Short attention span & very bad with memory..

Myles · 05-30-2008, 10:37 AM

I don't know what the issue is with me. I can never focus very well & it's hard for me to learn new things. I just got a job and I've been working very hard for the last couple of weeks. However I'm still doing horrible at this job. I'm working at Best Buy as a cashier & sales. It's so much stuff to remember and often I find myself getting confused. People help me but it's not really helping. When people are talking to me, I'm often not listening and I just have a short attention span.I really can't help it. Especially if people are talking too fast or in a boring monotone voice, I space out.

I'm often forgetting steps people taught me and I can tell my fellow co-workers are already getting agitated with me,even though they're saying that they're not. I'm constantly holding up the lines and most of the customers are frustrated with me because I have to get someone to help me do a certain thing. I'm getting the hang out of being a cashier but it's certain things I always forget to do which stalls time. I'm scared if I don't get the hang of things soon, I will be fired..

ghost69 · 05-30-2008, 10:42 AM

well, keep trying. it's new. it will come to you. any job has it's variety of problems to learn.

pinkelephant · 05-30-2008, 10:46 AM

write things down?

thats how i was when i started out as a cashier too. it's so boring.

Myles · 05-30-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkelephant

write things down?

thats how i was when i started out as a cashier too. it's so boring.

Writing things down is not a bad idea though I'll look pretty stupid doing it. I'm also not good at counting money.. It's so embarrassing when I forget to type in the amount and the computer doesn't tell me how much change to give back. So I'm sitting there trying to figure out the math and I end up giving the wrong amount of change... humiliating! There's also more to being a cashier at best buy.. I have to offer replacement plans and I have to explain and persuade the customers to go with the plan.. I'm so not good at offering things. Also when there are sells or a price change.. I end up getting stuck because even though people have shown me things, I still get confused on how to take things off of the regular price. If customers have questions, I have no idea how to answer them because I don't know myself lol.

jane820 · 05-30-2008, 11:09 AM

I have that too, it's ADD. It can be an uphill battle, but you just have to take extra steps to avoid screwing up or embarassing yourself. Writing things down is perfect - don't worry if it makes you look stupid. Wouldn't screwing up every time you ring someone up look alot stupider? Or getting fired from such a seemingly easy job? I used to work a register at a cafe and even if someone ordered two simple drinks or something, I HAD to write it down immediately or it would just leave my mind. Or if I answer the phone where I work now, I have to write down the person's name as SOON as I hear it or the same thing will happen, and I'll have to ask them their name again everytime. Once you accept that you just have to do a few extra things to cope with this, life will be much easier and you'll be able to relax

woodster · 05-30-2008, 11:16 AM

I have the same problem. My memory is very short and I'm easily distracted. My friends always joke that they can't talk to me if there is shiny object near-by.

I'm almost 40, so I've dealt with it for a long time. The first thing you need to do is top being so hard on yourself. So you learn things differently than everyone else. That doesn't make you stupid or slow. Just different. At least you know it - so you can fix it. You are on this message board to help the issue, so that's awesome. The only way anyone would consider you stupid or slow is if you DIDN'T do anything to help yourself.

If you have to write it down, do it. Make yourself a cheat-sheet. You can keep it at the register with you. Have it contain some of the Major points that you need to mention - Like Refund, Mailing List, Cash Back etc... After a while you will have it memorized and you'll find yourself needing the cheat-sheet less and less.

Honestly, I bet the bosses would be impressed that you are writing your own "Employee Manual". They might want to copy it so they can give it to new employees getting hired after you.

Every job requires some memorization. Waitress have to know the daily specials - and they often write it down. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm a computer programmer and I have everything written down. My office is a mess with all my documentation and notes. If I lost any of these papers, I'd be fired for sure!

So stay calm and do what you have to. If it will make you a better employee, there's no reason not to.

**BellaDonna** · 05-30-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

When people are talking to me, I'm often not listening and I just have a short attention span.I really can't help it. Especially if people are talking too fast or in a boring monotone voice, I space out.

You may very well be experiencing ADD. How were your grades/performance in school? Was this ever an issue for you in school? Do you think it affects other areas of your life as well?

If any of the information on this site sounds all too familiar, you might want to get a formal evaluation. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] Some people do not realize they have ADD until adulthood.

BellaDonna

Myles · 05-30-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaDonna

You may very well be experiencing ADD. How were your grades/performance in school? Was this ever an issue for you in school? Do you think it affects other areas of your life as well?

If any of the information on this site sounds all too familiar, you might want to get a formal evaluation. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] Some people do not realize they have ADD until adulthood.

BellaDonna

Actually! I did horribly in high school & I think this is what's stopping me from going to college because I know it's going to be the very same thing.I really hated high school because I hate sitting in classrooms listening to teachers talk and I HATE following directions because most of the time, I forgot most of what the teacher taught and I had other things on my mind, like what was on tv,what was I going to do after school, the cute girl I like in third period etc. I'm horrible at following directions & with homework, I hated doing it because I couldn't catch on with the material fast enough most of the time. Even when people tried to teach me with tutorial, they'd often get frustrated because it took me so long to learn the material. When I did learn something and we moved onto the next step.. I would forget the first step and get confused. I actually gave up and stopped doing my work because everyone worked at a fast pace besides me.The teachers basically felt sorry for me and passed me most of the time and I had to take summer school almost every year of high school because I failed a couple of classes. People used to call me dumb which effected my self esteem horribly and I don't get why it's so hard to stay focused and get things done correctly.

