Outsource Your Working Memory

Productivity expert and author David Allen said, “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them”.

He’s right.

Your working (short-term) memory has a limited capacity—research suggests it can hold between 3 and 8 items. Unsurprisingly, when we try to cram in too much (tasks, reminders, ideas, information), we feel overwhelmed.

This is why I outsource as much of my working memory as possible:

• Tasks go straight into my Todoist inbox

• Appointments are quickly added to Morgen

• Ideas, information, and notes go into Tana

• Things to read or watch later (during scheduled reading time), go to Readwise Reader

You don’t need to use this many tools; a small notepad can work just as well.

We’re bombarded with information every day. Trying to hold it all in your head is impossible and will quickly lead to overwhelm.

Outsourcing your working memory helps reduce that stress and close open loops.