Forgetfulness is the tendency to lose track of information or fail to remember things you once knew. When you walk into a room and can't recall why you went there, or when you completely blank on a friend's name even though you've known them for years, that's forgetfulness at work.

Everyone experiences forgetfulness sometimes. You might forget where you put your homework, forget to bring your lunch to school, or forget the combination to your locker even though you've opened it a hundred times. These memory lapses happen to all of us, though they become more common as people get older.

Forgetfulness differs from never learning something in the first place. If you forget your multiplication tables, it means you knew them once but can't access that information now. If you never memorized them, that's not forgetfulness.

Some forgetfulness is normal and harmless. Other times it signals that you're distracted, tired, or trying to remember too many things at once. When you're worried about three different things while your teacher explains tomorrow's assignment, forgetfulness often follows. That's why writing things down, creating routines, and focusing on one task at a time can help overcome everyday forgetfulness. Scientists who study memory have found that repetition, good sleep, and paying careful attention when learning something new all reduce forgetfulness later.