Interruptions will kill your memory. We live in a multitasking world full of disruptions. Distractions interrupt our thoughts causing us to mentally and sometimes physically switch gears. We end up multitasking, hurrying, and not doing anything well. More importantly, we don’t remember. Bottom line is interruptions hurt memory.
How Interruptions Hurt Memory
I remind myself and educate others daily not to multitask. Yet, I often still do and wind up forgetting important information. It is not good form for someone who helps others with their memories to forget! But that’s exactly what happens when I try to do too much, compounded by distractions.
I make my mental and physical to do lists and prioritize them. I have every good intention to implement what I need to do first, second etc. Then someone asks for help, the phone rings, an email comes in and the wheels start coming loose. I veer off course to help or put out some little fire, then pay attention to another item stealing my attention. Whatever time later, I then try to get back to what I was doing in the first place. However, I realize in my haste I didn’t write down important info when I was interrupted. And now I can’t remember it for the life of me.
I try all my memory techniques and it’s just gone. I cannot remember because I simply wasn’t paying enough attention in the first place. It’s time to admit my mistake and vow to stop multitasking!
How to Help your Memory
When interrupted, hold your thought long enough to write it down, mark your place, or otherwise do something with the info to recall when you return to it. Even better, see if you can put off the interruption-whether it’s a thought, call, email or person to finish what you were originally doing. This way you will truly focus on your original task and finish it well. Then, move on to the new or next thing. Either way, focus on one task (or as few as possible) at a time.
Realistically, not multitasking isn’t always possible in today’s world. Interruptions hurt memory but are part of life. It’s in how we manage them that makes the difference between remembering what’s important or not. For additional memory techniques and mental fitness to help your memory stay sharp, check out my Brain Boosters books and stay focused!