People Who Always Feel Like They're Forgetting Something Usually Have 7 Counterproductive Habits
Nicoleta Ionescu / Shutterstock There’s pretty much nothing more frustrating than the feeling of knowing that you are forgetting something but not being able to remember what it is that you forgot. T
here are any of a number of reasons why someone might be forgetful, but some people are more prone to getting completely lost and losing track of what they meant to do or say because they get stuck in habits that keep their mind stuck in a constant state of chaos.
7 counterproductive habits of people who always feel like they forgot something but don’t know what it is:
1. They don’t write things down
Yaroslav Shuraev from The Yaroslav Shuraev Collection via Canva
Our brains are really incredible, but they aren’t meant to hold every single detail. That’s why keeping a mental to-do list that keeps getting longer feels overwhelming. It’s just too much to keep track of in your head.
You have a better chance of remembering pretty much everything when you write it down. This also makes it easier to prioritize what’s most important. People who don’t keep written or typed reminders are relying on their own ability to remember lots of little things. It’s not possible for them to keep track of everything that way.
2. They switch between tasks without finishing anything
We think we can get more done when we try to do five things at once, but that’s not true. Switching from one task to another takes up time that could have been spent just getting one thing done instead.
Sometimes it makes sense to switch between tasks, but doing so to feel more productive isn’t worth it. Instead, most people end up forgetting what still needs to be done. Then they’ll be stuck working their way through a bunch of half-completed tasks.
3. They put off making decisions
It doesn’t seem like a huge deal to put off small decisions, but even little things add up over time. People usually procrastinate when they feel overwhelmed by what needs to be done without realizing that it only makes the problem worse.
Having too many decisions to make is stressful. Dealing with them quickly reduces the mental load someone has to carry later on. Each one represents one less thing that’s floating around your mind, which makes it much easier to remember what you need to do.
4. They don’t have a good organization system
Everyone needs some kind of organization system that works well for them to keep track of what’s important. A bunch of sticky notes with vague phrases scattered around the house usually aren’t enough.
Organization doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve all seen people who use a paper planner, the calendar on their phone, three different notebooks, and a mnemonic device for reminders and wondered how that’s even possible.
Some people thrive most when they stay super neatly organized, but others don’t. The trick is finding what’s best for you. Without doing that, no one would be able to remember anything.
5. They never put things back where they belong
Prostock-studio via Canva
If someone can’t find the things they need, they’ll end up in a state of never-ending forgetfulness. But that’s exactly what happens to people who just leave things lying around anywhere instead of putting them back in their rightful place.
Aside from the fact that they have to remember where everything is when it’s always changing, people who let clutter pile up send their stress levels through the roof with so many items scattered about. They often end up feeling totally out of control and think getting their life together is impossible.
6. They agree to do too many things
When people commit to doing too many things, they’re basically setting themselves up for failure. They don’t have the physical or mental capacity to keep up with it all, so there’s no way to get it all done, or at least not to get it done well.
It’s hard to say no to people who need help, but overextending yourself puts you in a bad position. People aren’t meant to keep track of that many different obligations. They’re bound to forget something and feel like they’re falling behind.
7. They never give their brain a break
It seems like the best way to remember everything and make sure it all gets done would be to never pause and rest, but that usually has the opposite effect. When people do too much without taking a break, they become mentally exhausted.
It’s not just your body that needs rest. It’s necessary for your brain, too. Constantly moving from one thing to another isn’t healthy and will lead to burnout. There’s no way for people to remember everything when their brain is overloaded, and that causes even more stress for them.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
