Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Fantastic short term memory, dreadful long term memory.

2 replies

Angelic999 · 16/01/2026 19:17

I have become aware through work that my short term memory is a hell of a lot better than everybody else I work with. For example, I remember the month's appointments, dates, locations, meetings, times, tasks without needing to look at a diary/to do list or having to put effort into thinking about it really. Not only do I remember my own diary and tasks but the rest of the teams.

I get quietly frustrated when they forget things. For example I asked my team member to do something that day, they agreed. I reminded them at lunch and then asked if they'd done it by the end of the day - nope they'd forgot. I was baffled. Surely they need to see a GP if their memory is that bad?!

Anyway the point of this post is that I'm wondering what other people's short term memory is like and if I am unusual in remembering things so easily?

On the other hand my long term memory is absolutely atrocious- I barely have any childhood memories, certainly not in detail and have to really rack my brains to think of them which makes me sad. I also don't really picture images in my head. When I remember things short term I don't see it, so for example I don't see the diary with appointments in my minds eye, I just know them if that makes sense?

I wonder if my brain is so occupied with the short term that it then doesn't file away and store anything long term. Any brain/memory experts on here?

OP posts:
HedgeWitchOfTheWest · 16/01/2026 19:43

I don’t know about the good short term memory but I have a similar long term memory.

I don’t remember much of my childhood or even of my children’s early years. DH will remind me of trips or events and I sometimes can’t remember at all. I’d be worried, but it’s always been this way.

I reconcile it by accepting that I live in the moment, and I have other skills (like your STM, except I can tell you where almost everything is in our house. Lost your keys? I know where they are).

I think it’s episodic memory?

Whats weird is that music takes me right back. It’s like time travel! (Ash on the radio this morning - I woke up in 1996!)

SmartiesParty · 16/01/2026 20:40

I don’t have any scientific help here but I am exactly like you. Insanely good short term memory but very few long term memories including childhood or tbh anything that happened more than a few years ago

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread