I can watch a movie, enjoy it but I can't remember what it was about after seeing it. Same with reading a book my mind keeps wandering. Can anyone advise on a method or methods to relax me & keep my mind on the subject? Most grateful for any replies.
How Can I Improve My Concentration, Any Simple Methods to Help Me Please?
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This is effective if you have ADHD.
Legit there's something so unsettling about the whole "Family Guy and Subway Surfers" TikTok phenomenon that's going on with the youth of today. At this point I have to assume many of them are just playing it up when they act like they can't concentrate for more than 15 second bursts unless they've got funny cartoon animations flashing nonstop on split-screen at the same time. If they're actually being real about any of that, then that's a devastating prognosis for the young'uns.
Tldr
I thought that was just a way of dodging copyright strikes?
That's probably the majority, yes. (Hopefully…)
Lost interest at this point +
Nootropics.
Which one do you recommend?
Alpha GPC.
Bacopa monnieri. Don't buy the cheapest brand.
Flordis make a good one available locally.
Only effective while it is in your bloodstream
Try no social media/mindless browsing for a couple of weeks.
Apparently this actually works so im going to try it. My daily ozbargain though is the thing i cannot stop going on to check daily dails.
Just delete social media (other than OzBargain ofc). You'll stop caring what bellends think once you're off the routine for a while. You know who your friends are. They're the people you call to have a beer with, you call when you're having a bad day. You don't need to show off your photos from Santorini to acquaintances that you haven't met post covid.
Isn't that a good thing, so you can enjoy it again after a short while. Bit like 50 dates movie.
Okay everything is a concept. Follows a path way.
Find the hidden pathways and your memory won't work as hard to fill them.
Think about a hero's journey.
Character arcs. Movie thropes.
Eevryhing we watch is a copy so
So what? I need the rest of the sentence
So find the pathway, be a hero and copy so that
Look it up on IMDB.
https://www.imdb.comMake some time to choose the Movie you watch and note who the Actors/Directors and Producers are.
Give the Movie a score out of Ten when it is over and keep note of those you have watched, as you might like to watch other movies featuring the Actor(s) or from the same Producers/Director.
Somehow, I doubt the movies themselves is the concern here.
Don’t they have a tablet for that…
Yes they do, Focusyn
“All I know is my testicles won't fit in my underwear.”
I guess that's what you have to expect when you wear womens' underwear.
@GordonD: That was so clean I thought it was actually the next line in the show. Great comment Gordon
They do: the iPad. If you jot it down on your tablet then you don't ever need to remember anything ever again.
Watch it, then watch it again, then on the third time really watch it and understand everything.
If that fails, find a tablet to resolve your issues.Huh
- mindfulness
- exercise
- reduce your phone usage
- reduce distractions
- get off social media
get off social media
Please don’t tell me ozbargain comment section and forums count… coz if it does. Oh boy
Definitely doesn't count.
Yep, Ozbargain is a special exception
Yes, full of exceptional 'specials'.
This is anti-social media.
- mindfulness
- exercise
- reduce your phone usage
- reduce distractions
- get off social media
The above plus
* eat well
* sleep well (if you're not sleeping well, look up sleep hygene)
* meditationIf you do all the above and still have issues, go see a doctor.
GP
have you been tested for adhd?
Good advice.
See GP and discuss with them about testing.. You'll get further there than here.
Do you also have a thing for sweets? And potentially breastfeeding? Sorry if it’s private. You can pm me if you want.
oddly, very similar. I dont even watch movies anymore because I see no point as I cant recall them.
I get easily distracted and my memory of basic tasks are forgotten.I dont even watch movies anymore because I see no point as I cant recall them.
I don't watch movies any more because I find them so forgettable.
With the same storyline and characters.
dylanando… your not the only one .. thats me.
although I see modern movies are all special effects and no story line…. or shit remakes.. so not worth watchingg
I use my miind a lot and have a good memory. I find I have to eat a lot, as it appears the brain uses a lot of fuel. I keep an exercise book handy and keep a current to do list for tasks that need to be done. I write them down to aid memory.
I write them down to aid memory.
That doesn't make sense. You typically write things down because you would otherwise forget them
thats what I said
I think Muzeeb's point is that if you write them down it doesn't help your memory, it just avoids you having to use it.
@GordonD: It actually does help your memory. Engaging multiple parts of your brain helps increase retention.
There is a lot of research showing writing things improves recall. It is important to use a pen, typing is not as engaging.
Writing down things actually work in memorising them. When you write down it's similar to slowly repeating the same things once again. At least for me this works beautifully. Even if I throw the paper away, the stuff that I wrote is now memorised.
Classic anxiety.
Meditation helps maintain focus and clear the mind. Essentially mindfulness so you become aware when you mind wanders.
I think they have a camp for that.
Brother, first of all please dont be stressful about this not all ppl are alike. I might have many issues which you dont have . Consult a GP if you like. Sleep on time wake up on time. Do daily walk if you like . Cheers
You are not alone.
As long as you don’t feel the impact on your daily life, it’s just a movie or a book.
If it starts impacting you in other ways, consult a GP.
tldr
Do you remember what you typed in the original post? Are you still here?
Quit all gadgets. Go bush-walking. Take a note book and camera.Learn dozens of new things each day. Compare them day to day.
The collective human race (especially the west) has too many menial things on it's collective mind and most are shit.Read what you are interested in and read in a quiet place with fewer distractions.
modern society doesn't expect you to remember anything, it expects you to buy a $2800 iphone which can run your life for you
Throw everything with a screen in the bin then read a book.
