When you’re with friends, is it a common thing to say that you walk into another room and can't remember why? Everyone usually laughs because we all experience it, however, it's often noted as an aging issue. Recently I ran across this mention in a Scientific American article:
"Memory was worse after passing through a doorway than after walking the same distance within a single room." *
Good to know that forgetting something when walking through the house isn’t just something that is about getting "old."
Try this: Beat the Doorway Effect
While it may seem crazy, using little tricks helps everyone at any age. Here are a couple hacks:
- Write it down - Instead of just trying to remember, writing it down offers a physical connection to more easily recall the item.
- Say it out loud - When you speak your task out loud, it makes it easier to focus.
- Rehearse it - Use a tool to act out what you want to recall, such as, hold up a finger, and say the item you’re going into another room to get or do.
While these are simple tools, it's about rewiring your brain to overcome the doorway effect!
* https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-walking-through-doorway-makes-you-forget/