everyday, for a month either.

This is the key.

If you cannot be bothered to run this exercise, then you can simply forget it, because nothing will change.

The reason why most people fail in follow-through with their goals and objective is because they are trying to do two things at once: They are trying to (1) accomplish difficult tasks, and (2) they are trying to establish habit formation at the same time. This is why they fail. If you are not an already disciplined person, this multi-pronged approach(goals + habit) will task your willpower beyond its limits; hence, failure. Better to create habit -- as a foundation, and then slowly stack the difficult task on top of that strong foundation.

For example, here is some people's new year resolution: Go to the gym everyday, exercise for 2 hours, and eat healthy. Most likely, they will fail to accomplish this because they are trying to accomplish a difficult task and create a habit at the same time. That is why they fail after the initial enthusiasm has died.

How can they succeed? Simply this way: The first thing they should do is just go to the gym first and exercise, then after consistency with that; they should then increase the range of exercise and time to 2 hours... then, after consistency with that, change their diet. One step at a time. Instead of trying to do all 3 at the same time. Embedded in that is the subject of segmenting your task into mini-tasks. Also, doing your task at the same time, every day, creates a pattern, which builds momentum. Momentum is harder to stop.

This why it is paramount to focus on habit formation first. Set up an easy task, and went about doing it repeatedly to get into the groove of habit formation... this will give you the mentality to then be able to setup a difficult task and do it repeatedly. You lay the foundation, then build upon it.

Another thing is goal setting: If you think you can accomplish 3 things per day. Cut it in half and do 1.5 things a day instead... and do it consistently, day in, day out for a month. Do not go over and below that 1.5 things per day, regardless of how strong or weak you feel. This kind of consistency is critical. Be strict about it. I cannot emphasis this enough. If you are feeling like a million bucks and think you can take on the world and do 9 things that day, dont do it: stick to that pattern of 1.5 things per day. Why? If you can control your feel good moods and stick to a plan; you will be able to control your bad, lethargic moods and stick to a plan. This is the core of auto-piloting. This is mastery. This also trains your mental discipline and teaches you patience. Trust me, the day will come when you will be able to do those 9 things per day; you will eventually build to that level. One essential part of discipline is being able to tolerate those small baby steps. Be patient, and take your time.

regards,

Nemencine

p.s. a good book is called "the disciplined life" by richard taylor. (dated, christian; but effective.you are not interested in the christian preachings, but the lessons inherent in there.) I am sure you can find the PDF somewhere online.

same old shit, sixes and sevens Shaft...
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#11

Overcoming being scatterbrained/forgetful

I second the To-Do List every day thing, and writing down the actions steps needed toward those goals. I do this every day on my break at work. Also, discover the beauty of spreadsheets. There are tons of Excel templates for different needs. Just do a google search. For example, I used an excel template to help me pack for Japan, and I also used an excel template to track my progress on the slow carb diet.

I am one of the most naturally scatterbrained people you ever want to meet, but I am slowly learning.
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