# What tricks do you use to remember things?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 21, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619 "2001-06-21T14:24:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@Cumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumber)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619/1 "2001-06-21T14:24:43Z")

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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. 🙂

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619/2 "2001-06-21T14:33:59Z")

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I have about five really effective, never-fail, tricks to remembering things. But I can’t recall what they are right now.

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**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619/3 "2001-06-21T16:20:26Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619/4 "2001-06-21T21:28:31Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![ssj\_man2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ssj\_man2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssj_man2k)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2001, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-do-you-use-to-remember-things/69619/5 "2001-06-22T07:16:17Z")

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I have a really crappy memory. I only remember things that are essential to my survival. I probably should make some tricks, but i’m too lazy.