Most episodes of absent- mindedness- forgetting where you left something or wondering why you just entered a room-are caused by a simple lack of attention, says Schacter.
Most
episodes
of
absent-
mindedness-
forgetting
where
you
left
something
or
wondering
why
you
just
entered
a
room-are
caused
by
a
simple
lack
of
attention
,
says
Schacter
.
"You're supposed to remember something, but you haven't encoded it deeply."
``
You
're
supposed
to
remember
something
,
but
you
have
n't
encoded
it
deeply
.
''
Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later.
Encoding
,
Schacter
explains
,
is
a
special
way
of
paying
attention
to
an
event
that
has
a
major
impact
on
recalling
it
later
.
Failure to encode properly can create annoying situations.
Failure
to
encode
properly
can
create
annoying
situations
.
If you put your mobile phone in a pocket, for example, and don't pay attention to what you did because you're involved in a conversation, you'll probably forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in your wardrobe.
If
you
put
your
mobile
phone
in
a
pocket
,
for
example
,
and
do
n't
pay
attention
to
what
you
did
because
you
're
involved
in
a
conversation
,
you
'll
probably
forget
that
the
phone
is
in
the
jacket
now
hanging
in
your
wardrobe
.
"Your memory itself isn't failing you," says Schacter.
``
Your
memory
itself
is
n't
failing
you
,
''
says
Schacter
.
"Rather, you didn't give your memory system the information it needed."
``
Rather
,
you
did
n't
give
your
memory
system
the
information
it
needed
.
''
Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness.
Lack
of
interest
can
also
lead
to
absent-mindedness
.
"A man who can recite sports statistics from 30 years ago," says Zelinski, "may not remember to drop a letter in the mailbox."
``
A
man
who
can
recite
sports
statistics
from
30
years
ago
,
''
says
Zelinski
,
``
may
not
remember
to
drop
a
letter
in
the
mailbox
.
''
Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay more attention to their environment, and memory depends on just that.
Women
have
slightly
better
memories
than
men
,
possibly
because
they
pay
more
attention
to
their
environment
,
and
memory
depends
on
just
that
.
"Visual cues can help prevent absent -mindedness", says Schacter.
``
Visual
cues
can
help
prevent
absent
-mindedness
''
,
says
Schacter
.
"But be sure the cue is clear and available," he cautions.
``
But
be
sure
the
cue
is
clear
and
available
,
''
he
cautions
.
If you want to remember to take a medication with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen table-don't leave it in the medicine chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket.
If
you
want
to
remember
to
take
a
medication
with
lunch
,
put
the
pill
bottle
on
the
kitchen
table-do
n't
leave
it
in
the
medicine
chest
and
write
yourself
a
note
that
you
keep
in
a
pocket
.
Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering why you're there.
Another
common
episode
of
absent-mindedness
:
walking
into
a
room
and
wondering
why
you
're
there
.
Most likely, you were thinking about something else.
Most
likely
,
you
were
thinking
about
something
else
.
"Everyone does this from time to time," says Zelinski.
``
Everyone
does
this
from
time
to
time
,
''
says
Zelinski
.
The best thing to do is to return to where you were before entering the room, and you'll likely remember.
The
best
thing
to
do
is
to
return
to
where
you
were
before
entering
the
room
,
and
you
'll
likely
remember
.
Most episodes of absent- mindedness- forgetting where you left something or wondering why you just entered a room-are caused by a simple lack of attention, says Schacter. "You're supposed to remember something, but you haven't encoded it deeply."  Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later. Failure to encode properly can create annoying situations. If you put your mobile phone in a pocket, for example, and don't pay attention to what you did because you're involved in a conversation, you'll probably forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in your wardrobe. "Your memory itself isn't failing you," says Schacter. "Rather, you didn't give your memory system the information it needed."  Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness. "A man who can recite sports statistics from 30 years ago," says Zelinski, "may not remember to drop a letter in the mailbox." Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay more attention to their environment, and memory depends on just that.  "Visual cues can help prevent absent -mindedness", says Schacter. "But be sure the cue is clear and available," he cautions. If you want to remember to take a medication with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen table-don't leave it in the medicine chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket.  Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering why you're there. Most likely, you were thinking about something else. "Everyone does this from time to time," says Zelinski. The best thing to do is to return to where you were before entering the room, and you'll likely remember.