Memory
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Keep a notebook and pen by your bed to jot down ideas right before sleep or upon waking.
The mind is prone to creative thoughts just before bed; writing them down helps clear your head and may aid falling asleep. If not recorded immediately, you will likely forget them by morning.
- Using a phone may make it harder to fall back asleep due to light and stimulation.
- People with ADHD may find this prevents them from sleeping.
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- Place a pen and notebook by your bed to capture thoughts instantly without leaving your sheets.3
Place an object, such as socks or a bookmark, on your pillow to interrupt your bedtime routine and remind you of pending tasks.
Seeing the object forces you to address the task before sleeping.
- If you might forget what the object signifies, write a note and place it on the pillow as well.
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Always write down ideas, dreams, thoughts, feelings, and lists immediately to prevent loss.
It is critical for capturing potentially good ideas before they are forgotten.
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- Write down even bad or unrealistic ideas.2
Use a dry-erase marker to write reminders on your bathroom mirror so they appear during your daily routine.
Placing notes there ensures you spot them while brushing your teeth, both morning and evening.
- Condensation or fog on the mirror can render the writing illegible.
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Place car keys with items retrieved from the fridge to ensure they are taken when leaving.
You cannot leave without your keys.
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Tidy your room to trigger a memory of what you were thinking about, or make one spot suspiciously clean.
You will wake up wondering why it is tidy and remember the thought.
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End each day by writing one sentence for yourself to focus on what matters tomorrow.
It helps you identify what really matters to you.
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Place a tissue box next to the bed as a visual reminder.
The presence of the box serves as a cue that prevents forgetting.
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Write reminders on your smartphone since it serves as both a note-taking tool and an alarm clock.
It is always at arm's reach when you sleep.
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Write reminders on your hand instead of using digital alerts.
You cannot ignore, turn off, or throw away your hand like you can a phone.
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Wear your watch backwards to create a visual cue that prompts others to ask about it, thereby reminding you of a pending task.
Others noticing the anomaly will ask questions that jog your memory.
- You might forget why you turned it around.
- You might forget to turn it around in the first place.
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- Leave a physical object, such as a napkin or paperclip, in an unusual place to serve as a visual reminder for a future task.1
Perform a silly or non-routine action, such as hopping on one leg, when placing an item down to strengthen the memory of its location.
The unusual act helps make the memory stronger so you are less likely to hunt for the item later.
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- Say actions out loud in a weird way, such as with an accent, when performing critical tasks like locking doors or turning off appliances.1
Review written ideas later to reconsider their value.
Not all 'great ideas' are actually that great; reviewing allows you to rethink acting on them and potentially refine hidden value with a rested mind.
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Carry small order pads to jot down ideas anywhere.
Even if most are nonsense, you will likely accumulate some actionable gems.
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Review previously written bad ideas to spark good ones that persist over time.
Good ideas can emerge from bad ones, and reviewing past notes helps identify ideas that stick around.
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Attach important items like keys, wallets, or mail to your front door with magnetic clips to prevent leaving without them.
It creates a predetermined combination that prevents you from leaving the house without these items.
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Use phone reminders and memo pads as a 'second brain' to remember everything important if you struggle with memory.
Without this external system, you may forget everything important.
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If you struggle with attention, try 'leaving breadcrumbs'—placing objects out of place—to trigger curiosity and recall when you notice them.
Noticing something out of place prompts immediate questioning of why it is there once the reason escapes memory.
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Place a coat on the doorknob as a highly obvious visual cue that requires interaction.
It is very obvious and requires physical interaction to proceed.
- If this is not working, escalate to using sticky notes.
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Trial an app that integrates big goals, tasks, daily planners, trackers, and weekly reviews into one system.
Managing these elements separately sounds like a faff.
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Be cautious of partners or family members cleaning up your visual cues without understanding their purpose.
- Others may tidy your space and put things back where they think they belong, removing the intentional disorder.
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Change your alarm sound to something distinctive, such as a crying baby, to prompt action.
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Assign different sounds to advance and day-of calendar notifications to prevent ignoring them.
Giving them different sounds helps your brain register them differently, avoiding confusion with texts you might ignore.
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Replace consumable items like toothbrushes or perform maintenance tasks immediately upon completing a related routine or purchasing a related item to anchor the memory.
It helps you easily remember how long it has been since the last replacement.
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