They Will Forget Most of Today

Much, if not most, of what you experience today will be forgotten by tomorrow.It's why we write things down. We know that if we don't, we'll "forget." It's why we keep calendars, maintain "to do" lists, and write diaries. We think of these things as memory prompts, but they can also be thought of as ways of extending our minds beyond our bodies. We've not evolved to remember everything on our own, so we devise ways to make sure we don't forget certain things. It drives my wife crazy sometimes, but if I want to, say, remember to make a dentist appointment, I'll leave my toothbrush in an awkward spot before going to bed, in the spirit of tying a string around my finger. The idea is that when I see my toothbrush in an odd spot the following morning, it will remind me of what I need to do. If my wie decides to "tidy up" after me and put it away, I'll "forget" to make the appointment. There are techniques for improving one's memory (e.g., "memory palaces" or Method of loci), but most of us…