It turns out that about 20% of the time, walking back through the door works instantly. Then another 33% or so, I remember it by tracing my steps backward to where I decided to (get/do) something. And another 33% of the time, whatever it was is real, so it rears up again pretty quickly. The remaining 15% or so falls off the edge. This is actually a way to be efficient: Don’t do it unless you remember why…
Research on the phenomenon of doorways seeming to trigger forgetfulness traces it back to human behavior in caveman days. Don’t know if it’s valid, but it’s interesting.
They’ve done experiments and found walking through a door puts us in a new context. It jars our thought processes just enough to measurably lower short term memory.
That’s nothing. One time I was putting my tools away before I left work and I couldn’t find my 6”long 1/2” drive extension. I went through each drawer in my tool box twice looking for it. Then my head itched so I went to scratch it and hit my head with the extension. I was holding it in my hand the entire time……..
That’s it! The doorway! Now I finally understand why I forget what I got up to do… the doorway. Now, to figure out how to fix my doorway so it doesn’t do that to me anymore. Uh, do what? I forgotted!
Bill Cosby did a comedy routine about getting older and forgetting. He said his brains when to his rear because as soon as he sat down to ponder what it was he had forgotten he remembered and as soon as he got up and went to go to where ever he was going, he would forget again. It was hysterical. I was a kid when he did this and boy do I understand NOW.
A doorway is a liminal (transitional) space – so thoughts in our head may leave as we go through it. That’s why going back to the place where we came up with the thought often helps.
I usually have the problem when I am well into the room. At least I think so – I will be now trying to keep thoughts going when I go through a doorway. Maybe that’s the trick!
It’s ridiculous to FOCUS on seniors for doing this, people of ALL ages do that. My memory isn’t that bad…I remember doing this even in my 20s. And, yes, going back to the exact place when you thought of it seems to revive the memory. Something about the visuals gets the synapses back to that place in the brain where the task evolved.
It’s a proven fact that all doorways are inhabited by little gremlins who magically suck out of your brain the reason for going into a room. The magical incantation of the name of the thing I’m going after (ex. “blue sweater, blue sweater, blue sweater…”) all the way down the hall & into the room usually works to fight them off. Not always, but usually…
allen@home about 2 years ago
Been there done that. More times than i can count.
stairsteppublishing about 2 years ago
Simply turn around, leave the room and the reason will pop into your mind. Or start doing something else and you will remember.
Templo S.U.D. about 2 years ago
darn… double but individual senior moment
Concretionist about 2 years ago
It turns out that about 20% of the time, walking back through the door works instantly. Then another 33% or so, I remember it by tracing my steps backward to where I decided to (get/do) something. And another 33% of the time, whatever it was is real, so it rears up again pretty quickly. The remaining 15% or so falls off the edge. This is actually a way to be efficient: Don’t do it unless you remember why…
C about 2 years ago
Multitasking fails
Zykoic about 2 years ago
Did I already read this one?
eromlig about 2 years ago
Was there a First Clue? i.e., was it the bathroom you walked into?
Cornelius Noodleman about 2 years ago
Looks like purple curtains make people forget.
Saint Dogbert about 2 years ago
Now what did I get onto my computer for…
nosirrom about 2 years ago
The doorway of forgetfulness keeps multiplying in my house. The only one that hasn’t become one is the bathroom doorway.
juicebruce about 2 years ago
CRS …. Strikes Again !
Ubintold about 2 years ago
In the kitchen I’m always there for the beer.
daddo52 about 2 years ago
It’s contagious
MayCauseBurns about 2 years ago
The Room of Forgetfulness
iggyman about 2 years ago
They say when folks are married long enough they start to behave the same!
Doug K about 2 years ago
A similar thing can happen going down the stairs or going out to the garage.
Daniel Verburg about 2 years ago
Ready for the #standinginthedoornotknowingwhy group ?
The Reader Premium Member about 2 years ago
Straight out of Harry Potter, the doorway of forgetfulness!
andrew5 about 2 years ago
AAaaaaaagh!
fencie about 2 years ago
Research on the phenomenon of doorways seeming to trigger forgetfulness traces it back to human behavior in caveman days. Don’t know if it’s valid, but it’s interesting.
