20.02.2025

THE BUSY SYNDROME - THEY FORGET WHAT THEY ATE TODAY. AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT

You read a document, everything is fine with it, you put it aside. You move on to the next one. After 5 minutes you no longer remember what you read in the first paper. It often happens to you in a conversation that the name of a person that you supposedly know very well escapes you. What did you eat today? Aha, straining you know.

You start to worry that you are rapidly progressing towards multiple sclerosis, dementia, Alzheimer's and various other scary diseases.

You are more likely to suffer from busy people's syndrome - short-term memory loss.

Believe it or not, but research shows that overworked 30-40 year olds forget more than 70 year old retirees.

It is true that memory weakens with age, but especially short-term memory, and at 30-40 it begins to shut down when the brain is overloaded with mental work.

Specialists in dementology say that the first symptoms of serious diseases such as Alzheimer's, for example, are not breakthroughs in memory for recent events and forgetfulness of the type "doesn't remember what he had for lunch", but a reduced ability of the brain to process information from the surrounding world in an unfamiliar environment and to makes decisions.

With "don't remember what you had for lunch" forgetting, the brain of over-busy people simply protects itself from overheating by pushing into the background things it deems unimportant at the moment. Or he directly rejects what he thinks he doesn't need to keep at all.

In fact, it is possible that you yourself are preventing him from keeping it, because you are not focusing on just one thing. Something else is constantly running in your head in the background and subconsciously distracting you. Setting a priority and focusing on it is a way to improve short-term memory.

But according to scientific research, you can help yourself in a little strange ways - moving something on your head or your hands. It's not entirely clear why, but experiments have proven the benefits of chewing and rolling your eyes.

By chewing gum while you work, you remember better and have more accurate reactions. Moving the jaw increases activity in the hippocampus, that important part of the brain responsible for memory. A study conducted in the UK found that people who chewed gum showed 24% higher scores on immediate word recall tests.

Move your eyes and you will also stimulate your memory. It should be the horizontal left and right. Only the eyes, no head movement. This movement is believed to help connect the two hemispheres of the brain.

Clench your fists and you'll remember. Scientists advise making a fist with your leading hand - usually the right hand - to remember. And when you want to remember, you clench your other fist. You need to keep the corresponding fist clenched for about 45 seconds. Thus, you activate areas of the brain associated with memory.

Maybe you won't make a good impression on people who don't know what it's about, but at a meeting, feel free to scribble on your notebook. Multiple studies show that it helps you stay focused, understand what's being said, and retain information.

According to an ancient Japanese self-relaxation technique, you will refresh your brain by massaging the 5 fingers of your hands. They are connected to centers in him and their stimulation gives him energy. Simply rub for about 30 seconds on each finger, starting with the thumb and ending with the little finger. It will take you 5 minutes for both hands. No time, great benefit, assure fans of Eastern practices.

Also, laugh. According to studies, laughter greatly improves short-term memory, but it is not related to the movement of facial muscles, but to hormones. When you laugh, your cortisol level rises. It reduces stress, which greatly impairs short-term memory.

Be careful how you sit. By being comfortably reclined but upright, you'll remember more of what you read or write. It is clear why it happens - this pose stimulates blood circulation.

Learning to meditate is more complicated. This Eastern practice significantly increases blood circulation in the brain and multiplies memory storage mechanisms. Experiments by scientists from Harvard Medical School prove with research that people who meditate regularly have more control over the so-called alpha rhythm. It's a brainwave that's thought to filter out everyday distractions and allow more important things to be better processed. According to experiments with regular meditation you will improve your memory in just 8 weeks.

It's simple to try one other recommendation - wander around for a while. I.e. to stop working and thinking to rest. Let your mind wander to whatever it wants. This leads to memory consolidation. It also supports creative thinking. Non-linear connections are formed in the brain, which develops its ability to divide the problem into parts and approach them from a new angle.

It has been experimentally determined that you will do best if, while your mind is floating, you walk. You can walk in the office, but still better outdoors.

Dr. Marilyn Opezzo's research team at the University of Santa Clara, California, conducted a series of experiments in which they subjected volunteers to various creativity tests. In one, they participated in associative games while walking. With others, they did the same, but in a sitting position.

The best results were achieved by people who were allowed to walk, whether outdoors or indoors. The benefits of the walks remained even after the employees sat down in the office - they showed higher creativity than those who sat behind their desks all the time.

Scientists admit that they have no explanation why walking, ie. low-intensity physical activity, even indoors, has a positive effect on creative thinking. But this effect on the human brain is certain, use it.

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For busy people, their salvation is in order. By keeping this expert tip in mind, you'll cause yourself significantly less stress with the regular "Where did I leave my keys" question. Just get used to leaving your belongings in strictly designated places so you don't have to look for them.

Of course, this goes for the papers on your desk and all the things you work with. But experts say that people worry more about their memory in relation to various household items.

By not remembering where your keys or glasses are in the morning, in addition to wasting time looking for them, you are doing two other very bad things to yourself. Stress makes your short-term memory more erratic and ineffective for a while. Second, once again the thought comes to you: "Here is another proof that I have multiple sclerosis". It's unpleasant, it stays in your mind, and while it's bothering you, you won't remember anything you do. For example, how you got to the car, the bus stop or even to the place where you work.

Always arrange your tasks for the next day at the end of the previous one or at least from the morning. If you take a minute to think about and group them, then your short-term memory will be much more helpful.

How does this happen? Remember several things by combining them with a meaningful connection. For example, everything you need to do at a certain time - before the meeting, in a certain place - accounting, with a certain person. This will help you streamline activities and reduce the likelihood of forgetting something.

It's not a bad option not to struggle to remember, but to make a good old to-do list. No longer on paper, but in the smartphone. It can also send a reminder not to miss a certain class.

The very fact that you take these precautions is good for your short-term memory because you don't have to worry about forgetting something. You overcome self-doubt, you gain confidence, and a positive attitude significantly improves your brain activity in all respects, explains Nia Jones, a psychologist and specialist in mental disorders.