How do you remind yourself to do things?

Post Reply New Topic

My 13 year old sometimes forgets to bring things home -- books, assignments, etc. -- even though I have him write in BIG RED LETTERS in his assignment book. It's not a big deal -- but I'm curious how people on the forum remind themselves to do things. My older son used to write stuff on his hand {when he was in high school} to remind himself about things (even so, he too had a history of forgetting stuff).

If you have any effective ways to make yourself remember to do what you need to do, I'd love to hear about them.

The only thing that's ever worked well for me is Concerta.

I use the calendar on my mobile phone. It beeps every hour with reminders. It's totally solved that problem for me. If I think of something I need to remember or need to do at some stage I just put it in there and the phone doesn't forget. Then I can just forget about it all and relax with a clear head. It's great.

I've considered (but not done it yet) creating a checklist and then laminating it (to protect it from damage). I've considered it for things like packing various items when I travel (particularly important things like chargers, and electronic "toys" and such) as well as maybe things at home--especially things I'd like to do routinely.

Then, all I would need to remember is one thing.

You could try giving him an object he has to carry with him at all time and periodically ask him if he has it. Given time, he'll learn to do a checklist before going anywhere.

I might not have explained it very well so I'll give an example.
My mother made me carry a green and red colored ballpoint pen at all times and then, when I arrived at school or at home, I had to take it out and place it somewhere easily accessible.
This way I had to constantly remind myself to take the pen when I had to go somewhere, after a while I didn't have to think about it as much and I automatically picked up the pen.
I went through quite a few pens before I stopped forgetting it, but it's helped me remember quite effectively.

I use my phone, write things on my hand or do my best to remember. I have no problems remembering sequences of numbers or things like postcodes though.

I would repeat things to myself several times. Many times it worked but sometimes I would have to stop repeating to do something else and ten I would forget.

I set an alarm on my phone telling me to look inside my diary, which is where I've written down whatever I've needed to remember.

I don't usually remind myself to do things.

I use a planner, but you said that wasn't working, maybe you should make sure HE writes in big red letters the things instead?

Getting things done topic

My children were always issued school agendas when they were in elementary school, but, despite being NT, they would still forget until they realized how important it was to get things done.

People get distracted, fatigued, overwhelmed--I think the executive functioning starts to malfunction. the procrastination is the result. Many AS children find it hard to prioritize. Best not to blame them too much, as NT kids have problems here too.

I myself do what many do--make lists, and cross off what has been done, with emphasis on what is most important.

Thanks so much for all of your input.

It would appear that phones are effective for many people. I know that my older son uses the alarms on his phone in this way, and it works for him. My younger son just got a cell phone, and we will try using this for him. The only problem with this is that in his current school (middle school) the kids are not allowed to have the cell phones turned on in school. I may have to make it part of his IEP in high school next year that they allow my son to turn on his cell phone for the last ten minutes in homeroom, JUST so that he can use the alarm system on the phone to remind him to retrieve books/homework before he comes home.

Netfish, I DO have my son write in his assignment book himself, as I figured that it wouldn't mean anything to him if I did the writing. Somehow, it still doesn't help him to remember much of what he needs to remember.

post it notes

This is a long and rambling reply. I apologise in advance.

If I have things I need to remember on a regular basis, I use a counting system. For example:

- I know that for a computer to be operational (I am in the IT industry), it needs at least five cables plugged into it.
- When I go to work, I leave with my laptop, my carry bag and my lunchbox. So when I come home, if I'm carrying three things, I assume I have everything.

This is not always effective, because I might have (for instance) my car key in my hand when I walk out of the office, so I will leave my lunch box or carry bag behind.

Post it notes don't work, because I never look at them to read them. They don't feature in my "stuff to look at" world.

If I have something important that I think of, I need to write it on a piece of paper (A4) and put it in front of my door so that I will walk over it (I always look down when I walk because of over-stimulation).

Like others I use my cellphone for reminders. This is very useful with a calendar, but sometimes I might be busy and press the "ignore" button and then forget that the reminder came up (also, I can forget as soon as I've finished a phonecall that it ever took place*).

schleppenheimer, I have tried, almost every year since the age of six, to write in a book to remember stuff, but I usually end up forgetting the book behind, or forgetting to open it. So you'll find long lists of things to do, and I never do them. I am the incarnation of "out of sight, out of mind". It makes life interesting, and not in a good way.

Now that I'm married, I get my better half to remember stuff for me.

I have been so forgetful that I will be hungry and order food over the phone, and then forget I've made the call. Then a couple of minutes later I'll feel hungry again and eat my packed lunch, and then the food I've ordered will arrive.

So if you do come up with a good memory tool, please let me know.

---

* When I was at boarding school in Grade Eight, I happened to be passing the hostel telephone one day, and a call came in from the head prefect's mother that he must phone her urgently. I forgot the call ever took place as soon as I replaced the handset, and later in the hostel meeting, the prefect asked us who took the call, because it was to tell him that his father had died. I was just as shocked as everyone else that someone could forget such an important message, and then an hour later in bed I remembered taking the call. That is still one of the worst things that has happened as a result of my forgetfulness.

I repeat it over and over again.

_________________
I'm a writer, not a fighter and my pen is always loaded.

Magnús Scheving is my Icelandic rose

I use an old PDA, with the usual alarm, calendar, etc features. Also post-its, and the FireFox add-on "ReminderFox" which syncs itself with the 3 computers I use. And various tricks like putting things in front of the door for when I go out.

There's actually some software for PDA's specifically designed for executive dysfunction called "PEAT." The downside it is very expensive. It was originally created to help people with brain injuries, IIRC. (I don't have it, so can't comment on how well it works.)