Understanding the Doorway Effect: A Guide for Seniors

What is the Doorway Effect?

The doorway effect occurs when you enter a new space, like walking into a different room, and suddenly forget what you were doing or why you went there in the first place. It can happen when you leave a store, board a plane, or even just walk from one room to another in your home. But why does this happen?

When you move from one place to another, your brain creates something called an event boundary. This mental “bookmark” divides your day into distinct sections, helping your mind separate “before” and “after” moments. This is useful for recalling events later, but it can sometimes work against you.

How Event Boundaries Affect Memory

Event boundaries are helpful for organizing memories, but they can also make it easier to forget what you were thinking or planning to do. For example, let’s say you’re sitting in the living room and remember that you left your glasses in the kitchen. As soon as you walk into the kitchen, your brain becomes distracted by all the new sights, sounds, and even emotions tied to the change in environment. Unless you mentally repeat the task, like saying to yourself, “Get glasses from the kitchen counter,” your brain may quickly focus on something else, and the original thought will slip away.

The same thing can happen when you’re in the middle of a task, and then you stop to answer the phone. After the call ends, you might find it hard to remember what you were doing just moments before. This is because your brain has created a new “event boundary,” and the previous task has been temporarily forgotten.

How to Overcome the Doorway Effect

If you’ve ever been frustrated by forgetting something after crossing into a new room, you’re not alone. However, there are ways to combat the doorway effect and boost your memory:

1. Mentally Revisit the Previous Room: If you find yourself forgetting why you walked into a new space, try to mentally retrace your steps. Think about what you were doing just before you entered the new room. You can even physically return to the previous room to jog your memory.

2. The Pink Post-it Trick: One useful technique is to write down important reminders on sticky notes and place them in visible spots. For example, if you’re going to the kitchen to get your glasses, write “Glasses on the island” on a sticky note and stick it to the doorframe. This visual reminder can help you stay focused and avoid distractions.

3. Create Intentional Habits for Frequently Misplaced Items: Often, we misplace items because we don’t have a consistent place to put them. Our brains, which love novelty, tend to gloss over routine actions like setting down a wallet or a pair of glasses. If you make a habit of placing your glasses, keys, or wallet in the same spot every time, you’ll be more likely to find them quickly when you need them.

The doorway effect can be a frustrating experience, but understanding how your brain works can help you cope with these moments of forgetfulness. By being more intentional about where you place your belongings and mentally retracing your steps when you forget, you can make it easier to stay organized and remember important tasks. Remember, it’s not that your memory is failing – it’s just that your brain is busy organizing the details of your day!

The families of aging seniors frequently encounter new challenges like increased incidents of the Doorway Effect in those they love. The Orlando Senior Help Desk, a service of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, is a free resource to help families navigate the senior journey and find the resources and answers they need to best care for their loved ones. You can reach the Orlando Senior Help Desk at OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org or by calling 407-678-9363.

You can learn more about how Jewish Pavilion Senior Services brings joy and Jewish culture to hundreds of seniors in 50 senior-living communities by visiting JewishPavilion.org.