My Memory Sucks

So I think it's time to admit that I have a crappy memory. But only sometimes. Let me explain:

When it comes to someone telling me something about themselves I usually remember it very well. So well in fact that when someone has told me something and then tells me something different I remember and call them on it, but when I tell myself that I need to do laundry, or empty the garbage or hell grab something from another room, I suddenly have alzheimer's. I don't get it. I've come to the conclusion that I may have short term memory loss, but I have no clue what would have caused it. Eating too much sugar? Drinking too much tea? Not enough sleep? Who knows. What I do know is that I'm so frustrated with myself. I will have a list in my head of things I need to to do and remember, and no lie, 10 seconds later I could not tell you if my life depended on it, what was on that list.

I find myself getting easily distracted when I'm at work. I honestly have to make a list of things that people tell me to do so that I won't forget. I will be thinking of a website I need to visit, and if I don't do it right then, I might as well never do it, because I seriously won't remember 10 seconds later. This is a serious problem!

So how do I go about fixing this? Eat less sugar? Drink less tea? I heard there are supplements that you can take that are supposed to enhance your memory, but does anyone really know if they work? I'm so worried! I'm barely in my 30's and I'm going to be completely useless by the time I hit 40 if I don't figure this out quickly. I can only imagine how I'll be when I'm 80. Oh the horror!

For now until I figure out how to improve my memory, I'll be sticking to post-it notes and calendar reminders for the simplest of things. Like re-ordering contacts and pills even though I clearly know I'm out and need to, or bring a book to a friend, or pay a freaking bill. Maybe I'm not alone in this, but I sure do know it's a problem.