How stress drains your brain and what to do about it?

Neuropsychologist Nicole Byers dives into the science of how stress can drain our cognitive resources, leading to forgetfulness and mistakes. Yet, she offers a simple solution to recharge and get your memory back on track.

While the human brain has an impressive capacity to store information, accessing this data is not always straightforward due to various systems and limits involved in memory retrieval.

Daily distractions and stresses can significantly affect our ability to recall information efficiently.

A famous case study about a patient known as HM illustrates that there are different types of memory.

Some memories come almost automatically while others require more effort and brainpower to recall.

Modern life is full of distractions which can easily throw off our short-term memory.

When we are juggling multiple tasks or getting distracted by alerts and messages, we are more likely to make memory errors.

Memory errors aren’t a sign you’re losing your mind. They might be a sign your brain needs a little break and a reset. – Nicole Byers

Stress interferes with memory function.

Even day-to-day stresses can take up significant brain space leading us into mental multitasking, increasing the likelihood of mistakes and forgetfulness.

When we’re worried about making mistakes, we’re more likely to make more mistakes. If you’re feeling more forgetful than usual, or your brain feels stuck and you can’t seem to find the memory you need, it might be a sign that your brain needs a reset. – Nicole Byers

Larger stresses such as living through a pandemic or dealing with financial pressures also drain our cognitive resources making it harder for us to remember important information.

These memory errors are normal especially when tired, overworked or stressed out.

Instead of trying harder when feeling forgetful or stuck, taking a break or shifting focus onto something else gives the brain cells involved in memory retrieval a chance to recharge and reset, often leading to the elusive memory resurfacing later on.

Memory errors are not a sign of losing one’s mind but rather an indication that the brain needs a break and reset.

Taking micro breaks can refresh mental resources and improve recall ability.