I mean the sort of things that you remember all the time but just never at the moment you actually needed them. Like going to post a letter during your lunch break or something.
What I do is this: at a time when the thing I have to remember at some later point is on my mind, if I can associate the thing with something that I’ll definitely think about later in my mind, then when I think about the associated thing it reminds me. Typically I use my watch, and then every time I look at my watch to see what time it is, I also think “Oh yeah, I’ve got to do that”. I’ve trained myself to the point where I just say to myself “okay, I’ll associate it with my watch” and think about it for a couple of seconds, and it works!
Or if it’s really important I’ll just scrawl it on the back of my hand.
When I need to remember something, I leave something out of place. It could be related (“Why’s the laundry soap out? Oh yeah, I need to do some laundry.”) or not (“Why’s the TV remote in the kitchen? Oh yeah, I need to mail that letter.”), it’s still effective either way.
Little pieces of paper. Dozens of them, with the stuff I have to do-get-etc. scribbled on them. Stuck to the bathroom mirror, hall mirror, alarm clock, handbag, briefcase, furniture, wherever I know I’ll see them.
I tried using an engagement book, but I truly could not ever remember to carry it with me.