**BellaDonna** · 05-30-2008, 12:05 PM

I would suggest getting a formal evaluation. It would involve consulting a psychiatrist, school psychologist, or other qualified professional to take some standardized tests to figure out what your learning needs, strenghts, and limitations are.

If you were formally evaluated while in high school you may have done much better because you could have received accomodations to help you learn and to firgure out which learning style works best for you.

For example, since "listening" to prolonged verbal instructions does not seem to work for you- receiving information in a more visual/interactive format may have given you more success in school.

If you do indeed have ADD- it does not always mean that you need medication. You might just have to adapt some things in your environment and come up with some new learning strategies that you can use anywhere- including at work and at college.

If you are formally evaluated and you find that you do indeed have a learning disability- if you went to college you could talk with a disability support counselor to work out a learning plan. (I work in this field so if you have any questions about that process feel free to PM me)

BellaDonna

P.S.

Quote:

I hate sitting in classrooms listening to teachers talk and I HATE following directions because most of the time, I forgot most of what the teacher taught and I had other things on my mind,

You may have "hated" learning because it was a confidence issue. Had the material been delivered to you in a way that you could grasp and retain better- and that felt relevant to you, you may have felt more competent, and as a result, more enthusiastic about high school in general.

sarey · 05-30-2008, 12:51 PM

It may not necessarily be ADHD, I have ADHD and it's not just to do with short attention span and bad memory, it could be a number of things, go to your doctor and get it checked out.

05-30-2008, 10:37 AM	#1
Myles Offline Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 156	Short attention span & very bad with memory.. I don't know what the issue is with me. I can never focus very well & it's hard for me to learn new things. I just got a job and I've been working very hard for the last couple of weeks. However I'm still doing horrible at this job. I'm working at Best Buy as a cashier & sales. It's so much stuff to remember and often I find myself getting confused. People help me but it's not really helping. When people are talking to me, I'm often not listening and I just have a short attention span.I really can't help it. Especially if people are talking too fast or in a boring monotone voice, I space out. I'm often forgetting steps people taught me and I can tell my fellow co-workers are already getting agitated with me,even though they're saying that they're not. I'm constantly holding up the lines and most of the customers are frustrated with me because I have to get someone to help me do a certain thing. I'm getting the hang out of being a cashier but it's certain things I always forget to do which stalls time. I'm scared if I don't get the hang of things soon, I will be fired..

05-30-2008, 10:42 AM	#2
ghost69 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Desert Gender: Male Posts: 33,434	well, keep trying. it's new. it will come to you. any job has it's variety of problems to learn. __________________ Not only am I friendly, but I'm invisible too. Too perfect of a relationship is too weird-g69 If you say you are normal, I'd think you are weird-g69 The world can only get better, it depends on how you look at it-g69 'As wicked as you are, you're beautiful to me'-5fingerdeathpunch you cannot control the world, you can only live in it the best you can for you-g69 NooOoOoooOOoOoOoooooo

05-30-2008, 10:46 AM	#3
pinkelephant Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lala land Gender: None Specified Posts: 2,616	write things down? thats how i was when i started out as a cashier too. it's so boring.

05-30-2008, 11:09 AM	#5
jane820 Offline Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Gender: Female Posts: 27	I have that too, it's ADD. It can be an uphill battle, but you just have to take extra steps to avoid screwing up or embarassing yourself. Writing things down is perfect - don't worry if it makes you look stupid. Wouldn't screwing up every time you ring someone up look alot stupider? Or getting fired from such a seemingly easy job? I used to work a register at a cafe and even if someone ordered two simple drinks or something, I HAD to write it down immediately or it would just leave my mind. Or if I answer the phone where I work now, I have to write down the person's name as SOON as I hear it or the same thing will happen, and I'll have to ask them their name again everytime. Once you accept that you just have to do a few extra things to cope with this, life will be much easier and you'll be able to relax

05-30-2008, 11:16 AM	#6
woodster Offline Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New England Gender: Female Posts: 34	I have the same problem. My memory is very short and I'm easily distracted. My friends always joke that they can't talk to me if there is shiny object near-by. I'm almost 40, so I've dealt with it for a long time. The first thing you need to do is top being so hard on yourself. So you learn things differently than everyone else. That doesn't make you stupid or slow. Just different. At least you know it - so you can fix it. You are on this message board to help the issue, so that's awesome. The only way anyone would consider you stupid or slow is if you DIDN'T do anything to help yourself. If you have to write it down, do it. Make yourself a cheat-sheet. You can keep it at the register with you. Have it contain some of the Major points that you need to mention - Like Refund, Mailing List, Cash Back etc... After a while you will have it memorized and you'll find yourself needing the cheat-sheet less and less. Honestly, I bet the bosses would be impressed that you are writing your own "Employee Manual". They might want to copy it so they can give it to new employees getting hired after you. Every job requires some memorization. Waitress have to know the daily specials - and they often write it down. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm a computer programmer and I have everything written down. My office is a mess with all my documentation and notes. If I lost any of these papers, I'd be fired for sure! So stay calm and do what you have to. If it will make you a better employee, there's no reason not to.

05-30-2008, 12:51 PM	#10
sarey Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the UK, somewhere... Gender: Female Posts: 1,438	It may not necessarily be ADHD, I have ADHD and it's not just to do with short attention span and bad memory, it could be a number of things, go to your doctor and get it checked out.