Out of sight, out of mind

Is it easy to forget or ignore people, objects, or problems when they are no longer in your immediate presence or line of sight? The phrase, out of sight, out of mind, goes back to the 1500s. English poet Barnabe Googe's Eglogs, Epytaphes, and Sonettes (1563) refers to this phrase as 'out of sight, out of thought.'
How many times do we keep a book or anything that needs urgent attention around our vicinity so that we remember to read it or take it with us? Have you ever been told you need to focus more? Why is it normal for some to be organised while others forget where they have kept what they are searching for? A systematic approach increases efficiency. But some people tend to end up in chaos no matter what. It might have to do with brain wiring. Could it? We often hear people accusing each other of a lack of thoughtfulness.
Can we blame it on out of sight, out of mind? It is part of our psychology; for instance, when we want to get out of certain habits like consuming chocolates, we want them to be hidden from us so that we can overcome the habit.
What we see prompts us.
Did you know that retailers practice this while arranging certain items on the shelves, ensuring that placing the products at eye level could trigger spontaneous purchasing, and they know products that are left on the bottom shelves are often forgotten? Now, of course, this also depends on the height of the individual. We might be criticised for being impulsive in purchasing, but did we just realise how useful the product is? Anyway, this is consumer behaviour. In the field of marketing, consumer behaviour is an important factor. This helps us to understand brand loyalty.
So is it true that we forget family and friends when they are not near our proximity? Maybe this is why in the past people enjoyed hanging their family photos on the walls of their homes and desks.
According to health experts, for individuals with neurodivergent conditions like ADHD, this phenomenon is strongly tied to working memory and inattention. Apparently, tasks or objects completely cease to exist in their mental workspace if they are not visually present.
Maybe this is why the 'to-do list' has been so useful.
People get upset when we go into the mode of out of sight, out of mind, because they feel left out, and the other factor is societal expectations. This is where the society expects everyone to fit in. But often, it is the ones who do not fit in who end up being innovative.
Today, thankfully, with societies moving towards inclusiveness and acceptance, we have the opportunity to interact with individuals who might be diagnosed with neurodivergence such as ADHD (difference in attention), autism spectrum, dyslexia (differences in how the brain processes written and reading language), dyscalculia (ability in mathematics), dyspraxia (differences that can be seen in physical coordination), and Tourette syndrome.
(involuntary physical movements and vocals).
The world is seeing the neurodiversity paradigm — this movement shifts the focus from 'fixing' an individual to changing their environment. It highlights strengths — such as deep focus, hyper-systemising, or creative problem-solving — while advocating for accommodations. What are these accommodations? Common accommodations include sensory-friendly spaces, clear written instructions, and flexible schedules to support diverse cognitive styles.
It was Judy Singer, in the late 1990s, who promoted inclusiveness and acceptance. In 2026, when we look back, we realise we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
The digital world has definitely supported the efforts as technology has been developing at a fast pace that can aid inclusivity.
The text-based communication, asynchronous voice notes, and online communities help people build deep connections without the exhaustion of traditional socialising.
The tools built for neurodivergent people — like noise-cancelling headphones, closed captions, and speech-to-text — ultimately improve productivity and life for everyone. Most importantly, it provides hope to develop a fulfilling career.
Maybe this is the reason why the companies should try to shift towards outcome-based tracking instead of the traditional method, because standard workplace evaluations are known to frequently penalise neurodivergent communication styles.
In the past, people masked their traits to fit into the office culture. But when one recognises creativity and the potential in an individual, the best thing is to let them flow in their natural way. Let everyone reach their full potential.