How To Stop Forgetting Things
In 2024, I find the excuse 'I forgot' completely nonsense. Don't get me wrong, I still say it sometimes, but I know it's not a valid justification. Am I saying we should command our brains to remember everything we need to take care of? Of course not! Many of us have many things we need to remember daily, and our brains haven't evolved to deal with this tremendous amount of information. Let's dive into some practical ways you can deal with this.
Leverage Technology
We live in an era where technology can be our greatest ally in the battle against forgetfulness. Take, for instance, the device you're using to read this post. Chances are, it's equipped with a calendar app like Google Calendar or Notion Calendar. These tools aren't just for scheduling meetings; they can serve as external brains, helping us remember important tasks and appointments.
For example, I use this to review stuff that I might not have to read at that moment. While on X (Twitter), I always run into articles or threads that are very interesting, and I want to dive deep into them at a later, more available time. When that happens, I bookmark the content, then create a small time block in my calendar to read it later or add it to my reading list. Some tools are specifically dedicated to this, such as Readwise, but I don't use any of them.
Make Reminders Your New Best Friend
Here is another example. I'm sure that, occasionally, random stuff comes to your mind. It could be an idea for a project or homework you're working on, a phone call you need to make, or a task you need to complete. In the first case, you probably want to make a quick note in tools like Notion. Ideally, you will have a dedicated space built for this (we can discuss this in another post). In the latter two cases, adopt the habit of creating a reminder or a small time block in your calendar. It takes mere seconds but can save you from countless headaches down the road.
Embrace Your Inner Control Freak
Some people seem afraid of constantly scheduling things because they believe that will make their lives robotic and see it as a constraint to their freedom. I used to think this way, too, but I changed my mind when I realized the calendar was my servant, not my master. By taking control of my schedule, I dictate the terms of my day, not the other way around. So, don't be afraid to fill your calendar with reminders and time blocks. These aren't fixed; you can move them around if needed. You're the boss here.
Build the Habit
If you're interested in this idea, I recommend that you really focus on building the habit of creating reminders when you start out. Make it something automatic. Start by inundating yourself with reminders until it becomes second nature. This will help you get consistent. Once the habit is built, filter down. You don't want 327 daily reminders, as that can be overwhelming.
The 5-Step Process
Something comes to your mind
Create a reminder and forget about it
React to the reminder, or postpone it
Repeat
Your friends and family start thinking you've become a robot or a superhuman
I hope you enjoyed this post! Please let me know your opinions on this framework. If you try it out, tell us about your experience! Did you find a way to make it easier or more efficient? Please share it!
If you think it's useless, explain why!
See you later!