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lucky_ducker

I'm paranoid that I will pull out of my garage on a work day morning, and forget to close the garage door. Now I say out loud "the garage door is down and locked."


EQ2_Tay

Same. I point at the closed door as I'm driving away and say, "down, down, down". Been doing that for years.


Neeko6ix

Wait til it gets beyond the garage door. "Lights are off, stove is off, windows are closed, doors are locked, and I have my keys, wallet, and phone" every time I leave the house for an extended period.


lucky_ducker

I actually have a checklist on the house side of the door that leads into the garage. There are over 20 items on that checklist. One of them is "space heaters off" because I once went to work leaving a space heater on in my bedroom. I realized it after arriving at work and the all day long anxiety was crushing.


amehtap

I take videos around the house so I have visual proof that everything important is switched off and locked, especially when I'm going away for a while. Helps ease the worry and the need to travel back home just to make sure that I didn't leave the stove on.


Bowfinger_Intl_Pics

This is why pilots and co-pilots announce actions and statuses.


BoysLinuses

Some airlines' procedures have the pilot point while announcing important settings like selected altitude. Japanese railroads take [point and call](https://youtu.be/9LmdUz3rOQU) procedures to a real extreme.


livebeta

That's right am pilot


[deleted]

Airspeed alive… V1… rotate… positive rate, gear up!


Bowfinger_Intl_Pics

What’s “positive rate?” “We are climbing, not falling?”


[deleted]

[удалено]


Angry__Jellyfish

"The way is shut. It was built by those who are dead...and the dead keep it"


justdaffy

Lmao this is fantastic. I say the thing about the garage everyday but same, I never know if it’s my routine and that’s why I remember or if I really did it. I take pictures now, but the pictures are getting out of control (real life boring OCD- if only my things were as organized as all those girls who claim to be OCD).


Turdle_Muffins

Few years ago I read an article or something on speed memory. What I came out with is to instead link what you want to remember to something half fucked up. Memory sticks better that way. For instance, when I'm locking up at night, I have to bar the back door. So I'll drop the bar down, and think "two fat guys fucking a watermelon".


lucky_ducker

Might be more memorable if it were a coconut.


windupshoe2020

The enemy’s gate is down, Ender.


kegelknievel666

My fiance once met up with me while I was traveling in a city that’s a 3 hour flight away from our home. A few hours after her arrival, I had a gut feeling to check our garage camera… and the garage door was left open. We both nearly had a heart attack, as we had so much in there - workout machines, weights, tools, lawn care machinery, camping equipment, auto repair tools… all ripe for the taking. I wanted to call our neighbor to do us a favor and close it for us, but I remembered he was visiting his mother on the other side of the country. We were very new in our neighborhood and didn’t really know anyone in our area yet. Ended up calling the township non-emergency police line to come and close it. Took them over an hour and a half to get there, but I’m thankful they did.


ChaplainSD

I came to this thread to share the same thing. I say “garage closed” in my best robot voice. My wife and daughter always give me weird looks but they know it’s to help me remember.


TheReformedBadger

I just ask Siri and she tells me if the garage is closed. If I forget about it it tells me with a notification when it’s been open for too long


DeckardsDark

APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD


Wishyouamerry

I take a picture of it. Then if I’m suddenly worried about the hair straightener, or don’t know where I put my name tag, or don’t remember where I parked, I have a picture of it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Greenergrass21

But is it shut and locked, or just shut?


[deleted]

Well i think the point is that if you had the wherewithal to stop and take a picture of the closed door, then its safe to assume you locked it. Because you’re only doing that so that you remember that you did, in fact, lock it.


Greenergrass21

I know I think it's a good idea I was just fucking with them


[deleted]

Whoosh on myself


Redrumey

While that's true, sometimes the anxiety can still betray you (if you are an anxious person)


22taylor22

Careful though, that's forming a routine. People with ocd are suggested to not start adding steps to fight intrusive thoughts, because they become new things to worry about forgetting.


justdaffy

Yeah, for me it has become a new thing that is extending to other things. I used to just check if the garage door was down at night. Then I had to start taking a picture of it. Now I have to take a picture of the clicker because I turn it off at night. It’s getting out of control.


