How to Remember to Take Things with You

We all sometimes do things like forget to grab our bag on the way out the door or leave our wallet on the table at a restaurant. Doing a few simple memory tricks can really help out, especially if you're the type of person who regularly tends to forget things. This article lists several great tips, starting with things you can do ahead of time and following up with effective last-minute reminders.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Organize your things consistently.

1. It’s easier to remember your stuff if you can easily find it. As the old saying goes, have a place for everything and put everything in its place. Instead of just tossing your stuff anywhere when you get home, designate spots for important items you take with you—and, for that matter, for your stuff in general. The more organized your home is, the less likely you are to forget something when you head out.^[1]
   
   • This only works if you consistently put your stuff where it belongs! Put things away when you’re done using them instead of letting stuff pile up and then having to do a major cleanup.

[Edit]Store your stuff by the door.

1. Make it harder to forget stuff by putting items right by your exit. Get an organizer with cubbies, hooks, drawers, shelves, or whatever else suits your needs. Set it up right near the main door you use to go in and out of your home. Be sure to put your stuff where it belongs whenever you come in the door, then build the habit of checking that you’ve gotten everything you need from the organizer when you head out.^[2]
   
   • If you have to remember something that you don’t bring along with you all the time—for instance, a package you need to take to the post office—put it in or near your organizer. Consider setting aside a shelf or cubby as an “outbox” for just such a purpose.

[Edit]Pack up the night before.

1. Get your stuff ready without rushing around whenever possible. This works especially well if you tend to be late getting ready in the morning and often forget things while you’re rushing around. Get as much of your stuff ready to go as you can when you’re not feeling rushed or stressed—for example, the night before work or school the next morning. That way you can just grab and go in the morning.^[3]
   
   • It’s still a good idea to use additional remembering techniques—like doing a mental checklist or singing your leaving the house song—when it’s time to head out.

[Edit]Put up sticky notes.

1. Stick up reminders in can’t-miss spots when you need added help. This method works well when you have something you need to remember that you don’t typically bring along with you. For example, the night before you have a big presentation, put a sticky note that says “Bring the presentation!” on the middle of your bathroom mirror or right above the handle of the front door.^[4]
   
   • If you over-use sticky notes—if you put them up everyday, for example—they may become less effective reminders. Unless, that is, you specifically build a habit of checking and discarding your sticky notes each day as part of your departure routine. In this case, consider investing in a dry erase board instead of sticky notes.

[Edit]Set phone reminders.

1. This helps you remember to bring anything…except your phone. Set a calendar reminder for about 5 minutes before you plan to leave home, the office, etc. Create a message that lists the things you need to remember to take with you. So long as you can keep track of where your phone is, you should be good to go!^[5]
   

[Edit]Create a departure routine.

1. Do this especially if you often get distracted while heading out. Follow the same routine each time you leave home, head out from the office, get out of the car, leave a restaurant, and so on. Let your routines become second nature so you follow them without really thinking about them. You’ll automatically notice any deviations from your routine, making it much easier to catch yourself forgetting to bring something along.^[6]
   
   • Turn your multi-sensory checklist—feeling for your wallet, jingling your keys, etc.—or your memory song into a consistent part of your departure routine.

[Edit]Run a mental checklist.

1. Identifying each item confirms you have everything you need. Speak to yourself in your head or, even better, quietly talk out loud to verbally run through your checklist. Turn this into a habit that you do every time you leave somewhere.^[7]
   
   • For example: “Do I have my wallet? Yes. My keys? Yes. My phone? Yes.”
   • Or: “Book bag? Check. Hat? Check. ID card? Check.”

[Edit]Do a multi-sensory checklist.

1. Using senses like touch and sound enhances your mental checklist. Saying your mental checklist out loud works well, but adding more of your senses to the task makes it even harder to forget anything. For example, when you get up from a chair to leave somewhere, pat your hand against your back pocket to feel your wallet. Jingle your front pocket to confirm your keys are there. Look at your phone as you put it in your bag or pocket.^[8]
   
   • Taste and smell don’t always fit into a typical departure checklist, but if you can find a way to include them, all the better!

[Edit]Use mnemonics.

1. Catchy phrases and images help you remember groups of things. You probably learned the mnemonic device “Roy G. Biv” in school to remember the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. Try creating your own mnemonic device to remind you of the main items you need to take with you. You might, for example, use the phrase “sell milk” and picture an old-fashioned milkman going door to door:^[9]
   
   • Sell for your cell phone
   • M for money
   • I for your ID card
   • L for lip gloss
   • K for your keys

[Edit]Sing a memory song.

1. Songs aid memory, so make up your own departure list jingle. There’s a reason why kids learn the alphabet by singing the “ABC song”—it really works! Think about how easy it is to remember the lyrics to a song you used to love but haven’t heard for years—adding music makes it easier to remember stuff. You might make up your own little ditty that follows the tune of the classic “ABC song”:^[10]
   
   • "Cell phone, wallet, and my keys, / ID card and lip balm please. / …"

[Edit]Tips

• Regular exercise is good for your brain and therefore your memory. The same goes for healthy lifestyle choices like getting enough sleep and eating a nutritious diet.^[11]
• Don't hesitate to use a physical checklist if it helps you. Airline pilots use checklists every time they fly, no matter if they've just earned their license or have flown for thirty years.
• Have duplicates (when possible) in case you do forget something really vital. For instance, if you're likely to forget your key for home, have a duplicate at work, or be sure your roommate, spouse, or friend has a copy.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Remember Lists of Words With the Roman Room Trick
• Create a Password You Can Remember
• Remember Anything

[Edit]References

1. ↑ [v161238_b01]. 14 January 2020.
2. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/forgetting-items-when-you-leav-77028
3. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/adhd-tip-how-to-stop-losing-your-stuff/
4. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/forgetting-items-when-you-leav-77028
5. ↑ https://www.simplemost.com/dont-leave-it-app-makes-sure-you-dont-forget-anything-when-you-leave-the-house/
6. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/adhd-tip-how-to-stop-losing-your-stuff/
7. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/forgetting-items-when-you-leav-77028
8. ↑ https://wellnessmeetswanderlust.com/stop-losing-your-stuff-while-traveling/
9. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
10. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
11. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/