Pssssst, I have a secret, I am a horrible rememberer. Between homeschooling 2 kids, running a household, helping out grandmas with doctors appointments, part time real estate, and now starting a blog, plus I’m a natural blond (you know the ditsy jokes) my brain capacity can leave something to be desired at times. And yet, I am often told by people how organized I am and asked how to remember everything. How can I remember all these birthdays, anniversaries, and doctors appointments? My other little secret is MY PHONE!
There’s this awesome little app that all smartphones come with nowadays, it’s called “the calendar app” and it is amazing for remembering things. I just whip it out every morning to find out what I need to do that day and suddenly I remember it all. (I usually have to check throughout the day too.)
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Do you have loved ones with birthdays or anniversaries? Put it in your calendar app and set it to repeat every year. On the day of their birthday, shoot a special text and/or give them a call. Show them you care and love them without actually using up the brain cells to remember another date.
If you really want to get crazy and send a card, keep a stack of pre-purchased cards in your house (and stamps) and set a calendar reminder 5 or so days before their birthday, set to repeat yearly. Pop a card in the mail that 5 or so days out. Like magic, you’re the super awesome aunt that never forgets a birthday!
Appointments or Deadlines
Between myself (thanks RA), my kids, my husband (bless his heart), and other family members who need a lift, I have a ton of doctors appointments to remember. Guess where they go. That’s right, in the phone, as soon as they are made. Like, while I’m at the current doctor’s front desk scheduling a follow-up or while I’m on the phone making the appointment. Don’t think you’ll remember it. Don’t write it down somewhere. Put it in your phone’s calendar as soon as you make the appointment. Doctors, dentists, oil changes, plumbers, whatever, put it in your phone as the appointment is made.
Same with deadlines. A client’s contract is due on this date, in the phone. My kid’s field trip paperwork is due at this time, in the phone. The neighbor girl is coming to play next week, in the phone. Everything goes in the phone, as soon as the date is known.
People’s Names
I am a visual learner and when I hear someone’s name for the first time, it usually goes in one ear and out the other. But if I meet someone whom I really want to get to know, I usually get their phone number. Where does it go? In my phone! Along with their name, their kids’ names, and spouse’s. This way I can see their name and it helps me remember their kids and spouse as well.
Businesses do this all the time. Good doctors will write down personal information in your chart so they can be personable at your next appointment. Top sales agents will do this too, along with special dates and personal information, can you say vendor gift basket? If you want to remember something about someone, write it down in their contact file and/or place it on your calendar. Show you care without taking up extra brain space.
Shopping Lists
Everyone constantly runs out of things in the kitchen; well, make a shopping list as you need things. Some people write it on the fridge and take the paper with them when they go or take a picture when it’s time to shop. That’s all well and good but thanks to the wonders of delivery services and our newfound dependence on them during quarantine, I have begun putting items in my cart as I run out. When we are finally out of enough things that I need to place an order, I just do a last minute check for any other possible needs and complete the order with things already in my cart. DONE! (Yes, I have gotten too spoiled to actually go to Costco over the last year and a half, but I save a ton by not finding cool new products while I walk around.)
Or for stores I don’t go very often but tend to have good sales, like the CVS up the street from us, I check out their ad on Sunday and make a list on my phone of the awesome sale priced Items to grab if I make it over there that week. Drug stores are a weird place to get taco shells and cake mix, but our CVS runs some pretty awesome sales sometimes, so I stock up for the month on sale items I saved in my phone.
Cooking in the Kitchen
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a baby food preparation book I read when my son was a newborn. Always set a timer!
If you’re cooking something on the stove, set a timer (even if it’s just boiling water, water evaporates and empty hot pans can cause fires). If you’re trying to get a load of laundry done, set a timer. If you need to leave the house in 15 minutes but you want to finish up an email, set a timer. Life gets hectic and your attention gets pulled in other directions. If something is important (like not burning down the house, or just not over cooking the noodles for dinner) set a timer to ensure you remember to go back to it in a timely manner.
Notes or Ideas
Again, my phone comes to the rescue. Maybe I’m standing in line at the grocery store and I get an awesome marketing idea. I open a notes page on my phone to write it down and then put a reminder on my calendar to look at the idea at a future time when I know I’ll be able to properly address it. How many times am I trying to fall asleep and a great project idea for the kids pops in my head? Whip out the phone and write down the details, so you can go to sleep, knowing you won’t forget and can address it in the morning. It really works!
I hope my little rant will help you in some way with your memory. Writing things down and setting reminders is my key to having a remotely semi-put-together life. Yes, I am way too attached to my phone when it comes to helping me stay on top of things but if I didn’t, I’d never remember anything. Seriously.
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