# How can I improve my short term memory? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Memory Chat\ **Created:** [August 9, 2019, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712 "2019-08-09T07:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cameri](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@cameri](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/cameri)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/27 "2019-08-13T19:20:00Z")
Sorry, I got distracted and forgot to put the link, just a second > [@How to multiply loci in memory palace and structure a palace for Language Learning?](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-to-multiply-loci-in-memory-palace-and-structure-a-palace-for-language-learning/40714/10): > > Hi Jason fellow language learner here! " I don’t know how to start off the right way to make enough room for a lot of words, or how to connect memory palaces to each other etc. " Here’s what I’ve done hundreds of time. Real example : In my memory palace, instead of adding my new piece of dialogue (don’t place seperate words, place pieces of dialogue, if you want to focus on learning how to speak as fast as possible, and pieces of dialogue = grammar included, so no need to have seperate journe… And another example and precision if you scroll down ---
**Author:** ![kcoop](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kcoop](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/kcoop)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/28 "2019-08-13T23:09:42Z")
I see a lot of suggestions for constructing a memory palace as a way to boost your memory and apply it to the specifics of what you should be recalling such as assigned tasks. But that can be a confusing place to start if you have never done it before and will probably add to your inattention because you will be trying to build out your memory palace instead of paying attention to the person talking to you. What worked well for me and I think applies to your situation is boring old rote memorization. I chose to memorize digits of pi as a way to boost my day to day working memory. As an easy way to get started, try to learn 6 - 10 digits of pi each day. Make it a habit for a couple weeks and you’ll quickly see that increasing your memory is as simple as practice. If you make it a regular habit even for just 5-10 minutes per day of dedicated time, you will start to gain momentum and recognize that recalling bits of information is getting easier. Even though you are practicing with numbers, this will help your working memory in other areas as well. ---
**Author:** ![nettek](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/a8b319/32.png) [@nettek](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/nettek)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/29 "2019-08-15T16:39:23Z")
Thank you very much for the suggestion! I already began doing so and I am at the 21st digit 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OldGrantonian](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/oldgrantonian/32/2492_2.png) [@OldGrantonian](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/OldGrantonian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/30 "2019-12-18T14:32:25Z")
All the following quotes are in sequence, so you can link them to the OP in sequence. . > [@nettek](#): > > I’ve always had what I believe are short term memory problems. . You say later that you have a good long-term memory. So you MUST have a good short-term memory. I don’t think long-term memories start off being already perfectly formed - similar to a child being born at the age of 5 years old, who starts life with all the memories that a normal 5-year-old child would have 🙂 Anyway, you say yourself that after only a few hours, your memories of recent events begin to appear - for example after speaking to your boss: . > [@nettek](#): > > If for example I’m sitting with my boss and he asks me to do X, Y, Z, once he asks me for the second task (Y), I immediately forget what X was, because now all of my focus goes to what task Y should be. . IMHO, that’s exactly what I would want to happen: when my boss was talking about the second job, I didn’t want to be continually thinking about the first job. And then you say: > [@nettek](#): > > If I don’t write everything down, I’ll never remember. . Go ahead. I worked in 51 companies in 13 countries. In 43 years, I knew only three or four guys who never seemed to write anything down. Those guys were the fast-trackers. Ordinary guys like myself always carried a notebook. Now they’re all in fireproof boxes in my loft. A lifetime’s memories. The number on the last book is 179. So you’re not the only person that writes everything down. . > [@nettek](#): > > After a few hours or days, memories of the above come to me and I can think about it more clearly, . That’s more proof that there’s nothing wrong with your short-term memory. Question: Instead of waiting “a few hours or days”, would it be possible to start thinking about your meeting as soon as you return to your desk? You should start writing more notes at every opportunity. . > [@nettek](#): > > If I am asked multiple questions one after the other, I sometimes get confused and fail to answer. . I’m not sure that I understand this. Are you saying the questioner asks the first question, but she does not wait for an answer, and simply carries on to the next question? Maybe she assumes that you’ll start work on the first item with no questions needed, so she moves on to the next item. Anyway, as you say: . > [@nettek](#): > > Only after some time (hours, or maybe days), I’ll think about this and remember the answer/s. . So once again, your short-term memories must be OK. > [@nettek](#): > > Forgetting words during a conversation. …I think about the sentence I want to say, I think about that particular word, **I know** I’m going to use this specific word, and then while speaking, I just forget the word I wanted to use. . I’m not sure what to say about this. Are you trying to impress people with fancy, unusual words? There’s nothing wrong with that - but maybe you should first try to clear up some of the other problems first. . > [@nettek](#): > > Again, only after some time (during the conversation usually) I manage to remember what that word is. . Well, if you can remember it later, then you don’t have memory problems. . > [@nettek](#): > > but it doesn’t always happen. Nobody has 100% recall. Type the following search term in Google: - I forget what I was going to say Here’s one Quora post which suggests that you might want to speak more slowly. Of course, you haven’t mentioned whether you normally speak quickly or slowly: . [https://www.quora.com/Why-do-I-always-forget-what-Im-saying-midsentence](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-I-always-forget-what-Im-saying-midsentence) . > [@nettek](#): > > if I meet with family, and the kids are doing or saying sweet and fun things, after this is over, I just have a hard time remembering what happened. . I think the format and content of someone’s family memories will be different from work-related memories. Work-related stuff will be all left brain. For example, logic, analysis, calculations. But family stuff will be emotions, feelings, visual, and so on - which I think live in the right brain. You say that your family stuff is “sweet and fun things”. I would say you’ve got the balance right. