If you ever find yourself in a room full of British people, you’ll notice something peculiar – half of them are scratching their heads, wondering why they walked in, and the other half are rummaging through their pockets in search of something they’ve misplaced.
But it’s not that Brits aren’t sharp or clever; in fact, we’re known for our quick wit and sharp tongues. But when it comes to remembering where we put our keys, phones, or even where we parked the car, let’s just say that the struggle is real.
In fact, our recent study proves that forgetfulness in Britain is almost as quintessential as a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. But just which occasions and items do we forget about the most on a regular basis?
Take a look below to find out what we uncovered!
The top three things Brits forget the most
Unsurprisingly, the most common thing we Brits tend to forget about is the reason why we went into a room after getting distracted, something that at least 40% of those we spoke to noted as being a regular thing they forget. This was then followed closely by forgetting what we were going to say (37%), and more embarrassingly, people’s names (25%).
Forgetting people’s names is arguably a great British tradition. It’s not that we don’t care; it’s just that our brain seems to go on holiday the moment someone says, “Hi, my name is…”
The next time you witness two Brits meeting, watch as they skilfully navigate the conversation without ever having to use each other’s names. It’s a delicate dance of “mate” and “pal,” with the occasional “old sport” thrown in for good measure.
How forgetful are Brits in general?
Perhaps it is the notoriously dreary weather that clouds the memory, or maybe it’s the distraction of the latest gossip about who’s dating who on the telly. We can’t say for sure. But on average, we found that a quarter (25%) of Brits forget 1,460 tasks, activities, and occasions every single year, and 5% even forget up to 10 things per day, or 3,650 times per year!
On top of daily activities, people in the UK are also forgetting key family occasions. Almost a third (28%) are forgetting birthdays, with 19% not remembering to get a card or gift on anniversaries. One in 10 (10%) forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for their parents, whilst 5% forget to share love on Valentine’s Day.
Perhaps most shockingly, 4% of Brits are even forgetting Christmas!
But if you’re feeling seen by this, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Take a look at our top tips below for staying calm, keeping an organised life, and remembering to acknowledge those around you on special occasions.
Top tips for being more organised (and less forgetful)
While most adults believe their memory really starts to fail them at the age of 41 years and 10 months, experts have proven that brain ageing actually begins as early as our twenties!
While each of our brains ages in different ways at different speeds, there are a number of things we can do to delay the inevitable. Here are our top 5 tips for slowing brain ageing and generally keeping your wits about you.
- Be social: Social interactions improve your brain health. Even a quick chat with a stranger at a bus stop can help with social connectedness.
- Get rest: Sleep is crucial for your brain. While asleep, your brain remains active, consolidating memories and processing your thoughts and feelings.
- Stay active: As important as rest is physical activity. Being active increases your heart rate and pumps more life-giving oxygen to the brain.
- Eat well: Nutrition matters. We’re beginning to understand just how food is linked to brain health, and it includes thinking, memory, and improved cognitive function.
- Invest in learning: Learning new things forces your brain to form new neural pathways. Like all muscles, if you don’t use it, it will weaken. Studies have indicated that continued learning over our lifespans lowers the chance of developing dementia.
Ok so we’ve covered tips to slow brain ageing in the long term, but what about things you can do today to mitigate forgetfulness? Here are our top 5 practical tips for being more organised.
- Prioritise and plan: Start each day or week by listing tasks in order of importance. Use a planner or digital calendar to schedule your activities, ensuring you focus on what matters most.
- Declutter regularly: Keep your living and working spaces tidy by regularly decluttering. A clean environment reduces stress and improves focus.
- Set daily routines: Establish consistent daily routines for morning, work, and evening. Routines help create structure and make it easier to manage tasks. To-do lists can help too, as checking off items gives a sense of accomplishment and keeps you on track.
- Limit distractions: Identify and minimise distractions, including social media. Focusing on one task at a time boosts productivity and efficiency.
- Set reminders with thortful to remember every occasion: More than one in ten people (12%) have even fallen out with someone because they forgot their birthday, according to the OnePoll figures. Don’t be one of those people. We’ll remind you when to send your cards – you’ll never miss a special occasion again!
Since we’re offering to do the hard work for you, this last tip is a particularly easy win. Need a hand getting started? We’ve got you covered…
How to set and use thortful’s reminders
To set up your reminders with thortful, all you have to do is go to thortful.com. Once logged in, go to Reminders and click “Create new reminder.” Then, add everything you never want to miss. It could be your anniversary, Mother’s Day, or even your sister’s neighbour’s dog’s birthday – whatever it is you keep forgetting, we have you covered!
So, there you have it. Brits are forgetful beings, but there’s a lot you can do to help prevent your brain from lagging. The next time you find yourself standing in the middle of a room, wondering what on earth you came in for, just remember—you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in great company… you probably just forgot the password to join the club!
And if you know you have an important event coming up in the near future, then head over to thortful now to find the perfect card for the occasion.
