Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there? Do you often feel like you are forgetting something? Do you find yourself moving from one task to the next with no breaks all day long? With all of the schedules for our work, family, and social lives, who finds themselves forgetting tasks, appointments, details, or even ideas?
We live in a society that thrives on constant flows of information and continuous movement. Humans (animals in general) were not built to operate in that manner. We need regular breaks throughout the day (not to mention a good night’s sleep) to recharge and refresh. Think of your brain capacity as a rechargeable battery, like your cell phone. One hundred percent battery power is ideal. We may not even start the day at 100% and we are depleting it all day without recharging it sufficiently to operate with full functionality. It’s no wonder we have so many lapses in our memory. We are often working consistently in low battery mode. How comfortable and confident are you with that at work, with your family, or in your social life?
Question: Until things change, what can you do to ease the effects of this societal drive? Suggestion: Make a conscious effort to take mental (and physical) breaks in your day. If you spend most of your day inside, go outside, take some deep breaths, and take in the sights, sounds, and scents of nature. That can keep you from running blindly to your next task, put you in the present, and give you some much-needed blood and brain oxygen. Pause, breathe and hear the birds. Five minutes could give you a quick 5% back. How many times can you work that in your day?