[256] Operation May Reset: Sharpen Your Memory

Ever walk into a room and forget why you were there? Or open your phone to send a text and end up deep in a reel rabbit hole 15 minutes later? You're not alone—and it's not because you're lazy or scattered. In this first episode of Operation May Reset, we’re tackling memory overload with three super simple resets that help you feel calmer, focused, and in control—even during the chaos of May.

In this episode, you’ll learn why your brain defaults to survival mode when you're overwhelmed, how to give it a break (without waking up at 4 a.m.), and easy tools that make remembering what matters actually doable. These resets take minutes, but give you hours of clarity back. If your brain needs a breather, this one’s for you!

 3 Key Takeaways:

• The One-Capture Rule: Learn how picking just one spot for all your reminders helps your brain relax.
• Anchor Habit Reset: Discover how to stack mini memory boosts onto things you already do every day.
• 2-Minute Brain Dump: A simple nightly offload to clear the mental tabs and finally rest easy.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Atomic Habits
• Sign Up for the Slacker Hack Summit (Free Ticket!) (affiliate link)

Join me all month long for Operation May Reset—this episode is just the beginning. Then head over to the Slacker Hack Summit to grab your free ticket and learn from 40+ experts on how to get things done without the hustle. It’s free, it’s fun, and you’re going to walk away with real, usable hacks that actually make life easier.

