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FishStickNick
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09 Nov 2012, 3:53 am

I know a lot of people on this forum have some degree of executive functioning issues. I know I do. With that in mind, I was curious how you remind yourself to complete certain tasks. Do you rely on lists? Do you commit it to memory? Or do you have some other organization system that you've worked out?

Personally, I find that lists just don't work. They're kind of useful for figuring out what I need to do right then and there, but I tend to forget that my lists even exist. Instead, I rely on a combination of simply committing things to memory, or by using visual cues to remind me to do something. If I need to respond to an email, I might leave it marked as unread so the unread email counter shows on my screens (and I hate the unread email counter), or I might open that email in another window and leave it open until I respond to it. If I need to remember to make a phone call or something, I might make a doodle on my hand. If I need to fill out a form, I might place it on top of my computer keyboard.

How about you?



Entek
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09 Nov 2012, 3:57 am

I have a bright orange notebook that i write in. THen i leave it somewhere weird. Lately chucking it into a room im going in later so it ends up on the floor seems to work best.
Later i walk in and "discover" it and then remember theres something in it i need to do. 8D



Yngway
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09 Nov 2012, 5:20 am

Windows' Sticky Notes.

I always end up in front of my pc when I don't know what to do.



izzeme
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09 Nov 2012, 5:30 am

i use google calendar; this loads onto the start screen of my android phone and i boot my computers browser into a 'to-do' list as well; this works quite well for planned tasks.
long-term things, i usually put a reminder on the sundays, so it still shows up every week again



shyengineer
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09 Nov 2012, 6:02 am

I am quite forgetful, particularly the everyday things to do, like bills and groceries. Some things I remember forever, but that's not tasks, more ideas and designs. I use a combination of tools to record things and remind me.

Mundane things like bills I always forget so I leave notes where I will see them. Writing on my hand is the area for urgent things because I can't lose it and it will stay there for the rest of the day.

I also use Any.DO (a to-do list app) for more serious, long term stuff. You can use it in Google Chrome and on Android devices, so it's synced to my computer and phone which is handy - I've tried other apps, but I like this the best. This usually has my long-term goals and deadlines on it. It also pops up to remind me which is handy.

I still prefer to use a small notebook for everything else that doesn't fit into the above. I carry it around to write stuff down/draw in. This is more for planning, pro's/con's lists, making decisions, designing things etc. Some of the results of these get plugged into Any.DO as goals/tasks.

Calendars don't work for me - I have tasks/goals/ideas rather than appointments.



Trencher93
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09 Nov 2012, 7:05 am

I have a system I've used for many years now. I have a file for each year, and put an entry for each day of the year into the file. When something is going to happen in the future, I make a note on that day. I can see it's coming up in advance. As things happen, I take notes on those days so I can go back if I need to remember. (I also have files for future years with notes about something that is going to happen far into the future.)

More mundanely, I keep a regular list of supplies I need. When something runs out, I add it to the list.

If something can be pre-ordered, I normally do it. By the time something actually ships, I'm usually surprised because I've forgotten about it.

The worst thing for me to keep track of is something that happens irregularly with no real timetable.



cjthemadscientist
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09 Nov 2012, 9:47 am

I bought a huge whiteboard to hang up on my wall and have a whole bunch of things wrote down on it, events, times to pay bills, work days, even staples in my shopping list (things I need to buy regularly). I got it for the soul purpose of writing things down and remembering them or even just to have some order in my life. Also when I'm not at home I always have a notepad and pen ready.



Joe90
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09 Nov 2012, 9:58 am

I forget some things, but most things I remember from instinctive memory.


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0utsideLookingIn
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09 Nov 2012, 11:16 am

I write everything down. If it's really important, I put a note on my desk on top of or right above my keyboard. Right now I have a note that says "Dentist 3 PM" because I have a dentist appointment today and will forget to go if I don't see it right in front of me all day long. I also use Google calendar, with reminders sent to my desktop and phone, as well as gtasks for keep track of my work-related to do lists.

When I was in school, I kept a separate homework calendar and wrote multiple reminders for every assignment (when to start assignments, when to work on them and when they were due).

There's a list on the fridge at all times which I add items to as I noticed I'm running low or using up the last of something. I also use the alarm on my phone sometimes to remind me of something that has to be done at a specific time (an important phone call, airplane check-in) because if I'm working, I might miss a Google calendar reminder.

Still, I sometimes go hours or a whole day without remembering to look at my "to do" list. One of the surest ways for me to remember to do anything is to make it part of my daily routine.


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Swordfish210
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09 Nov 2012, 11:42 am

cjthemadscientist wrote:
I bought a huge whiteboard to hang up on my wall and have a whole bunch of things wrote down on it, events, times to pay bills, work days, even staples in my shopping list (things I need to buy regularly). I got it for the soul purpose of writing things down and remembering them or even just to have some order in my life. Also when I'm not at home I always have a notepad and pen ready.


I did this as well, and it works great. Probably because I live in a 1 room apartment. Once a week I spend some time writing out stuff I need to do, including planning on when to do what, so I don't end up with a giant list of stuff to do which makes me very stressfull.


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Ettina
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09 Nov 2012, 12:09 pm

I have a PDA which I program my schedule into. Unfortunately, I tend to forget to charge my PDA, or to take it back from the charger after charging it. And sometimes I just lose my PDA outright.



Nascaireacht
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09 Nov 2012, 12:12 pm

I try and use the Getting Things Done system. Its 'tickler file' system is a life saver, I keep a calendar too, and I also use the app Toodledo for task lists. It works well with Getting Things Done.



Misslizard
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09 Nov 2012, 12:30 pm

Lists,but this only works if you remember to bring the list to town,notes on a calendar,stuff that needs to go to town by the door,or even in front of it,I have automatic bank draft for all my bills or I would have shut-off notices,I would just forget to pay them.I have even bought groceries and started to walk away without them till the clerk said something.



MakaylaTheAspie
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09 Nov 2012, 1:01 pm

I don't, no matter what I do. :oops: :lol:


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gretchyn
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09 Nov 2012, 1:02 pm

Sticky Notes. Lots and lots of Sticky Notes.



chris5000
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09 Nov 2012, 1:05 pm

notes on little scraps of paper