How to Help Future You Remember What Your Brain Forgets

This is a quick tip for those of you that have some sort of to do list/tickler file (and if that’s not you, please tell me your secret to not having one!) 

I’ve taken up running the last couple years and there is a big race in the spring that I’ve decided to make a tradition. I ran it once in college and then again (finally) last year. It takes some prep time to get ready for it. 

Last year, after running the race, I went into my to do app and I created a new to do item. In the details of this item, I added a bunch of reminders to make my life easier for the next time.  

I set this to do item to be due two months before the race this year. A few weeks ago, I went in to check my to do list and there was the item. I opened the details and had a bunch of great information that I would have completely forgotten. 

Included in the reminders, I reminded myself that I did not use my headphones because the race was too interesting, so this year I will not be dealing with taking my headphones. I included a note of how the race started and how they moved ahead each group. I even included a note about how the outhouses were set up because I got in a super long line last year and almost missed the beginning of the race. 

I cannot recommend that tactic enough. If you have something in the future you need to remind yourself about, create a to do item for the future you. I do this all the time. 

Here are a few other ideas for when you can use this tactic of creating a reminder/info task for Future You: 

• Holiday tradition that you need to prepare for or requires a sign up 
• A recurring event that you’d like to have a few notes for the next time

• A “Christmas Ideas” recurring to do item that you can add ideas to as you think of them 

• A yearly business trip that you need to take where you struggled last time and need some reminders to make it smoother 

How can you make life easier for Future You using your to do list?