Ease your memory

Throughout the day your brain will remember a host of things, good, bad and things that you need to do.

It could be doctors appointment that was made over a month ago, or a light in the bedroom you wanted to fix. Your brain behaves like a vessel with compartments, it can store information and sideline information. Fixing a light bulb in an unused room may not be on the priority list, and can result in looking and walking past the lighting section in the supermarket without triggering your memory.

When you do come to the room later at night to write up your report that’s due in for tomorrow for work, and you look at your watch to realise the shop is now closed and you were at the shop earlier, then you need to change your habits.

These types of unforced errors although occur commonly and innocently, should be negated as you grow up and eliminated through planning and techniques used in the industry.

One of the employers favorite questions for future employees is “are you organised” or “how would you plan your day or an event”…. What they are trying to decipher is whether you will have the ability to prioritise tasks, activities and how you are likely to perform under pressure to complete tasks.

Being at the light bulb section in a supermarket knowing you need a light bulb to replace the broken one at home, but not being able to trigger your memory may be an innocent mistake but can cause personal problems if repeated especially those dependent on you to deliver and can be particularly bad if your in employment.

The secret to maintaining your memory performance even when under pressure is to complete the smaller tasks as you remember them and if unable to perform them, then write a small memo down somewhere where you check regularly.

If you have a task that you remember, complete it immediately – get it out the way with. Don’t think it is an easy task I can leave it for tomorrow or next week, if you have the means to complete it now – do it. It will be easier for your brain and reduce unwanted and unexpected pressure later on.

If you are unable to do it now, write it down. Use a diary or write it somewhere to check up regularly such as calendar or a diary and make a note of it. It can be as mundane as cutting the lawn or as important as having a dentist appointment or submittal date.

Once you complete the task, you no longer have to remember doing it therefore reducing the stress from your mind. If you are still to complete a task but you write it down, you are at least aware of its completion in the future, and increase the risk of piling tasks together should any others arise in the forthcoming days.

Summary

1. Prioritise your memory

2. Yourself verses others – separate the things you need to do for yourself from the things you need to do for others. Example changing the light bulb in your room vs changing the lightbulb in the living room

3. Do the easy things first – usually whatever is in your immediate vicinity

4. Write it Down – what you cannot do immediately do not cram your brain with extra memory items, write it down somewhere visually available

5. Once complete, write it down and mark complete. This will lighten your memory load, provide reference for yourself and others, and remove doubt and associated stress and anxiety.