How inattentive and forgetful are you? Do you often get distracted by something and forget what you were doing? Do you struggle paying attention to your surroundings? All of the above questions can be collected into one moot question – How absent-minded are you?

Absent-mindedness is a condition which includes the aforementioned problems with memory, attention, and focus. It is common among old people but can also affect younger people. Thanks to our quiz – ‘How Absent-Minded Are You?’ you can now learn if you are affected by a mental condition known as absent-mindedness. We are also going to tell you whether absent-mindedness has a strong impact on your life or if it is a benign form of this condition. 

So how absent-minded are you? There is only one way to find out! Solve our quiz and learn if cognitive problems related to absent-mindedness apply to you. Before you start the test, we encourage you to read our article first and improve your understanding of this condition. 

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What It Means To Be Absent-Minded?

Absent-mindedness occurs when a person displays low level of attention and forgetful behavior. People with this mental condition also tend to easily get distracted. The severity of absent-mindedness differs from person to person. It is more common among older people but can also affect younger adults and sometimes kids. Most of the time, absent-mindedness does not require any countermeasures. It is natural and happens when we get exhausted or overwhelmed by information. It is impossible to stay fully focused at all times, especially when we have a lot of things on our mind. In such a scenario, absent-mindedness is considered a state or experience where the level of attention is low.

Severe cases of absent-mindedness are a different matter. People who frequently forget what they were doing just a moment ago and are unable to stay focused for long are affected by a more serious version of absent-mindedness. Even though it is not recognized as a mental disorder, it can be diagnosed. It is then referred to as a mental condition and can be overcome. 

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Absent-Mindedness – Causes

Direct causes of absent-mindedness have yet to be discovered. Unfortunately, this area of psychology is still underdeveloped and requires more research. However, there are three possible factors related to the causes of absent-mindedness. It is often correlated with poor physical or mental condition, distraction and preoccupation:  

• Blanking or zoning out
• Low level of attention
• Hyperfocus – highly focused attention to a single object which makes a person unaware of the surrounding events
• Frequent distractions caused by thoughts or surrounding events 

How To Treat Absent-Mindedness?

There are various ways to help prevent absent-mindedness and treat already developed cases of this condition. However, there are no conventional means of overcoming absent-mindedness. Patients with absent-mindedness undergo a psychological treatment which includes some changes in daily life: shorter work schedules, taking frequent breaks and rests, using a drowsiness detector. 

Keeping the mind and body active can also reduce absent-mindedness. It is beneficial for our brains to study something or learn new things. Some ideas include learning a new language, coding, or playing an instrument. Entertaining activities can also improve memory and concentration. Video games, puzzles, word games, and art hobbies were proven to increase the quality of cognitive functions related to memory, concentration, reaction time, and perceptiveness.

Absent-Mindedness Theme

The theme of absent-mindedness is often found in popular culture and works of fiction. One of the most famous examples is an old professor or scientist character so deeply involved in their research that they are oblivious to the events around them. They are sometimes depicted as crazy and deranged comic relief characters, which makes other characters doubt their great intelligence.    

The stereotype of absent-minded genius can be traced back to Ancient Greece. One of ancient anecdotes mentions Thales of Miletus who was so focused on the night sky that he fell down a well during his stroll. 

Another example is The Absent-Minded Beggar, a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1899. It depicted the population of Great Britain as absent-minded because of their lack of understanding for their troops returning from the Boer War. Soldiers who couldn’t return to their previous jobs after the war needed support, which, according to the poem, was ignored by the British population.

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How Absent-Minded Are You? Free Psychology Test

Do you easily get distracted and have a low level of attention? Check out our test to learn if you are absent-minded. All you need to do is answer 20 questions. 

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