I tend to write things down more often these days. Part of it is necessity since I can't always get to the task right away, and part of it is to help remember. Something about the act of making a note seems to help reduce the need for the note - I'm better able to remember to do the thing that I wrote the note for in the first place, even without referring back to the note.

Any chance it has something to do with lifestyle, where maybe you're trying to cram too many diverse things into your day-today activities?

I like spices and I love cooking! This is very interesting, thanks! I know it is easy to get cumin around here, not sure about turmeric though. But I will be sure to keep my eyes open. Wonder, how turmeric tastes...

The website is awesome too!

Memory systems I can sort of understand, but why would you order snake oil salesmen?

It's an expression. :P

Making notes and getting result just from performing the action is indeed familiar for me. I know that when I was in school, I often used to make thorough notes for cheating. But all that research and thorough work would help me to remember things I needed, so I almost never got to use my notes.

As for planning tasks and writing them down, I like doing that and I would do that even having a perfect memory. Makes the planning better and easier to tend to tasks as I start to cross them out. Also helps to oversee the possible long term results.

The lifestyle is a bit over crowded. Or maybe it would be better to say that the flow of information is massive and hard to control. Programming alone is very intense, not to mention wanting to spend time on my hobbies.
Actual adders also crossed my mind.

Yeah, what is this snake oil thing? Heard it a few times before. In a german forum one calle antivirus programs "snake oils". So what the frock is this?

Okay, but I am not taking the fall for this derail! :P

Years and years ago, traveling salesmen used to travel the country peddling potions and remedies for any and every ailment you can possibly imagine, like memory loss.

99.99% of them were actually just selling completely useless concoctions they stirred up themselves, usually loaded with alcohol to make the poor sap who bought it actually feel like something was happening. The term 'snake oil' was used to describe these remedies, because a lot of the time that's all it was and contained no medicinal properties.

Hence the term, "Snake Oil Salesmen".

Maybe you should play some puzzle games and memory games or write a book or something to keep those synapses cooking.

I like my memory, it forgets everything irrelevant, and stores everything cool in a easy to access file system.

I knew the cure but I forgot.

Seriously though, go see a doctor! This kind of bad memory is NOT normal and at the very least a strong indicator for a serious condition like Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, the symptoms you described are pretty much textbook pre-dementia Alzheimer's.

Do not take this lightly!

Memory is really a matter of habit and expectation as much as anything else. First off make sure you're getting plenty of sleep, exercise and appropriate amounts of water. If you're not doing that, there's not much point in anything more.

Memory is something that people can improve. The big thing is that in order for something to be stored as a memory you have to know it existed first. I've got fabulous memory, but I rarely if ever dream and it comes at a huge cost in terms of my focus. I tend to be aware of every little thing that's going on all at once, which causes problems with planning for the future.

Anyways, one thing to do is literally expect more out of yourself. Your brain isn't going to give you good memory if you expect and see yourself as having bad memory.

Beyond that, learn basic mnemonics. I tend to like Harry Lorrayne's book The Memory Book he has rather poor memory without the techniques, but he can also memorize hundreds of names and faces within a short period of time along with just about anything else he wants to.

In my experience having a system that I can use for the rare things I can't easily remember increases my ability to memorize in general as I don't have to worry about possibility, if it doesn't stick the first time or two, then I use one of his methods and it usually sticks.
Definitely worth while, but I'd expect that the problem here is going to be sleep or stress. But, definitely see a doctor about it in case there's something else going on. Or just not paying attention to anything.

I should consult Zeogold on the puzzles matter. He is the Puzzlemaster after all. Writing a book is something I admire, but haven't really, honestly done. Instead, I would write short stories or try to remember and write down my dreams. If I don't remember the dream, but just bits and pieces, I would use my imagination and fill in the gaps. Some of them are actually nice and romantic. Memory games sound nice, I sometimes do some sort game with a simple deck of cards. But still, I would rather try and draw or paint from my memory and not involve games.

TinyE, you never seize to amaze me!

Hot herbal tea from fresh Basil is said to help with memory; memory loss and remembering forgotten stuff. Worked well for me. Also you need to do mind exercises often. Like the one you have to solve math as a game (sudoku?), or find words from their description (crossword?). Try to keep something like a diary, to keep important stuff written down. And last but not least, try to sleep enough hours for your body and mind to rest properly. Not sleeping well, even not sleeping during night-time which by the way is the most important thing ever for all phases of human development, is a critical factor for memory loss and other negative conditions.

Sudoku has nothing to do with math, as numbers can be changed to letters or some gibberish signs or kinky pictures. It's just seeing patterns. Crosswords are fine, however, I am not fluent in English to do English ones and Lithuanian crosswords... Well, they are plain stupid and repetitive. I like the idea of tea, I like drinking tea. Will look into that. And sleeping... As of late, my sleeping cycle seems to be distorted, sometimes irregular. So I should most definitely get sleeping under more control.