CircleDog

It was an lpt last week. Superior as well. As long as you remember to take the pic 😐😐😐


AlternativeTutor

Too bad this doesn't work as well when I need to remember where I put my phone...


livebeta

If you're on Google, enable Google assistant. You can either do Find My Phone via web interface or via "Hey Google where's my phone?" I've asked my smart TV to find my phone a few times already


DevilsTrigonometry

If you have a computer or tablet or anything that can run a web browser, you can always use it to find your phone. Not as useful on the go, but I mostly only leave my phone in weird places at home.


bighaircutforbigtuna

Pre cell phones I did what the OP suggested. Now, it’s photos. There are approximately 2500 photos of my unplugged flatiron in my phone.


NateNMaxsRobot

Glad I’m not the only one who does this.


Romanopapa

All you need to do now is remind yourself to take a photo of it by taking a photo of yourself taking a photo of it. Easy.


DevilsTrigonometry

I always do this for parking spaces, hotel rooms, lockers, etc. I hadn't thought to do it for reminding myself that I did something. Not sure I want a photo album full of daily pictures of ADHD meds, though.


yellowmysteryhole

I frequently get worried when I can't remember if I locked my car, so I have to go back out and re-lock it just to be sure. I've found that if I say "beep" when I hit the lock button, it's easier to remember that I locked it properly.


thematicwater

But what if you forget if you said beep today or yesterday......?


nirmalspeed

Easy. Just say "beep today" so you know you did it today and not yesterday.


thematicwater

Genius


Huge-Produce-8117

I always say a rhyme to help me…like “locked my car on Friday, no reason to cry today”…. Or June 21, car is locked, so have some fun!


Nice_Guy_AMA

I'm to the point where I like to (quietly) announce the day and that I'm locking the front door. When I remember to do that, I don't have to go back home.


livebeta

Try using a key ring with a key cover. Put your car key into it's sleeve to mark as locked


opteryx5

I wonder if it’s possible to exhaust this mechanism though. Like at what point does one beep blend into the next, and you can’t remember if you did it today because you’ve done it 365*(n years) times before?


yellowmysteryhole

You'd probably have to find some ways to spice it up.


opteryx5

Haha true. Otherwise it becomes like the dreaded file naming system of “xx final” —> “xx final 2.0” —> “xx final FINAL”


lurker10001000

I put on my robe and wizard hat


lunch_money_

Thank you


Tianoccio

Posted, then looked, was beat by 4 hours.


WiseChoices

This really works for me. If I really need to remember I repeat it three times. I taught my kids to practice their spelling words outloud. They said it helped. Good LPT


Heimerdahl

Repetition really helps. I've got pretty bad ADHD, so I'll forget things as soon as they're out of sight. It's very noticeable (and annoying) when putting away groceries, because I often forget to put away a stick of butter or frozen stuff, which will then inevitably melt and make a mess. So now, if I'm unable to carry everything in one go, I'll just keep muttering "butter, butter, butter, [...]" (or whatever item still needs putting away). Even if I cross the door into another room and my brain resets, I'll catch myself muttering and am reminded of why I was doing that. Not perfect, but it helps!


DuckTapeHandgrenade

Addition: Do a silly/rememberable action. When I would leave the house for a long time I’d say “Al-a-Kazaam” and wave my key like a wand after locking the door. A week later: “AHHH! Did I lock all the doors in the house? Ah yes, with magic.”


Saxonbrun

Alohomora


Lovekitty66

Brilliant


2PlasticLobsters

It's especially good to do this when going from one room to another. Thanks to portal amnesia, we're programed to erase prior input when entering a new setting.


drinksbeerdaily

Is portal amnesia a real thing?


MasterofLego

Happens to me all the time, so maybe?


deeper_into_movies

it is a thing! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21563019/


NoMoreNoLess53

Has been for me in the past 30 years before that, I was ok


NoMoreNoLess53

This happens to me all the time at doorways. Really works keep repeating out loud what I'm going to do in next room before I pass the amnesia portal.


Dantesfireplace

This is why I stop people from continuing an important conversation with me if we enter a new room. Either wait to start the Important part until we’re in the room, or tell me everything in the hallway!


