How do you compensate for poor short- term memory?

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I used to write things down in a small notebook but then I would forget to check the notebook at the appropriate time which made it useless. Currently I use my iPad because it will send an alert when you need to do something (it helps a lot). But I can't carry it everywhere. How do you remember little tasks around the house such as mowing the lawn, doing you laundry or taking garbage without making your parents irritated when you are not on a schedule?

Laundry is easy, because the pile of dirty clothes becomes pretty evident.

I have to be reminded about things a fair amount. If something has to be done, I usually write a note to myself on my hand, or I place something somewhere where I can't not see it. If I have to answer an email or something, I'll mark it as unread so I have the unread email indicator showing--and I hate it when I see it. In short, I intentionally do things that drive me nuts.

I've tried making lists, but I usually just proceed to ignore them.

I use my calendar on my Blackberry, because it gives me popup reminders.

yeah, my electronic device has been a sort of life saver for me, too.

Well I don't mow the lawn, I do laundry when I am out of clothes clean enough to wear...and with everything else I try to remember. Writing stuff down in a notebook would not help because like you I probably would forget to check and probably forget to bring it with me. I don't have an ipad and I don't think my phone has a feature like that as it is not a smart phone.

sometimes I write things on whatever paper is laying on my desk if its something I am trying to remember to do in the morning or next day, or I write on my hand...that can rub off though, maybe I could do it on my leg or something, but then would I remember to look?

Tie a string to you're finger then you spend the rest of the day tring to figure what it was for, or start a new stime.

I use an iPod (can't afford iPhone service plans) with a couple of apps, one of which uses google calendar. I also tried to use a notebook, but I'd forget to look at it or would lose it. Now, the iPod alerts me instead of me having to remember.

Also, before going to bed I leave items like paperwork in my computer chair or in the hallway where I know that I'll have to step over them in the morning.

My short term memory is so bad, I would probably forget what I was going to write down when I found the pencil and paper. The other day I thought of something I needed to get in another room and turned to go and it was gone like smoke. Usually I get to the room before I forget.

-I write sticky notes on my computer and leave them on the desktop background
-I'll write To Do lists on the magnetic board on the fridge
-I'll write lists on my iPhone
-I set alarms on my iPhone
-I'll write notes on the calendar

I forget that I have written stuff down so I usually make a story with pictures in my head of things I need to do the night before, it's a trick that I read a while ago and works. I animate the things in my head, give them a face, make it colourful and the stranger the better. I make sure one things leads to another, so, if I need to do chores I might imagine a washing machine with a face in pain because it's been stabbed by a vacuum cleaner and the vacuum cleaner is then sick and throwing up bits of paper from the file I need to sort out and so on. I always remember it.

I have this problem in a bad way. What I started doing is putting index cards all over the place, at eye level and read the cards as I walk place to place through the house. Like for example- I have one taped on the wall over the toilet bowl so when I take a leak I'll be reminded to take my pills which are in the med cabinet 5ft away. If I don't do this I will forget to take my pills for days.

I keep a number in my head for how many things I have to do. Usually I remember what they are later, but sometimes the number is 1 and I can't remember what I wanted to do...

Edit: For example, currently, the number is three, but I can't remember what one of them was.

I do that when I'm going to the store and need to remember a grocery list.

Maybe I'm old school but post it's help IMMENSELY. I have them all over my house.

Luckily I have such a regulated life that almost all my activity is routinized. But numbers have to get written down immediately. Paper in my pocket works well because I dislike the sensation of anything in my pocket so I know something is there, exigent.

I do much the same. Sometime multiple notes/reminders are what's needed. I especially keep lists/post-its by my computer because I'm there often enough. I live by To Do lists.

It's like anything else in life: you have to work at it. Hopefully, over time, you can develop a routine/method that works for you on a daily basis.