IT Memory Loss and Focus Deficiency Problems

Yesterday a friend and I were talking, and the conversation shifted to how it seems that we IT people start to suffer memory problems after some years in the industry.

As the years goes by, the projects pile up, the problems faced and solved accumulate, our heads are less and less able to retain information and we seem to forget things faster.

Not only that, but we also seem to get a focus deficiency of some sorts, because of which we sometimes just go through blank moments and lose focus on whatever it is we’re listening to, watching or doing.

I’m not sure if there have been any studies on this, but I confirm that I see the same symptoms in almost everyone I’ve met who has spent a good time in the industry.
That’s why the longer we stay working in IT, the more gadgets we need to remind us of things and to organize our lives, I guess.

Personally, I remember when I first got out of university and started work, I wouldn’t need notebooks or papers in meetings, because I’d just record eveything perfectly in my head and then go do it.

Now, that’s almost impossible, in fact it’s getting harder to even hold a 5 item shopping list in my head without forgetting at least 3 of the items. It’s pretty embarassing sometimes having to pull out my pocket pc at the little store to remind myself that I need to buy eggs or sugar or whatever.

Maybe it’s because of the fast pace of our work, the deadlines, the sometimes stressful nature of it all and the loads of information we get thrown at us out there, but it does exist and I guess the only way to get over it all is to take some time out every once in a while, try to do a soft reset and take it easy on ourselves.

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Mohamed Marwen Meddah

Mohamed Marwen Meddah is a Tunisian-Canadian, web aficionado, software engineering leader, blogger, and amateur photographer.

11 thoughts on “IT Memory Loss and Focus Deficiency Problems”

  1. I totally agree with you. I find it that if I don’t write down stuff, it will completely get out of my head. I think it’s because we have to manage so many small details on a constant basis… or maybe manage the demands (internal and external) as well as everything else. I know I have a bunch of paper lists, and a small electronic thingy to keep me reminded of all the stuff that needs to be done or that I need to handle… Argh… Sometimes I think it’s really a sucky field.

  4. I suffer from the same problems, but I’m sure it applies to other fields of work too. Afterall, I’m not in the IT industry, and anyone who knows me, knows I have by far the worst memory ever. So yeah… I doubt it’s because of being in IT. I think it’s called, “getting old”.

  7. I find myself in a similar state of mind. Often not able to focus. I personnally blame my 1 1/2 years of working > 80 hours/week. In hindsight, I believe that if we do not pace ourselves, we can easilly suffer a mental burnout as we are intensivelly and continuously accomplishing problem solving. I find that, outside of work, I’ll find myself obsessing over details.

  8. 17 yrs old, with the same problem….Not or drugs or alcohol but spend more than 1\2 my time on a pc, Coding…, and desiging and of course chatting…

  9. Did i mention im forgetting how to spell words…If i do spell them, typing on a pc; i think im pressing one key when indeed i pressed another…. and Same with spelling on paper with pencil…

  10. I am 25. I have two small children and have been divorced almost 5 years. I think while I was married I used to just space out a lot because he would talk and talk and talk and make promises and excuses I knew weren’t true. Then he left and I got a lawyer. My kids were one and 2 months old. I started working full time and a few years later I started noticing something wrong. I could do just fine- but my memory is gone. I cannot remember much and friends and family have asked me if I was okay because I seem “spaced out”. The weird thing is my mind is blank. When Im staring off in space and someone is talking to me- I am not thinking about anything else, I just can not focus on what is right in front of me. I am just concerned that I’m missing out on soo much with my daughters. Does this sound like anything serious? Should I bring this up to a doctor? I dont want to sound stupid or be put on pills for depression or something cause I am very happy. I just cant show it. I cannot focus on anything at work. I just go through the motions- and before I know it- my days over with and I dont even remember doing something- I just did it.

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