Is there a name for a condition where one has a very poor ability to recall that he has something scheduled?
My brain seems to lack this ability. If you asked me when we’re going to see X, at the movie theater, I would say “Friday.” But if you asked me what we are going to do Friday, I would say, “Hm…nothing?”
If I have a routine schedule, like I always go to the gym on Wednesdays, I can remember that. But anything which is not routine, the odds are fairly strong that I’m going to not recall that I have it due to any time-based information. If something else reminds me of it, I’ll recall it. But the time->event lookup system generally seems to fail.
Is there any term for this?
More importantly, is there any way to correct it? I’ve generally found that keeping notes and calendars and whatever doesn’t work, because I don’t think to look at them, since I always have the impression that I don’t have anything to look up.
I can tell you how to fix this one, since I had to do it myself: establish set times to check the calendar no matter what. For myself, it’s wake-up, lunch, leaving the office (or dinner) and going to bed.
It can also help to get a calendar application to show events in list mode. Instead of focusing on which event is tomorrow, say, you just focus on which event is next.
Of course, if someone asks what you’re doing Friday, you also have to learn the habit of looking at the calendar before you respond. It’s there because of what you might not remember, so don’t try to remember it.
The fact that it’s so common for people to use calendars, appointment books, scheduling apps, etc. suggests to me that the name for your condition is “normal.” At least, within the realm of normal.
Your problem may just be that you’ve never (yet) gotten yourself into the habit of using them.