Forgetting Things at Work? 3 Ways to Supercharge your Memory

Do you find yourself missing key deadlines? Did an important meeting slip your mind? Perhaps juggling a million tasks at once is causing you to drop the ball and lose sight of what’s needed?

Being forgetful at work is normal from time to time. But when it becomes a chronic habit it’s time to take a step back and figure out what’s causing your brain fog. Let’s explore what could be triggering your forgetfulness, while looking at some empowering techniques that can boost your brainpower to remember more when it matters.

You are stressed or anxious
Stress makes you forgetful, it’s official. One meta-analysis showed that when stress occurs prior to or during what you need to remember, it impairs your ability to retain that memory. If you’re feeling on-edge or anxious at work, this could be the cause of your scatterbrain, inhibiting your short-term memory.

Tip 1 – Reduce your stress levels
Keep a diary for a few weeks listing all the situations which cause the most tension and then start to de-stress your life by actively controlling or removing all the stressors you can. Maybe you can organise your time better? Perhaps you can reduce overly high expectations you’ve put on yourself?

Then, establish a routine that prioritises self-care and relaxation. That could be as simple as getting more sleep, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol or starting a meditation or mindfulness practice.

You have too much on your plate
Your grey matter can only cope with so many things in one day, week or month. Indeed, researchers say our working memory’s limit is around three to four things. If you find yourself keeping hundreds of plates spinning at work, it’s no surprise you may be prone to forgetfulness.

Tip 2 – Reduce your to-do list
Multitasking is tough for everyone, but if your role requires you to juggle tasks then consider upping your planning and organising game. Establish realistic goals, prioritise tasks day-by-day and set alerts and reminders for key meetings.

If you feel you have too much work for the time allowed, speak to your boss about ways you could be more efficient or which tasks need to be prioritised.

You aren’t present in the moment
When people are talking to you is your mind elsewhere? Are you thinking about what to say next? Are you distracted by text messages, social media, and email alerts? Often when we aren’t really listening or present in the moment it can be easy to forget details at work shared by colleagues and your boss which can be disastrous when it comes to safety, remembering deadlines, managing client expectations, and simply getting the task completed the most efficient way possible.

Tip 3 – Practise Active Listening
When you are engaging with your work colleagues or boss, take the time to be present. Ask questions, take notes, and really think about the message they are delivering.

Studies show that those who practise active listening are more likely to shift details from short-term memory to the long-term memory which is a superpower for work. Active listening can therefore be applied to many situations such as taking directions, training, analysing data and processing a task – helping you to remember far better.

If you are open to new opportunities, contact a recruitment agency like Trojan Recruitment Group and receive advice from the experts in labour-hire, permanent and contract staff.

References

https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/bul0000100
https://www.livescience.com/2493-mind-limit-4.html
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0104550