A few months ago, Jose and I were talking about summer last year, when we were about to go to Belize.
He kept going, now two years back. “And we’ve been in this house for almost two years! When did we move? June 2016? July?”
I looked at him.
“We started looking at houses at the end of June. We put in the offer for this house on 4th of July weekend. We closed on August 10th and moved on August 16th.”
And in that moment, I realized a fundamental difference between us. He remembers stuff, but not the details. My brain, on the other hand, often hangs onto the details even when it shouldn’t.
Yesterday I recalled, from memory, our bank’s routing number. This is not something I need on a regular basis, and it’s something that can easily be looked up the handful of times each year I do — and yet my brain is somehow hanging on to it.
Do you know your driver’s license number from memory? Because I do.
The password for my parents’ first email address from 1995 (that I also used)? Totally remember it.
Due dates of both girls, even though they become completely irrelevant the moment they were born.
My post office box number at Georgia Tech.
The combination to my bike lock at Stanford, a lock that is long, long gone.
Credit card number? I know that too. (This one, at least, I suspect this one is rather common with the prevalence of online shopping.)
I find myself feeling overwhelmed on a regular basis with all the things I am trying to keep up with, and having these random details littering my brain is taking up valuable real estate. And while I know that’s not really how the brain works — there’s not some finite amount of shelf space — it sure does feel like that sometimes.
I need a way to declutter my brain.
Yes! Phone number of my 7th grade boyfriend I dated for 7 months? Got it. College ID number? Yep. Part number to the first hydraulic tank I designed? Mmm hmm. (Disclaimer: I’m also an engineer)
I’m glad to know I’m not alone in recalling now-useless information…at least, I think I am!
Hah, I’m the same! I can remember my first Texas driver’s license from before we moved to Florida. I haven’t bothered memorizing my new one—probably should.
I realized the same thing recently about my husband, though I think he is even faultier with his memory than your husband. A lot of things for him were “recently” or “just last week” when in reality they were a rather long time ago.
My husband has an amazingly good memory overall — he talks about the first time he had sushi, or other random things. But logistics-type trivia like dates and numbers, not so much.
I am very much a remember the details person, too. I know all our license plates (from cars current and old) and addresses (current and old going way back) and phone numbers (ditto)… I always joke that when you meet me, don’t tell me your name and social security number. I’ll forget your name, but I’ll remember that number!
Omg, I haven’t thought of my GT post office or email address in years … but there it is still in my brain that ridiculous email address gt7265c and post office 327265. Absurd, neurons I will never get back.
I will say over problem the last 5 years or so, my concentration has not been as good because, in part, my memory feels full of unimportant trivia. I switched to using a paper calendar which I think really improved my mindfulness about my days. When I was studying for the Bar (which required cramming a ridiculous amount of new useless trivia into my brain), I started meditating 5-10 minutes a day. I think that really helped my focus. I use the Calm app now at least a few times a week, maybe it’s a placebo but I think it helps
Yes, the email address is certainly a factor in being able to remember the post office box! But still — why can’t I just choose to eject that info?
I downloaded the Calm app several months ago after seeing it recommended somewhere, but have never used it. You’ve inspired me — I’m going to try it this week.
Just don’t use it right before bed… it totally puts me to sleep before I finish! I usually would do it for 5 min at the desk in the office or in the early evening, or on the weekends in the late morning… anyway, good luck!
Oh, also I totally remember my grandmas phone number long since disconnected from childhood. Permanently etched in my 🧠
I have never forgotten the number to the locker I had in third grade, and I use it frequently as a part of passwords (also because I think it’s a pretty number). And I realized that I can still recite the password to our prodigy email addresses from 1996 (?). So yeah. 🙂 Funny.
Another engineer! Maybe it’s an engineer thing. 🙂