The great thing about dementia is that you don't remember how much you've forgotten.
The other great thing about dementia is that you don't remember conversations you've had or people that you've already talked to, which is awesome if you're extroverted. It's like meeting new people every day!
Another cool thing about dementia is that you forget conversations really easily. Like, you could have just said something 5 minutes ago and not remember it, so you end up saying it all over again. Wild, but also let's you relive meeting the same people every day!
Thanks Dory
Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique?
Did 9 years of uni myself, and I had your problem to deal with.
But I found the best thing that worked for me is to break up a big huge complex task into tiny little easy tasks list on a sheet of paper (no task should be longer than 1-2 hours max), and slowly tick them off as you do each piece. The reward in your brain for completing each tiny task will make you want to do a little more, until you get into the "flow zone" (wher e you can read/write/code for hours in deep focus. Small tip I find: Don't eat once you're in the flow zone, as I found it just breaks me out and have to slowly get back into it.
Good luck with finding a method that works for you … you're trying to solve a valuable life skill that many people cannot solve.
I hope OP remembers to come back and read comments.
It looks like we have lost them already.
Adderall works (if you can get a prescription for it).
Don't watch other peoples movies or read other peoples books.
Create your own.
Isn't it obvious you have more requirement for output than input.
Check out the Endel bargain post on the first page. It’s perfect for this imo.
im the same, i forget everything about movies, books, shows even if i enjoyed it and was focusing the whole time without distractions
same for games or sports, i have good memory during but right after i have already forgotten most of iti remember important things very well though (learning a new skill like a sport/hobby related thing or some skills for work)
You read my mind
Perhaps you have Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory or a drinking problem like me
you are a goldfish
Lots of coffee. Maybe keep a diary, write down what you just read in a chapter of a book. When studying apparently writing notes as you go helps reinforce the learning or whatever.
Watch older movies - they were better.
But a simple steps would be to get up from the chair every 15/20 minutes and walk in the fresh air. Then come back. Do a longer walk (at least) once per day.
Get an ADD diagnosis. Take ritalin or dexamphetamine. Problem solved thanks to Big Pharma.
You want a simple method; there is nothing simpler than popping pills. The only hard part is getting the diagnosis if you are an adult. A piece of cake if you are a kid though.
Please don’t take this the wrong way as it is currently what I’m going though - see a psychologist. Maybe there is something there undiagnosed and perhaps you need a psychologist.
I have a very difficult time absorbing information and focusing and I might have ADHD. I’ve done some tests at direction of my therapist that strongly indicate I have ADHD. I’m 37 years old next month so still digesting this news and arranging a psychiatrist.
Could be that a formal diagnosis can’t help me as anymore now that I’m in my late 30s, but my daughter is turning 5 and I see some of myself in her in terms of hyperactivity. She is incredibly high energy. I don’t want her to suffer like I did. This could help her.
I've recently been told by a psychiatrist that I am strongly suspected to be ADHD (got another diagnosis which might have helpful meds and testing that theory before I get the formal diagnosis) and I'm 32.
Formal diagnosis will be helpful because at least now you know that you're not "lazy" or "unmotivated" etc.
You've got this :)
amphetamines will help you straight away, your age is irrelevant
Amphetamines will never help me come to terms with the trauma of my past and the many injustices I suffered at the hands of those who should have seen the signs.
I believe age is relevant in so far as that the sooner you get care the better.
Give exercise a go. I find I'm restless and without focus, if I don't stick to my routine.
Are you watching the movie or playing on your phone while it's on?
Most likely is the problem is dopamine cravings when you're doing something that isn't stimulating to you. Your brain is telling you that this isn't stimulating enough and to find something that is.
If by chance, that's using your phone. Then you need a detox. Spend a few weeks or months with no social media, games, tv or even books. Just be bored. And enjoy being with your thoughts.
Then slowly introduce yourself back to something that's low stimulation like a book and move on from there.
You have to revisit a memory to lock it in. If it's a significant event this will happen naturally. The more often you visit a memory the stronger the pathway becomes. A weak memory likely still exists but is difficult to find to recall.
excerpt from assassins creed?
Na, haven't played. Sounds interesting though.
can watch a movie, enjoy it but I can't remember what it was about after seeing it.
Lol… I thought it’s just me. I always have had this but never bothered me about it because i usually have the finer details about the movie in the mind which I’m interested for anyway.
Same with reading a book my mind keeps wandering.
That’s a different problem and is more of a attention disorder that happens with today’s tech. If you want to get better at it, try not to read a book with so many things/ people/ events around… May be keep your devices away and sit back with just the book and pair of noise cancelling headset. It’ll take time but u’ll get there.
Also, the Balance app is free for a year for new users, give it a go and it’ll help with training your mind for concentration. There are no overnight pills for these and it only happens through practice
Good luck.
Neuralink
Daily meditation
Is your room-mates name Tyler?
Yeah Durden, he just came out of nowhere
dat Dopamine hit via Ozbargain comment is too good
Try box breathing technique.
Maybe you’re not really interested in the topic.
Get 8 hours sleep a night
Reduce caffeiene intake
Force yourself to concentrate when reading books, it'll comeForce yourself to concentrate when reading books, it'll come
How do you do this? serious question
OP 3 days ago - not responded since - maybe they forgot they posted here …
I used to be apathetic, but then I stopped caring …
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have an episode of family guy on next to you. it works!