I do a lot in the morning before leaving for work (e.g. make lunches, brew coffee, pee) and from time to time I forget things. One of the most annoying things is when, halfway to work, I realise that my iPod is still sitting next to the computer, fully charged again and ready to go. I’m not happy at that point, because then I have to listen to the world around me — like a sucker.

(However, worse than forgetting my iPod is forgetting my wedding ring on the ledge beside the shower. The ensuing grief from my Lovely Wife at that point is endless.)

However, there are a small number of things that it is effectively impossible for me to leave the house with. One is my glasses — I’m mildly near-sighted, so I’m okay around the house but as soon as I’m in the car, I know I need them. The other thing are my keys, as the house cannot be locked without them and the car won’t start without them. These are the things that if I step outside the door without them, within seconds I’m back inside to get them.

So, I’ve started treating these as my personal reminder flags. If there are things that I may forget in the morning (a charging iPod or cellphone, a DVD I need to return, bribe money) I simple take one or both of my reminder flags and place it on top of the item I want to remember. Also, I can leave notes for myself under the flags as well.

I find this easier than a having a box by the door in which I keep all the stuff I need to bring. The problem with such a “reminder box” is that sometimes I need to remember things that I cannot leave by the door overnight. (If you own cats, you know what I mean.)

With the reminder flags, which are small and portable, I can take them to the items that I need to remember. This has the added benefit, by making the locations I need to go to variable, of forcing me to remember why I’m going to that location, which further helps me remember the item or task that the flag is set for.

Reminder flags. It’s blindingly obvious. And thus I share it with you.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2005 at 11:19 am and is filed under lifehacks, tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.