Chapter 1: Why We Forget Our Keys (And That’s Okay!)
«Hello there! Let’s be honest for a second: where are your keys right now? Are they proudly resting in their designated spot? Or… are they playing hide-and-seek with you again? And what about the name of your new neighbor, the one you literally just heard yesterday? Has it vanished into thin air as if it never existed? Sound familiar?
Before you start beating yourself up about it, hear this: forgetting is completely normal. Yes, you heard that right. Your brain isn’t broken, and you’re not necessarily getting more scatterbrained with age (well, not just because of that!). This is simply how your memory operates in the modern world. Picture a little postman running around inside your head. He has a small delivery bag (that’s your «working memory» — what’s on your mind right now) and a massive, slightly messy warehouse (that’s your «long-term memory» — all your knowledge and experiences).
Every day, this postman is bombarded with an avalanche of letters, packages, and telegrams — everything you see, hear, think, and feel. And here’s why keys and names sometimes get «lost in the mail»:
«Didn’t make it into the bag» (Lack of Attention): This is the most common reason! You put your keys down on the console table, but at that very moment, you’re thinking about work, your grocery list, or an argument on social media. Your «postman» was busy with another «package» and simply… didn’t notice where the keys went. You didn’t remember because you didn’t pay real attention.
«The Postman is in a rush» (Stress or Hurry): When you’re running late, feeling stressed, or trying to do a hundred things at once, your internal postman doesn’t have time to sort the packages neatly. He just grabs whatever he can and tosses it into the warehouse haphazardly. Finding something specific later becomes a real challenge!
«The Postman is exhausted» (Fatigue or Lack of Sleep): If you didn’t get enough sleep or are just dead tired, your postman doesn’t have the energy to carry heavy packages. He’s barely dragging his feet. Naturally, he drops things along the way or puts them in the wrong place.
«The warehouse address can’t be found» (Weak connection or lack of meaning): The information made it to the warehouse, but it’s lying in a dark corner without a label. Why? Because it was boring (like your insurance policy number), confusing, or you didn’t connect it to something you already know (for example, the name «Maxim» didn’t bring to mind a Maxim you know or the word «maximum»). There’s no hook to hang it on!
The good news: By understanding these «memory thieves,» we can fight back! This book isn’t a magic pill; it’s your personal «guide to organizing your warehouse» and a «training program for your postman.» We will learn how to:
Consciously place important things into the «bag» (attention!).
Create vivid, funny, or unusual «address labels» in the warehouse for important information (associations).
Help the postman work more efficiently, even when he’s tired or in a hurry (simple techniques).
Find what you need in the warehouse quickly and without panic (recall).
The goal isn’t to remember ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. That’s impossible and unnecessary! The goal is to reliably remember what TRULY matters to you: where your keys are, people’s names, important tasks, the main ideas from a book, the recipe for your favorite pie.
(Practice — Easy and judgment-free)
Let’s give it a try right now! Exercise: «Spotting the Thieves»
Grab a pen or open the notes app on your phone.
Think of 3 things you forgot in the last 2—3 days. It’s okay if they’re small things! (For example: where you put your glasses, what you meant to buy at the store, someone’s name, the topic of an online article you read).
Next to each forgotten item, try to guess which «thief» (attention, stress, fatigue, lack of connection) might be responsible. Don’t scold yourself! Just note: «Aha, when I forgot the milk, I was clearly rushing and thinking about something else,» or «My colleague’s name… well, I heard it in passing and didn’t even really look at them.»
Why do this? This is the first step toward mindfulness. You start to notice when and why your memory lets you down. That’s already half the battle toward improvement!
Important: No self-criticism! This is research, not an exam. Forgetting is normal. We’re just learning to do it less often with the important stuff.
So, remember the key takeaway from this chapter: Forgetting is normal. It’s not your fault; it’s a feature of how the brain works in our fast-paced world. But by knowing the «memory thieves,» we can outsmart them! In the following chapters, we’ll equip you with simple yet powerful tools so your internal postman works like a well-oiled machine and your memory warehouse is in perfect order. Are you ready to find your keys (and more) once and for all? Then turn the page!