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![nettek](https://forum.artofmemory.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/a8b319/32.png) [@nettek](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/nettek)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/31 "2019-12-29T19:56:51Z")
Right, so let’s start with my definition of short and long term memory. _Short term memory_ - details I have **just** heard/read. Example - an article I’m reading at the moment. _Long term memory_ - details that I heard/read or just occurred a very long time ago. Example - a specific sentence said by a friend 15 years ago. I have a strange talent of remembering completely unimportant details from my past, details I have not made an effort to remember, because there is no point in doing so. As for your answers: > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > You say later that you have a good long-term memory. So you MUST have a good short-term memory… I’m sorry, I don’t agree. If you tell me 3 details, and upon hearing the third I forget the first, then in my opinion, I have bad short term memory. Maybe the official definition of short term memory isn’t what I have in mind. It doesn’t matter though, as it doesn’t change the problem I have. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > IMHO, that’s exactly what I would want to happen: when my boss was talking about the second job, I didn’t want to be continually thinking about the first job. Sorry, I don’t agree at all. Each task is important, I shouldn’t be wasting my time trying to remember my tasks, I should recall all of them instantly. I also shouldn’t be asking my boss for a review of what he said. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > Ordinary guys like myself always carried a notebook… I don’t really have a problem with writing things down, but imagine you’re getting a load of information all at once (I’m quite new at my job). It’s impossible to write every single detail down, and that’s the problem. That is, unless you’re willing to stop the person explaining to you every time, which I’m not. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > I’m not sure that I understand this. Are you saying the questioner asks the first question, but she does not wait for an answer, and simply carries on to the next question? You’re right, I didn’t explain this well. Imagine you’re being asked a cascade of questions, that are being asked while you’re still thinking of the answer to the first question. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > > Only after some time (hours, or maybe days), I’ll think about this and remember the answer/s. > > . > So once again, your short-term memories must be OK. I do not agree **at all**. I shouldn’t be struggling to recall details that I was told a few minutes ago. Because this is what happens, and I don’t like it at all. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > Are you trying to impress people with fancy, unusual words? No, my friend. Imagine you want to say the sentence “The boots he was wearing looked really comfortable and well designed”. You hear yourself say the words in your mind, you set your mind on saying that sentence, you start “The boots he was wearing looked really…” and then you forget the word _comfortable_. Mid sentence. It’s rolling in your tongue, you remember parts of the word, maybe how it starts, or the middle of it, but not the entirety of it. You can’t continue the sentence. This is really frustrating. > [@OldGrantonian](#): > > I think the format and content of someone’s family memories will be different from work-related memories. Work-related stuff will be all left brain. For example, logic, analysis, calculations. But family stuff will be emotions, feelings, visual, and so on - which I think live in the right brain. You say that your family stuff is “sweet and fun things”. I would say you’ve got the balance right. While it’s a nice fact, it doesn’t help. I’m saying I forget sweet and nice things that happen. I can barely recall them, even if I try. It’s important to me that when these kids grow up, I’ll be able to tell them of what they did when they were little. Share fun stories, for example. How can I do that if I forget these stories, almost immediately? ---
**Author:** ![Kemsimba](https://forum.artofmemory.com/user_avatar/forum.artofmemory.com/kemsimba/32/7264_2.png) [@Kemsimba](https://forum.artofmemory.com/u/Kemsimba)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712/32 "2019-12-31T22:50:47Z")
@nettek This is a good question. I recently just learned the geographic locations of the 54 countries of Africa. What I would do, is take one task at a time. If I’m on something, I’ll let someone know if I can’t help them at that moment if they ask for help simultaneously. But I begin to take multiple small tasks. Nothing big, nothing fancy. However, if you want to be more present, exercise your 🧠. Everyday, even with little things. Read anything. See what’s in your room. Remember where everything is at your leisure. Crossword puzzles, math problems on paper and in your head, recall what you did 5 or 10 minutes ago. Even doing something as silly as juggling just 2 items will physically change your 🧠 such as does playing 🎻, 🎹 or other 🎶 instruments. Small steps to force your attention. For me, I’ve found that my true memory has developed to be substantially more retentive after doing some of these small things. Truly, I can’t help BUT to remember sometimes. It actually happens by accident. And I’m glad it does. Remembering becomes easier than breathing. Just do everything even physical fitness. Hope this helped some. [Previous page](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/how-can-i-improve-my-short-term-memory/40712.md?page=1)