Four months ago, when I posted my first thread in this forum and explained problems I have with my memory, the first advise I got was to try the Pythagoras memory technique. And I did.
Basically, I’ve been trying to perform this technique since that day, but it’s not easy for me at all, for various reasons:
I do it when I go to sleep, and I guess I’m so tired from waking up so early in the morning and from work, that I barely get to recall anything before falling asleep.
I have since started to try to perform this technique while I’m taking the bus to work, but by the time I get to work I’ve barely managed to recall a few hours of the day (due to the reasons below).
When I do things routinely every day, it’s hard to recall what I did “special” on the day I’m trying to recall. For example, I always wake up and brush my teeth. But, sometimes I walk around the house while doing so, or sit on my bed, or just stand in front of the mirror, and I sometimes get confused about what I did on the very day I try to recall, and while trying to visualize I suddenly remember that no, what I just recalled really happened two days ago.
Another example is if I’m trying to recall a time when I set in front of my computer. If I was on website A, then B, then C, then A, then D, then C, then B, etc. I can’t really recall that order. I just manage to remember I was on those websites but I don’t remember what I did, what I read, etc.
Lack of success makes me think about other things. If I fail to remember a small detail, for example which coworker I saw first when coming to work, I start struggling and start thinking about anything else, and this cuts my thread of thought.
It’s possible that doing this technique is also just too boring, but usually it’s the lack of success.
My inability to visualize makes it much harder for me to use this technique.
I thought about maybe trying to use this technique every hour or so and just try to recall what happened in that hour. I’m just not sure how much detail I’m supposed to go to. Do I need to remember every word said to me? every word I’ve read in an article? I remember that in this technique you’re supposed to recall your day with as much detail as possible, but how can that be done in 5 minutes?
To do that perform this technique - do you narrate to yourself important things, for example how you felt at times you try to recall?
Sorry for my rant, I want to know if maybe I’m doing something wrong here, would love to hear some advice. Thanks!
Well it sounds it you have tried it-really tried it- and it doesn’t work for you so , i guess, the best advice would be to go find something that does. Personally it sounds to me like you’re over thinking it. When you lay there in your bed at night and start trying to recall the day then don’t worry about depth of detail, I find that comes with time and practice and BEING RELAXED.What you can ‘see’ is what you can ‘see’ and don’t try to ‘force’ it. Many seem to find using their meal times as ‘anchor points’ can help.
When you lie a bed, just try and recall. If you can’t recall getting up, going for that first piss of the day, lighting that first cigarette or putting the coffee machine on ,don’t sweat it. Recall what you can recall and then go on to the next thing you can recall.
Firstly, I think you are being very hard on yourself. Things may not work right away, sometimes they require patience and practice.
You mentioned that you don’t do anything special during any given day. That is another way of saying that you dont recognize the special things presented to you on any given day. The smile of a coworker after you make a bad joke, the kitty that comes to you because it is eager to get pet, the rain that soaks everything on your way home which makes that hot shower even more enjoyable. Special things are not just dating the person of your dreams, driving through the most beautiful landscapes and swimming in crystal clear lakes, they are tiny things that make every day worthwhile.
And if you have a quiet day, that can be special too. A day of relaxing on the couch can be just as special. Going to the Subway to order a sandwich can be just as special. Bonus special points if you order something different than usual.
The things you recall also don’t have to be as correct as they can get. If you are not sure if something happened today or two days ago, but you think it was today, then it happened today. Dont stick with the mistakes, even if you dont recall something at all, move on with the things you do know.
The amount of detail also doesnt matter. You wont have to recall every word said or read, as long as you recall what you can recall.
The most important thing you can gain is focus. Also what I read from your first post, if you can gain that focus, you can improve most of the points you mentioned.
Dont be so hard on yourself recall what you can recall, even if you have to do so every hour like you mentioned.
When I mentioned special things I meant my routine, for example my morning routine. Since it’s always the same with a few minor “tweaks”, it’s hard to recall properly. But, in this case I’ll take your advice and just move on with it.
Every day in work (or when not working) is usually different, so that eliminates this problem. But since I fall asleep fairly quickly, I don’t manage to “reach” work when attempting this technique
Anyway, my post comes from a place of desperation, I thought that after 4 months I would master this technique, but to be honest, I’m not sure if I made any progress.
But never mind that, I’ll just keep trying and try to relax like you and the others advised.
Thanks again
recall what you can recall, even if you have to do so every hour like you mentioned.
