Show Notes
Working memory is the brain’s ability to hold information in mind long enough to use it. It helps us follow instructions, keep track of conversations, remember what we walked into a room to do, organise tasks, and connect one step to the next. In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore working memory from a psychology and therapy-informed perspective. We look at what working memory actually is, why it can feel unreliable, and how it affects everyday life, especially for neurodivergent brains, stressed brains, tired brains, and overwhelmed brains. We talk about the frustration of losing your train of thought, forgetting the next step, struggling to hold multiple demands in mind, and feeling like your brain has “dropped the tab” at the exact moment you needed it. We also explore why working memory is not about laziness, carelessness, or not trying hard enough. Often, it is a capacity issue. When the brain is overloaded, stressed, dysregulated, or juggling too much, working memory is one of the first systems to feel the pressure. This episode also considers practical ways to support working memory, including externalising information, reducing cognitive load, using visual cues, slowing down instructions, building routines, and creating environments that do not rely on the brain remembering everything at once. Working memory is not just about remembering. It is about holding, using, organising, and acting on information in real time. When we understand that, we can move away from shame and towards better support. Shorter version
More from Inside the Mind, Beyond the Desk
What happens when you spend years trying to understand why everyday life feels harder or different for you? In this episode, Karen and Áine explore the psychological impact of undiagnosed neurodivergence and what it can mean to receive a diagnosis in adulthood. They discuss how years of misunderstanding your own needs can shape confidence, relationships and mental health, alongside the relief, grief and questions that recognition can bring. A conversation about making sense of your experiences, reconsidering old beliefs about yourself and finding greater self-compassion.
Why are some tasks easy to start while others feel almost impossible? In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore the neuroscience of productivity and what is actually happening in the brain when we plan, start, focus and follow through. We look at motivation, attention, executive functioning, reward and energy, and why productivity is about much more than willpower or better time management. We also explore practical ways to work with your brain, rather than constantly trying to force it to work differently.
What happens when hormone health, brain health and everyday life collide?
Dyspraxia is often talked about in terms of coordination, but its impact can reach far beyond movement. In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and what it can look like in everyday life. We discuss coordination, organisation, planning, fatigue, confidence and the extra effort that can go into tasks other people may barely think about, while also considering the strengths and experiences that are often missed when we focus only on difficulties.
Why do some days leave us completely drained, even when we haven’t done that much? In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore energy management and why managing your capacity can be just as important as managing your time. We talk about recognising what drains and restores us, planning around our energy rather than constantly pushing through, and finding more realistic ways to navigate work, family life and everything in between.