How many times a day do you think:

I need to remember to…

Return those shoes.

Email the teacher.

Pick up the prescription.

Send library books tomorrow.

Order dog food.

Bring the form Friday.

And then, because you’re afraid you’ll forget, your brain keeps bringing the thought back.

Don’t forget the shoes.

Don’t forget the shoes.

DON’T FORGET THE SHOES.

That isn’t a reminder system.

That’s your brain running a background app all day.

The Hack

The second I catch myself thinking:

“I need to remember…”

I stop and create the reminder.

Not later.

Right then.

But here’s the important part:

Set the reminder for when it will actually be useful.

If library books need to go to school Tuesday, a reminder at 9 p.m. Monday saying:

Library books tomorrow!

still leaves me responsible for remembering them Tuesday morning.

Instead:

7:00 AM Tuesday — PUT LIBRARY BOOKS IN BACKPACKS.

Need to make a return while you’re near Target?

Set the reminder for before you normally leave the house.

Need to call somewhere that closes at 5?

Don’t remind yourself at bedtime.

The goal isn’t just to record the task.

It’s to have your phone hand the task back to you at the moment you can actually do something about it.

Once the reminder exists?

You’re done thinking about it.

That’s the part I love.

🐾 MOM HACK RULE

Your brain noticed the task. It has completed its portion of the assignment.