A case for using reminders to lead a winning life

If you’re like me, then creating and using reminders and notes should have saved your life, relationships, job, friendships, and life at different points. Yes, I’m aware I wrote “life” twice.

And, if you’re like me, and you don’t understand what reminders have to do with anything, just read on. Of course, read on, anyway.

It’s not very difficult for me to believe that I’m one of the most organised people I know, as well as one of the most efficiency-oriented, thoughtful, and caring ones. It’s just how I try to live my life.

Yet, I find that I often forget things. Maybe a ‘little’ detail like not calling or emailing someone when I said I would or was expected to, or a ‘big’ one like forgetting a birthday or important date. The birthday one in particular I think almost cost me a friendship once. Not even a joke. I kept forgetting their birthday EVERY year that it started to look deliberate.

In addition, I know some people can relate to walking into a room to get/do something and completely forgetting what it was. Within seconds or minutes too! My friend says I need to eat more fish eye. (Is this true?)

How about having an idea – insert tears of past regrets and present liberation – and forgetting it, because you didn’t write it down!!! This one pains! 

Then, this thing I call ‘period brain’ is the worst! I’m uncannily good at remembering names, for instance. But, when I’m on my period, I can’t seem to remember those. Words too. So, imagine me with actual tasks at such a time.

The point of all this is how reminders have helped me lead a more organised and productive life. For someone who spends most of her days planning something, it’s made me a better planner. When I had a nine-to-five, it made me more efficient at routine tasks.

In short, setting reminders and making notes (which I happen to enjoy) have helped eliminate the hectic task of trying to remember something and the consequences of forgetting something important.

I mean, it may happen from time to time, still. But, although I’m not great with numbers, I know the percentage (or is it ratio in this case) has significantly lowered, for one. And, two, because of the practices, I tend to eventually remember. At least parts of it. Who else knows the feeling where you can be anywhere and literally jump for joy, or just share it with a total stranger. #AGreatFeeling

Plus, when it comes to personal relationships, I feel like over time I’ve become more present. Especially in new relationships with people who haven’t known you long enough to understand that forgetting to send them a message or check up on them is just a flaw you’re constantly working on.

I’m not even kidding, I’m literally going to pause writing now to go and send someone a message. It’s an ‘old’ relationship, but a lot of the time, it can also look like you take those for granted. 

Right. I’m back. (I might have to follow that one up with a call after though).

So… I set reminders for EVERYTHING. You would not believe. Not just for ‘future’ events like birthdays or meetings or calls. I use them within the day. Everyday.

For example, I have recurrent reminders to get up and stretch, because I’m mostly home and can be sedentary for long hours, and to check my notes daily and possibly update them, and to deep condition my hair weekly.

Then, if I leave something on the fire, I set a reminder to go check on it. Many-a-disaster have been averted because of this. My pots and pans and kettle have heard it in this life.

I’m not saying I definitely complete all my tasks everyday simply because the reminder brings it up, because it’s obviously easy to just swipe it if I’m not in the mood. For example, I recently started taking vitamins. And on some nights, somehow, even though the reminder comes on, I forget to take them. But, who’s a work in progress, if not us humans, huh?

Thus, yeah, if the point of reminders was to help you get rid of clutter in your life, as well as make you more efficient, it could seem overwhelming sometimes, getting so many notifications of things you must do. And, that’s where you make the decision like me – with discipline and utmost prioritisation – to just swipe.

Also a good feeling. 

Ultimately, however, I can assure you that that’s hardly a con when it comes to the many, various pros of setting a reminder today. Like, if you know me and thought I was thoughtful and organised, well, these years, I’m even more so. Thanks to setting reminders.

Try it and let me know what you think. 

Signing off to go check a reminder notification I just got.