Ichabod Ferguson about 2 years ago
A perfectly elastic collision.
montymiff about 2 years ago
They’ve done experiments and found walking through a door puts us in a new context. It jars our thought processes just enough to measurably lower short term memory.
VICTOR PROULX about 2 years ago
When that happens to me, I head for the refrigerator
RavennaAl about 2 years ago
That’s nothing. One time I was putting my tools away before I left work and I couldn’t find my 6”long 1/2” drive extension. I went through each drawer in my tool box twice looking for it. Then my head itched so I went to scratch it and hit my head with the extension. I was holding it in my hand the entire time……..
Zebrastripes about 2 years ago
Happens to all of us one time or another….LOL
sousamannd about 2 years ago
That’s it! The doorway! Now I finally understand why I forget what I got up to do… the doorway. Now, to figure out how to fix my doorway so it doesn’t do that to me anymore. Uh, do what? I forgotted!
More Coffee Please! Premium Member about 2 years ago
My world…
Steverino Premium Member about 2 years ago
When you get older, you start to think about the hereafter. You walk into a room and think “What was I here after?”
goboboyd about 2 years ago
This senior moment brought to you by… ummm. it’s on the tip of my tongue. No, really, I’ll remember it in a minute.
mckeonfuneralhomebx about 2 years ago
Well.. it was not their glasses!
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 2 years ago
That room robs memories, an exorcism might fix it
stairsteppublishing about 2 years ago
Love all of the above. Oh, yes it is real, the explanations are great and have made me feel better. It is not me, it is ingrained in all of us.
legalrod Premium Member about 2 years ago
I’ve always wondered…why does Opal wear the same dress or blouse almost every day?
oakie817 about 2 years ago
deja vous all over again
mistercatworks about 2 years ago
Recursive amnesia
Treedodger about 2 years ago
If you are like me, you don’t have to read it, you live it.
Creativeoodcrafts about 2 years ago
Wait… did I live this one ?
w16521 about 2 years ago
Maybe the Pickles are in the early stages of dementia.
mmcalkins about 2 years ago
Bill Cosby did a comedy routine about getting older and forgetting. He said his brains when to his rear because as soon as he sat down to ponder what it was he had forgotten he remembered and as soon as he got up and went to go to where ever he was going, he would forget again. It was hysterical. I was a kid when he did this and boy do I understand NOW.
timbob2313 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Done that far more often than I like to admit, even to myself
HarpGirl about 2 years ago
A doorway is a liminal (transitional) space – so thoughts in our head may leave as we go through it. That’s why going back to the place where we came up with the thought often helps.
Moonkey Premium Member about 2 years ago
I usually have the problem when I am well into the room. At least I think so – I will be now trying to keep thoughts going when I go through a doorway. Maybe that’s the trick!
zeexenon about 2 years ago
The answers come to me the next day.
ArtisticArtemis about 2 years ago
It’s ridiculous to FOCUS on seniors for doing this, people of ALL ages do that. My memory isn’t that bad…I remember doing this even in my 20s. And, yes, going back to the exact place when you thought of it seems to revive the memory. Something about the visuals gets the synapses back to that place in the brain where the task evolved.
It still works that way for me at nearly 65.
anomalous4 about 2 years ago
It’s a proven fact that all doorways are inhabited by little gremlins who magically suck out of your brain the reason for going into a room. The magical incantation of the name of the thing I’m going after (ex. “blue sweater, blue sweater, blue sweater…”) all the way down the hall & into the room usually works to fight them off. Not always, but usually…
Thehag about 2 years ago
Makes me happy when the younger people at work do this. Proves it’s not my age to blame, just busy, busy, busy.-
kab2rb about 2 years ago
I’ve come close to that senior moment and I am a senior so I have my moments.
tim_shuhart about 2 years ago
This is me and my wife, too funny
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 2 years ago
This is my life now. … I don’t love it.