My Rememberall Cont...

After years of forgetting to bring things places for friends, or forgetting that I had a meeting with a teacher at 3:20 on Thursday after school, I turned to the most fool proof method for remembering things that I have ever seen. I get out a ballpoint pen and I write myself a note on the back of my hand. There is nothing quite like the repeated exposure you get from writing a quick word on the back of your hand to make you remember. The best thing is, you can write down the bare minimum on your hand. You don't need to write, "Meeting with Mr. Smith at 3:20 in room 317." All that you write in your schedule book, and then on the back of your hand, you write Smith or 3:20. It's just enough to remind yourself of what you need to remember. If you can just remember to remember, then you can look up the exact time and place of the engagements, or the specifics of the assignment in your date book.

Some people have told me that writing on your hand is bad for you, and that I’ll get skin cancer or something, but I tend to disagree. Most ballpoint pens use water based ink and your notes to yourself will wash off without a trace with just a little soap and water. I would not recommend using Sharpies or other permanent markers for the simple fact that the notes last a very long time, and this method is not meant to help you remember something you have to do in a week, it’s just supposed to get you through a day or two at tops.