Six Easy Ways To Help Your Crappy Memory

When lost car keys, missed appointments and forgotten passwords are everyday occurrences, it gets frustrating. If your memory isn’t as good as it used to be, or as good as you’d like it to be, here are some of my favourite easy ways to compensate for a “less than perfect” memory.

This post originally appeared on Pick the Brain.

Checklists

Surgeons, pilots and emergency workers use checklists. Shouldn’t you? Create a checklist for any task you do regularly like paying bills or household chores. Checklists are particularly helpful for tasks that are done infrequently such as doing your taxes, seasonal home maintenance or taking a holiday. That way you don’t have to rethink the entire process every time it rolls around. Create a Word document or Excel spreadsheet so you can easily make changes when it’s time to update the list.

Reminder Notes

I’m never more than a few steps away from a pad of Post-Its. I have them everywhere — scattered around the house, in my car and in my purse. When I have a “memory-worthy” thought I take comfort in knowing I don’t have to actually remember it. I prefer writing things down but sending yourself a text message works too.

Built-in Redundancy

For things you absolutely must remember, have a backup. You probably already put birthdays, appointments, or when to pay bills on your calendar. But also mark your calendar seven days before the event to give yourself time to buy a gift or make a payment.

Keep a spare car key in your purse or wallet. It’s much less likely you’ll lock both your keys and your purse in the car at the same time. But it still can happen. (Ask me how I know this!) Give an extra house key to a neighbour or hide one outside (but make sure it’s in a really, really secure spot). No hiding a key under the door mat or in a fake rock by the front door. In my previous home I used to hang a house key on a nail under my deck. Getting to it involved removing a piece of lattice and crawling in some dirt. Not very likely a burglar would figure that one out!

Do you have an old pair of eyeglasses laying around? Think about where you could use them as a backup. I keep a serviceable but outdated pair in the car. If I were to lose my good pair I can still see my way back home. I’ve also gotten caught out leaving the house wearing my prescription sunglasses only to find I’m driving back in the dark. Wearing shades. Not a good idea.

Organisation Stations

Keep everything you’re likely to forget in one convenient place by the door. Have a station — either a small table, a basket or a rack with hooks — with everything you need when you leave the house — purse or wallet, briefcase, glasses, phone, outgoing mail or to-do lists.

Keep your car keys in a dish or on a hook by the door. Always put them back first thing when you walk in the door so you won’t have to tear through the house looking for them. This is especially important if you aren’t the only person using that vehicle.

Password Manager

It’s amazing how many bits of data we all have to know — phone numbers, birthdays, appointments, passcards, pin numbers, bank account numbers and on it goes. But with a password manager you won’t need to remember any of them.

A password manager is a program that creates passcards so you can log into your online accounts automatically. You only need to remember one master password (of your own creation) and the rest is taken care of with a click of your mouse. If you shop, pay bills or bank online, this really saves you time, frustration and some serious brain strain.

A password manager also makes your computer and online information more secure. Now you can make your passwords complicated, since you no longer need to remember them. Did you know the two most common passwords are “123456″ and “password”? Seriously.

If you are guilty of using the same simple password for all your logins, you really need to get a password management program! It could save you from being hacked or from having your identify stolen. Your passwords should like more like “tO&G3JubZQ” and less like “1234″.

“Control + F” Command

Have you ever read something on a webpage and wanted to refer back to it but couldn’t find it again? That’s where the Control F function comes in handy.

If you want to search for a particular word or phrase on any web page or document, hold the CRTL button down, then click the F key. Enter the word or phrase you’re looking for and it will be highlighted for you. This is almost as good as having a photographic memory! Google has found that 90 per cent of computer users don’t know the Control F command, but now you’ll be part of the 10 per cent that do.

You don’t need an exceptional memory to function well in this busy and information-loaded world. An arsenal of the right tools, tips and tricks can definitely help your life run more smoothly. What are some of your favourite tricks for keeping on top of all that you have to remember?

When Your Memory Sucks: 6 Easy Ways to Compensate [Pick the Brain]

Deane Alban holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and has taught and written about natural health for over 20 years. She is the co-founder of BeBrainFit.com and the author of Brain Gold: Brain Fitness Guide for Boomers. She has discovered that most of us are inadvertently harming our brains… even when we follow a “healthy” lifestyle. If you’re concerned about staying mentally sharp for life, learn more here.