One of the lovely side effects of sleep deprivation, some medications and children is that you start to forget things. For me it has gotten progressively worse over the last 2-3 years. I used to pride myself on my awesome memory. Now, I would lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on!
Over the last few years I have started to do different things which help me remember things and not look like a complete air head. Having a child in school, kind of means that I need to remember to do things in a more timely manner. I know that I’m not the only one who struggles with this so I wanted to share my tips with you.
- If you take a medication, use a pill organiser. Now that Mr 7 is taking medication in the morning as well, it has become easier to use a pill organiser. I have a 7 day one which I got from Kmart. It has day and night sides. I put mine in the day side, and Mr 7’s medication in the night side. This also helps when we are running late in the mornings because I don’t have to punch out different medications while in a hurry. I also place it next to wear I make breakfast so I remember to take my medication.
- If you need to take something with you when you leave the house, put it next to your keys/wallet. I usually do this one the night before. I figure that I generally don’t forget to take my keys or wallet when I leave the house, so be default I will remember the important thing.
- Write it down. You tell yourself that you don’t need to write it down because you’ll totally remember it. We both know that is a lie. Write it down and save your future self the embarrassment and stress of missing an important appointment.
- Utilise the calendar on your phone. Sometimes, even though I have written appointments down or been given an appointment card, I still forget. For appointments that I will be charged for, whether I turn up or not, or ones that are hard to come by, I put them into my phone with an alarm.
- Tell someone else. For some reason, I seem to remember other people’s important stuff better than my own. So Paul will often tell me to remind him when something comes up.
- Write it on your hand. This is one step further than simply writing it down. There have been a ridiculous amount of times I have gotten to the end of my street and realised I still have my pyjama pants on when doing the school run. Curse my comfy pants! So there are some days when I write on my hand that I have to get changed before picking Mr 7 up from school.
- Retrace your actions. You know that feeling that you’ve forgotten something? Or when you walk into a room and can’t remember why you went in there? I’ve found that thinking about the things I was doing leading up to that moment helps to jog my memory.
- Finish a task before moving onto the next one. I’m all for multitasking, but you have to know your limits. I have had too many burnt dinners because I thought I could just finish this one thing while it was cooking away on the stove. It always takes longer than you think, always.
I’ll admit that I still forget things, I’m only human. However these things help me to not forget everything.
Do you have a bad memory?
What do you to help you remember?
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2 and 8 I use constantly as my memory ain’t what it used to be!
I write it down in my diary or put a reminder in my phone. I find the more busy I am, the more forgetful I am.
I used to have a fab memory. Now it’s shocking. I have twice had to put on fb. ‘I think I’m meant to be going out with someone tonight, if it was you, let me know otherwise I’ll stand you up’. It’s a sad, sad reflection…
I have to write everything down or it definitely won’t happen. My calendar on the phone syncs with the laptop and if ever I forget to put in an appointment, you can guarantee I won’t turn. It does happen, sadly.
I’m also a write on hand person, it helps me relax when I have urgent things where I can see them!
If I don’t put something into my calendar, I know I won’t turn up. Sadly it does happen – oh dear. Now my calendar syncs between phone and laptop so that helps a lot.
My memory is dreadful, I think I’ve just got too much going on in there! Plus sleep deprivation of course… I write a lot of lists, and also try to say things out loud if I need to remember them (even just to myself). It seems to help a bit.
I write everything down and send myself emails!
I have sleep deprivation brain leak, going on 4 years now. The amount of times I have forgotten my wallet lately is telling. Stupidly, I move it from bag to bench to pram and that’s just asking for trouble. I have a weekly organiser on my fridge, a calendar on the wall and I utilise my iPhone calendar too. Between all that I have most things covered.
Oh and I write down things that I want to remember in the notes section of my phone too.
My memory is shocking! It also seems that ultimately I am the one responsible to constantly remind everyone else of the things they have on so they don’t forget!
I swear by the calendar in my iphone. I have also set up family sharing on a family calender so everyone can add to it so we know what everyone is doing. It has been a lifesaver!
One of the things Hashimotos throws at me is brain fog. I’ve gone from having a near perfect memory to not being able to recall if I did in fact have my tablet this morning. Evening tablets are easier, there’s just so many of them and they’re eaten with a meal, so plenty of people around to remind me if I’ve forgotten. A pill sorter sounds like fab idea. Will head to kmart today and pick one up.
yes yes yes! I have a notepad on my kitchen bench that I write everything down on – if it is not on there- I will almost certainly forget! I also put things in the car the night before, if I need them the next day….
I don’t remember anything anymore it gets embarrassing sometimes. And I simply cannot get out of the house either. I always end coming back because we forgot his puppy or some other essential. No wonder I sometimes get so little done!
Definitely not as sharp as I used to be. When I was relief teaching I could have a whole classroom of kid’s names down pat by morning break. That sure wouldn’t happen now! LOL
Important things with the keys is a good one. I must start doing that because I am always forgetting to grab the things I said I would.
Some great tips for memory here. I work on memory production too. My memory disappeared on me 18mths ago and hasn’t come back just yet. So I am trying to extend it by reading a book chapter by chapter each day and I record main plotlines but really try to see if I can follow the story without referring to those.
It sucks to not be able to access memories when you once had a fantastic memory. That is me and I really hate this roundabout world I am in at the moment. I know it isn’t forever at least I hope it isn’t!
I use all those tricks now as the medication I am on can leave me a little confused. I use a calendar right next to the table at eye level to help me but mostly I ask others to remind me. Great thread btw, was an interesting read.
The more busy I am and the more tired I am, the more likely I am to start forgetting stuff. There just isn’t room for everything I try to keep in my head. Writing everything down and being prepared ahead of time help, as does keeping my life as quiet as possible outside of work. My extroverts probably find this a little bit boring, but I just can’t keep up otherwise!