Transcript

Toni-Ann: 0:00

If your brain ever feels like it's playing bumper cars lately, like bouncing around from one thing to the next, you're absolutely not alone. Between wrapping up school, planning for the summer and juggling work deadlines. And also trying to remember who still needs to bring snacks to the soccer practice. Things can feel really, really crazy. And if you caught yourself walking into a room and totally blanking on why you were even there, or opening your phone to send a quick text message only to find yourself 15 minutes later deep into a rabbit hole of reels, wondering what you were supposed to be doing in the first place. Let me just say. I feel the same way and the same thing has happened to me too. But the good news is it's not because you're lazy or disorganized or just need to try harder. Your brain is actually doing what it's designed to do when it comes to being overwhelmed, it prioritizes survival mode. The even better news, you don't have to overhaul your life or work harder to sharpen your memory. Hey there. My name is Toni Ann. I am the podcast host of The Real Happy Mom podcast. The podcast for busy working moms who want to gain more time and achieve their big goals without pulling their hair out. And today I'm sharing three super simple resets you can start right now, even in the middle of all the May Madness all so that you can stay on top of things without feeling like you're constantly forgetting something. Because you deserve to have a brain that feels clear and calm And this month, I'm so excited that you're joining me because. We are gonna be doing something special all month long. It's called Operation May Reset. And this is the first episode of the series. So let's dive in. All right, so before we jump into the simple resets, I want to quickly explain why our memories tend to go a little haywire, especially during the busy seasons like May when you're juggling a million things, like deadlines into the school, your events, summer planning, and that mysterious load of laundry used swore that you washed but somehow is still not folded. Your brain has one job and that is just to keep you safe and keep you moving. And when your brain is in survival mode, it starts to prioritize only what feels urgent or dangerous. And spoiler alert, remembering to call the dentist or to buy more sunscreen doesn't actually make top of the list. So if you're forgetting things lately, it's not because you're slacking. It's literally how your brain is wired to handle overwhelm. And pushing yourself harder or adding more to your plate isn't the answer. Instead, it's about giving your brain a helping hand, A few simple systems that will gently guide you back into clarity, and that's where these three memory resets come in. They're small, they're simple, and they'll make you feel like you're operating with an upgraded version of your brain without needing to wake up at 4:00 AM or memorize every life hack on Pinterest. So here's the deal. Your brain doesn't love scattered information. It wants to know there's one safe place where all your important thoughts to dos and reminders can live. Maybe it's a Trello board. Maybe it's the notes app on your phone, or maybe it's a good old fashioned notebook. And honestly, it doesn't matter what tool you use. What matters is that you use one. Because every time your brain has to wonder, wait, did I put that in my planner? Or did I text myself? Or did I just dream that? It usually uses up energy and adds even more mental clutter. So your first action step is to pick one capture system today. Just one. And the next time something pops into your head, like a task or an idea or a reminder, send it straight to that one place. It's like giving your brain a cozy home for all of its stuff so it can finally relax and stop replaying things on a loop. Alright, moving on to reset number two. This one is a big one when it comes to helping your brain remember things naturally. It's called the anchor habit reminder, or if you've read James Clear book Atomic Habits, he calls it habit stacking. So here's the idea. Instead of forcing yourself to remember something new, you attach it to something you're already doing every single day. Think of things like brushing your teeth, making your coffee, or putting on your shoes. It's like hitching a little. Don't forget sticky note onto an action you're already doing without even thinking about it. So for example, after you brush your teeth at night, do a super quick glance at tomorrow's calendar. After you start the coffee maker in the morning, check your one capture system for anything you jotted down. After you buckle your seatbelt, mentally run through your top three priorities for the day. Why does this work? Because your brain loves routines. When you pair a new memory task with something automatic, it becomes almost effortless over time. So no setting a million alarms, no sticky notes wallpapering your house, no guilt because you forgot again. So here's your action step. Pick one small habit. You already have something you do every single day and decide what mini memory check you want to attach to it. Keep it super quick and simple and low pressure. We're not aiming for perfection, just tiny nudges that make life easier. Alright, now let's talk about reset number three. And honestly, if you're only doing one thing from today's episode, this might be it. It's called the two minute rule. So here's the deal. All day long things are bouncing around in your head. Ideas, reminders, worries, mental sticky notes, even thinking about what's gonna happen in your favorite episode that's coming up tonight. And if you don't get those thoughts somewhere to land, they'll keep swirling around, stealing your focus and your energy. That's why every night, and I mean literally just two minutes or less, I want you to do a quick brain offload. It could be a messy brain dump in a notebook. A quick couple of bullet points in your notes app or even a voice memo if you're feeling like lying in bed and too cozy to write anything down. The goal is to empty out anything that's sitting in your brain before you go to sleep. Think of it like clearing the tabs on your computer. When you offload the thoughts, your brain can actually power down and recharge instead of running all night on background stress. So your action step is tonight before you hit the pillow, spend just two minutes getting everything out of your head. Big things, little things, random things, it doesn't matter. Just offload it somewhere safe so your brain knows it can let it go. And trust me, you'll wake up feeling so much more clearheaded when you start making this tiny habit. Now I know you've got a million things going on, and the idea of adding one more thing might feel a little too much. But remember, these resets aren't about working harder. They're about giving your brain a little more breathing room so you can show up for your life, your work, and your family feeling more present and less scrambled. So just to recap, you don't need a brand new planner or color coded wall calendar or even a brain transplant to feel on top of things. You just need a few simple resets. The first one is one safe place to capture all your thoughts. The second is one small habit to anchor important reminders. And the third one is two minutes a night to give your brain a break. And it's not about doing more, it's about setting yourself up so you can feel more clear, calm, and confident, even when life gets a little extra. And it's usually a May. And hey, if you're nodding along right now, thinking yes, I need more simple ways to clear my brain and stay on top of life without adding more chaos. You've got to check out the Slacker Hack Summit. I am one of the speakers, and my presentation is called How to Stop Forgetting Everything, even when you're overwhelmed and exhausted. And in it I'll show you some simple strategies to clear mental clutter, create space in your brain, and finally stay on top of what matters without needing a complicated system or a 5:00 AM wake up call. Plus there's 40 other experts sharing quick doable hacks to help you get stuff done without feeling like you're stuck in the constant hustle. It is free to attend and packed with really great tips you can start using immediately. Make sure to check the show notes or the description of this podcast for the link so you can sign up and grab your spot before it kicks off. But seriously, you're not a slacker. You're a smart, busy mom who deserves tools to actually work for you, not against you. So that's it for this one. Next week I'll be back with Operation May Reset, and I'm talking about how to plan a smooth, low stress summer. So you can spend more time enjoying and less time scrambling. So I'll see you then. Take care, and with lots of love.