How do I remember something if I can’t write it down
(I’m driving, on a walk, in the shower, etc.)?
There is something VERY simple you can do…Create a Memory Board. It’s a is a fun little trick you can use to remember ideas, to-do items, random thoughts, etc.
Pick something you walk past every day (I used the small retaining wall on the path to my front door).
Other examples: Your garage door, a bush in your front yard, basketball hoop, etc. I like using something I will see before I enter my home.
Whenever you have an idea or thing you want to remember, use this location to help you remember it.
Here’s how:
Let’s say you’re driving and you remember that your cousin’s dance recital is in 2 days. You keep forgetting to write it down and you want to remember to go.
Step 1: Make a mental image to remind you.
In this example, simply imagine your cousin dancing.
Step 2: Connect this mental image to your memory board location. Make a simple story out of it.
In this example, I would imagine my cousin dancing on top of my retaining wall. The bricks start to crumble and she falls down. (Tip: Make this simple story a bit exaggerated to help you remember it.)
Imagine it happening a few times in your mind.
Step 3: Get in the habit of looking at your memory board location when you pass by it every day.
You don’t even need to be at your memory board location to check it either. You can imagine looking at it.
When you look (or think about) your memory board location, you will remember the image you stored their…and remember what it meant. Then you can write it down.
Other notes on this:
- You can reuse a memory board whenever you need it. Old mental images will fade away after a couple of days.
- You can place more than 1 image (reminder) at your memory board at one time. Just pick a different spot(s) to connect the other image(s) to.
- You can create more than one memory board if you want.
I use mine a few times a month to remember ideas I get from listening to podcasts, reminders, and simple to-dos.
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