Anxiety Can Affect Concentration and Working Memory
Anxiety does not only affect how someone feels emotionally. It can also affect attention, memory, information processing, decision-making and the ability to complete everyday tasks at work.
When the brain is repeatedly drawn towards worries, possible problems or perceived threats, part of its attention is being used to monitor those concerns. This can leave less mental capacity available for the task in front of you.
What Might This Feel Like?
Someone experiencing anxiety may notice:
• Losing their train of thought
• Reading the same information repeatedly
• Forgetting what they were about to do
• Difficulty remembering verbal instructions
• Struggling to organise or prioritise tasks
• Feeling overwhelmed by several demands at once
• Finding decisions harder than usual
• Difficulty starting or completing tasks
• Needing longer to process information
• Becoming distracted by worries or “what if?” thoughts
What Might Others Notice at Work?
From the outside, anxiety can sometimes look like poor concentration, hesitation, forgetfulness, procrastination, reduced productivity or lack of confidence.
But what looks like someone “not concentrating” may actually be a person working extremely hard internally to manage anxious thoughts, physical sensations and their responsibilities at the same time.
Anxiety Can Create a Difficult Cycle
Worry increases → concentration becomes harder → tasks take longer → mistakes may happen → confidence decreases → anxiety increases further.
Additional pressure or criticism can sometimes intensify this cycle rather than improve performance.
Support Can Reduce Cognitive Pressure
Depending on the individual, helpful workplace strategies might include:
Written instructions • clear priorities • breaking larger tasks into smaller steps • realistic deadlines • additional processing time • reducing unnecessary interruptions • quieter working spaces • regular breaks • supportive check-ins • flexible working arrangements
It can also help to provide important information in both written and verbal formats, particularly when someone is feeling overwhelmed.
Remember
Anxiety does not mean someone has lost their skills, knowledge or ability.
A person may know exactly how to complete their job but temporarily find it harder to access those skills when their mental capacity is being used to manage anxiety.
Creating a supportive environment, reducing unnecessary pressure and asking the individual what helps them can make everyday working demands feel much more manageable.
Small adjustments can make a significant difference.
Space to Breathe
