Personally, I’ve noticed I’ll cycle between something like this (absent minded professor) and very aware with a good memory of events, times, and sequences. For me, it’s largely based on type of mental load, anxiety, and degree of rest and exercise.
Low stress, mental load low and mostly oriented towards people, and good diet and exercise and I’ll be able to remember almost every moment and recall and integrate it into a coherent narrative quite easily.
Mental load high and focused on abstract deep concepts? Higher anxiety? Less exercise and not as good nutrition?
Where am I, and who are you?