Ever been in a situation where your memory was as clear as day about some facts, figures or events until, that is, you had to bring them to mind under pressure? For instance if trying to assert yourself with an unreasonable superior, shine during a job or promotion interview, or take an exam!
So what’s going on in our head when the mind goes so blank we may even struggle to remember our own name!
And, even more to the point, what practical steps can be taken to avoid such embarrassing memory failures in the future?
Let’s start by considering why we have these memory lapses in the first place.
It’s all down to anxiety. The more anxious we become the harder it is to concentrate on the task at hand and bring to mind, clearly and accurately, the essential information needed. This does not mean, however, that a total absence of anxiety is any more beneficial to efficient recall.