How Memory Shapes Morning Inspirations

During my morning walk, it often happens spontaneously that a new essay's subject and the contents to be written down pop into my mind. I have no choice but to rely on my short-term memory to remember them. As you might guess, there are times when I forget the subject by the time I arrive back home. However, on those fortunate occasions when I do recall the subject, a rough outline quickly forms in my mind. This may be because the content has become deeply associated with the subject as I construct its structure through effort, and this information is stored in my working memory. The reverse situation, where I recall the content first and then the subject comes up, rarely occurs. When I used to work in an office, I found it very stressful to depend on my unreliable short-term memory. Therefore, I would either immediately begin or complete a task that needed to be done, or I would take notes. Today, I completely forgot what I initially intended to write about, which led me to compose this essay.

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