New research reveals that a quarter of people in the UK forget an astonishing 1,460 tasks, activities, and occasions each year. This equates to roughly four forgotten items per day, with 5% of respondents admitting to forgetting as many as 10 things daily, or 3,650 times a year.
The study, conducted by greetings card marketplace thortful, underscores the daily struggles many faces in managing their busy lives. Balancing work, parenting, socialising, and everyday chores leaves many feelings overwhelmed, with 42% of Brits describing their lifestyles as hectic.
The most commonly forgotten tasks include basic daily activities and significant events. Forgetting why they entered a room tops the list at 40%, followed by forgetting what they were going to say (37%) and people’s names (25%). Mundane tasks such as removing food from the freezer (20%), taking carrier bags to the supermarket (14%), and charging a phone (13%) also frequently slip people’s minds. More critical issues, like missing medication (16%) or forgetting to pick up children (3%), also feature prominently.
| Which of the following do you forget to do daily? | % |
| Why you went into a room | 40% |
| What you were going to say | 37% |
| Someone’s name | 25% |
| Passwords | 25% |
| What day of the week it is | 21% |
| Take food out of the freezer | 20% |
| Take my vitamins/ medication | 16% |
| To take carrier bags to the supermarket | 14% |
| Charge your phone | 13% |
| Your glasses | 11% |
| To take the washing out of the washing machine | 11% |
| Keys | 11% |
| Your purse/ wallet | 7% |
| Where the car is parked | 7% |
| Picking the children up/ children’s appointments | 3% |
In addition to daily tasks, the research highlights that key family occasions are often overlooked. Almost a third (28%) of respondents forget birthdays, while 19% fail to remember anniversaries. Ten percent forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and 5% miss out on Valentine’s Day. Surprisingly, 4% even forget Christmas.
To address these frequent lapses, thortful has partnered with organisational experts Style Sisters to offer five practical tips aimed at improving memory and organisation:
- Digital Daily Declutter: Phones often become cluttered with apps and emails. Regularly organising apps into folders and unsubscribing from unwanted emails can help manage digital overload. Spending 10-15 minutes daily to clean up digital clutter can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
- Limit Distractions: The constant presence of smartphones can lead to distractions. Using phone settings to schedule do-not-disturb periods or focus modes can help reduce interruptions and maintain concentration.
- An Organised Home for an Organised Mind: An orderly home can contribute to a clearer mind. The Style Sisters recommend decluttering and organising spaces using the ‘categorise and contain’ method. Regular checks and organisation of items can help prevent over-purchasing and reduce stress.
- Pre-Event Reminders: Instead of managing separate reminders for each occasion, creating a monthly events reminder can streamline the process. This system allows for advance planning and reduces last-minute stress, helping to ensure that important dates are not forgotten.
- Five Minutes of Peace: Carving out a few minutes daily for mindfulness or meditation can offer clarity and calm amidst a busy schedule. Starting with just five minutes can make this practice manageable and provide valuable moments of reflection and organisation.
The thortful report provides a comprehensive look at the everyday challenges people face in managing their lives and offers actionable strategies to improve organisation and reduce the frequency of forgotten tasks. For further advice and tips on staying organised, thortful’s blog offers additional resources and guidance.
For more details on the study and organisational tips, visit thortful’s blog at thortful.com.
