Reminders: Put Your Keys in Your Fridge!
The other night I was staying at a hotel because I was delivering a workshop this morning. As we always do when I'm traveling, as I get ready to go to sleep my husband and I talk on the phone.
He opens the conversation with this: “My keys are in the refrigerator.”
Of course, that caught my attention and I was curious, so I asked him why he might have chosen that particular location. . .
He goes on to explain that he put the keys in the fridge right on top of our son David's lunch bag. You see, David normally eats a school lunch, but today they were going on a field trip, so they needed a packed lunch. “I didn't want to forget it,” my husband said. . . and he didn't!
Sort by how you use an item
This is a great example of an organizing technique that saves you time, energy and stress! When there is something that you need to remember in the morning, put it with something you cannot forget! My husband had to have car keys to leave, so he put the items together.
He knows that he has a pretty standard pattern in the morning and goes on auto pilot. Because of that auto pilot, he was concerned that he would forget the lunch and ruin our son's trip. Rather than letting that keep him up all night (reminding himself not to forget) he put items together that would help him remember.
Your Turn
What do you do to remember important things in your life? I'd love to hear about it. Share your thoughts right here in the comments.
My family has been doing the “keys in the fridge” thing for a long time. For us, it is usually to remember to take one or more food items to someone else’s home for a shared meal, or to remember to take leftovers home from a similar occasion.
Can I just talk about keys–the ones that once were lost, but now are found? I’ve chased my keys across more than one continent. I’ve worn them as a bracelet ring, tried to make them visible with a large red swatch and tried to remember to hang them on a key rack beside the door. Here’s the tip that worked for me–given to me by my “chosen sister,” Wandeana Wilburn–and I cannot thank her enough. It’s literally saved me hours of searching. I carry a purse most of the time. Almost all purses have an inside zipper pocket. That’s where my keys live now. In the house they rest safely inside an object much easier to find than keys. Now they are home-bodies; they come out only for driving or opening doors. It was an easy habit to form…don’t have to “hold that thought” long if they go in the pocket immediately. It’s been several years now, and I’ve only had to look for my keys twice! I love it when a plan works!
Linda – I’m so glad that you shared that experience! Your final solution is the one I use as well with a twist. I use a keyfinder http://www.isntthisclever.com/Finders-Key-Purse-c132/ It hooks to my purse and I can always quickly find my keys.
I put my keys on top of whatever I need to remember to take with me when I leave the house. I don’t do it so I won’t forget my keys, but so I’ll remember the other things. 🙂
Exactly Debra! That was my husband’s strategy too. Thanks for sharing.
I have a steel door, so have affixed a large clip there to hold any envelopes that need to come with me when I leave whether for delivery or to be mailed. Can’t miss it and it’s saved my bacon more than once.
Moreen – Great solution! Thanks for sharing.
Well, since I’m more like a tech guy, I’ve been using Google’s Keep reminders on my phone a whole bunch these days. Nonetheless, the “keys in the fridge” approach would work as well. Thanks!
I can appreciate that and it is a great strategy. I use alarms on my smartphone all of the time. My husband, on the other hand, frequently misplaces his smartphone; so that is not as good of an option for him. 🙂