Missed follow-ups and forgotten meetings are a few of the common scenarios in the workplace. This is especially true during busy days when you easily overlook important tasks. You miss project deadlines, commit more mistakes, and have low productivity. Worst, it will have a ripple effect on the people around you, your clients and your business.
The good news is you can start simple yet make the biggest difference. Using practical and smart planning tools and creating visual reminder systems can significantly improve productivity and minimise mental load.
Why Does the Brain Forget Things?
Believe it or not, forgetting is part of the brain’s normal function. It is an essential aspect of our memory system, and without it, our brain won’t work.
Many reasons trigger the brain to forget. One is that you stop paying attention to something. It won’t be properly “encoded” in your brain, which won’t be turned into a neural pattern that can be kept and accessed later on.
Another cause is when there is interference from other memories, especially those that are similar to each other. New memories may interfere with the old ones and vice versa. The ones you’ll remember are the stronger memories, either new or old.
You may also have experienced the “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon at least once in your life. This is because there is a retrieval failure going on in your brain. Memory retrieval primarily depends on some indicators, such as smell, taste, location, and sound. If these signals aren’t there, retrieving a memory becomes difficult.
Since you don’t have any control over this, it is extremely important to practice following simple planning habits to help you remember better and eventually overcome being forgetful.
4 Quick Tips to Forget Less at Work
Use One Primary Planning Tool
Instead of using multiple notes for your tasks, write them down on a daily planner or work diary. Many planners are designed to help you organise your tasks, personal or business plans and schedules properly in one place.
Write down each task and how you want to accomplish it. Take note of the methods that work and don’t, so you know which ones to keep and drop. It’s also helpful to have a section for the tasks with the highest priority for that day, so you can see them right away.
Make sure to review your list of tasks to see if you missed anything. Review it again at the end of your day to check if you’ve accomplished everything.
Use Colour-Coded Labels as Your Visual Reminders
Visual systems, such as markers and sticky notes, help you quickly notice and remember important information. You can highlight priorities, project deadlines, and next steps to ensure you identify which details require immediate attention.
Proper desk organisation is also beneficial for promoting the right level of focus on your tasks. Use colour-coded dividers and folders to organise your documents. Install a shelf for your other things and label them appropriately.
Create a Reminder System for Your Routine
You might have been using your calendar for important reminders already, but creating a system makes your life a lot easier. Start with your calendar and add deadline reminders to it on top of your meetings. Also, don’t forget your checklist for the day, and use whiteboards for your weekly tasks.
Sticky notes are also helpful, especially with quick projects, as they can be easily seen. Just make sure to place them nicely as they can get instantly messy.
Keep Things Organised
Organise your belongings all the time. Make this a habit to ensure you reduce forgetfulness and mental overload and your brain maintains better focus.
Simple organisation tips:
- Add easy-to-read labels to your storage boxes.
- Throw away outdated notes and clutter.
- Store wired accessories, such as a phone charger, in one container.
Simple Planning Tools and Habits for Better Results
Forgetting less and being more productive are not about how well you remember things but about the systems you build that help you remember. Start with one or two planning habits you think will help you remember more and figure out additional systems as you go. Your goal is to have less stress, increased productivity, and zero forgotten deadlines, tasks, and priorities.
