Comments on: String on the Finger

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:56:49 +0000

I understand how you feel! I’ve tried so many different “systems” that I forgot to actually do anything because I was so busy figuring out how to keep track of what I was supposed to do.

My favorite online tool is Remember the Milk. It integrates with Gmail and Twitter and Google Calendar, plus you can send yourself text message reminders.

Offline, I use a plain old notebook. The plain part is important; it can’t be too cute or too pretty or too nice to use. (You have to be able to cross things out and staple things to the pages without feeling like you are “ruining” it.) I get a thin one with less than 100 pages because when it gets raggedy I know I will be able to get a new one soon, rather than feeling like I need to keep it nice. Then I just write the day/date at the top of each page and write what I need to do that day. If I don’t do something I copy it onto the next day’s page. I clip forms and appointment cards right onto my current day. If I have a dentist appointment in two weeks I don’t flip ahead fourteen pages, I clip it right in front of me and look at it and move it EVERY DAY until it happens. It is always current and I never have to flip forward or back to find something. Not very efficient, of course, but it works for me.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:40:35 +0000

I write on my hand as well. It works though people look at me strange. Hey, I’d rather remember crap than have people think I’m cool. Besides, I know I’m awesome.

Give yourself a break. You can expect changes to happen overnight. The fact that you know there is room for improvement is half the battle. Now just figure out which tactic is best for you.

And Zoot, thanks a lot. I am now the proud owner of an Etsy to do list. And recipe cards. And a pair of earrings.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:58:08 +0000

That is a short list. Think about all the things you do do.

You might try a small week at a glance calendar. You can treat yourself to a new pen or two when you buy it.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:54 +0000

My solution is google calendar. If I don’t have that, I won’t remember dental appts, or any appts.

By: Stewbie

Stewbie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:15:12 +0000

This is why i don’t even bother to make resolutions. That way, I don’t feel all schlumpy (i think i just made up that word) for skipping out on something I was supposed to do. And when i DO do something cool, I’m all like, “Damn…and i did that WITHOUT a resolution.”

By: Emily in IL

Emily in IL — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:53:11 +0000

The ONLY way I can remember to get things done is Post-It’s… Seriously, I have a problem. Right now I’ve got 2 stuck to my wallet (one for things I need to buy and one for things I need to do), 3 in my car (stuck to the dash board right in front of the RPM indicator – because really, who needs to see that), One in my bathroom, one on the basement door, and one on the back of the front door. It’s getting kinda scary at my house.

It’s just a good thing I get them for ‘free’ at my office (don’t tell the supply cops please).

By: Elaine

Elaine — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:12:12 +0000

Well at least you’re not being unfairly forgetful to just one kid, but spreading the wealth around a bit…

By: Michelle V.

Michelle V. — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:43:01 +0000

Dude, I totally feel you one this. But life’s never going to stop being chaotic, and you’re never going to stop forgetting things from time to time. What we can change is how we react when challenges arise. I like the concept of “hero flow” — vowing to stick to your core principles and values and applying them gracefully to whatever happens to cross your path in the course of the day. A perfect life where everything is under your control and nothing ever goes wrong is unattainable.

Also, I want you to vow RIGHT NOW to stop being so self-deprecating! I know it makes for funny blog fodder, but in my experience at least, it can get in the way of creating a more positive self-concept and moving forward. NO MORE ZOOT-BASHING UP IN HERE!

By: Swistle

Swistle — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:35:22 +0000

I have several things that are currently forced to serve as extensions of my brain:

1. Two magnetized clothespin-type things on the refrigerator, one for each school kid. That’s where I put things like slips that need to be filled out.

2. A small nicely-framed white board in the kitchen. I use that for stuff where either I mean for my husband to do it, or stuff I need to remember but not do right away: car registration, replacing furnace filter, taking child to store to spend gift certificate.

3. Dude, I have a mouse pad that’s a PAD OF PAPER. Each page is a week (undated). I bought a whole stack of them at TJ Maxx or Marshalls (maybe some at each?) for $2 each on clearance. I use it for things I need to remember to do on my computer: “call dr” on Monday, “Milk and Cookies post” on Wednesday, “tell Zoot the Velveeta coupon arrived” over on the non-weekday note-jotting side.

By: leslie

leslie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:08:53 +0000

I keep one of those pads with the magnet on the back on my refrigerator. I sit down Sunday evening and list things I need to remember to do and then put it right by the handle to the refrigerator. All week I have to look at and I update it. It took a few weeks to get into the routine but it works for me and didn’t cost me an iphone!