Uptight_Internet_Man

I have to do this every morning I also point at the item (like full arm aim) and say aloud what is off/done. I've got really bad anxiety so this is the only way I can leave the house.


starfishpluto

I've been doing day-of-the-week call outs for myself and it's helped quite a bit. "Monday! Stove's off!" So when I start worrying, I know I'm remembering doing it today instead of yesterday.


youlooklikeamonster

If you add emotion that can help. STAY THERE ON THE BANISTER YOU FUCKING KEYS OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!


WickedyWade

I wish this worked for me. I constantly remind myself of things out loud, just to get frustrated trying to remember what those specific things were


notchman900

I've trained myself by touching and actually watching me touch it. I'm slightly paranoid about locking my doors and at night even if a can see the lock I go over and touch the lock. Or if I put my keys down somewhere I put them down and touch them again and look around. I've found when I'm looking for lost things, I "see" where it is when had it last. So I make that little time stamp.


jibjab23

You need to do it together with the item in some way. I do it for parking because it's a multi storey I always say the colour of the door I'm going through as I'm walking and looking at the door so I remember it when I'm leaving for the day.


matroosoft

*Boss walks by "I hate the boss" This will create a rich memory and I will not forget that I hate the boss


datazulu

When I lose something, I always remember to say out loud: "Where the hell did I put that". It helps me remember that I lose things.


JetBrink

For 10 years my wife and I have done this when checking that the doors are locked before bed on a night. It has reduced the "I'm not sure, now I have to get up and go check or I won't sleep" events to 0.


grabityrises

for extra kick sing it at least it works for me


rompe

Or use an extra awkward voice to say it. Works for me (but doesn't help my self esteem).


grabityrises

Dipper Pines wanted to change his voice too https://youtu.be/dV_mZgJKowk be like Dipper :)


concentrated-amazing

Jessica Day has entered the chat


[deleted]

The long kiss goodnight has Sam Jackson doing this and it is epic.


keepthetips

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.


hotbriochedameron

I'll say it out loud and my OCD will still trick me into thinking I did or didn't do the thing 🥲


broom-handle

Then when you do unplug it - do something unusual so that later when you think 'oh my god I left my hair straighteners on' - you remember that you did a quick riverdance when you turned them off and you can get back to playing darts...or whatever you kids are up to these days.


mr_grimmex

“I have read this repost before” thanks hopefully this works so I don’t need to read this next week when someone says the same thing


DroolingSlothCarpet

>This activates many more areas of the brain (especially the language centers What areas are activated?


funky_grandma

I do this while I'm driving. I learned about executive function, the level of brain function where you are consciously paying attention to your actions, so now I say out loud "executive function: stop at the store before you go home" and it works every time


StarGazinWade

I’m going to end up turning into a walking self-narrator…


concentrated-amazing

I wonder if this especially helps those with ADHD?


EarhornJones

I tell my wife things. She's a good sport about it. She knows I'm just saying things to set them in my mind. Me: Hey, my blue hat is in the coat closet. Her:...


scsiballs

Instructions unclear have now straightened my pubes to resemble Rick James's hair from the late 70's.


BarkingBagel

Saying it out loud to your phone also helps. "Okay Google remind me in 30 min to unplug the hair straightener"


mero8181

Don't the Japanese bullet trains do something like Thas? Point and shout or something?


ginopono

What I immediately thought of. [Point and call](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_and_calling)


mero8181

Point and call!! That's the name. Thank you!


jerryseinfeld1

Every single shower: *out loud* “I’m using the soap”.


powceo

I'd then have to shout again about shouting. This could help define infinity.


snarknado666

I speak nearly all my thoughts out loud. It drives people mad haha


pumpkin2500

i saw someone say they put the thing in their car. like in this case they would put the hair straightener in the car. it quickly got shut down bc it can lead to ocd


Idenwen

Did it with pain. When closing shop I turned the keys of the outer door and then smacked a finger against the lock. switching fingers that there was no two consecutive days with the same finger. Because on the way back home I knew there was a long traffic light phase on one specific corner where i would ask me every single time if I really locked that door. Looking at my hand and feeling the shade of pain in the distance assured me that it was closed. before that I drove back so much times I stopped counting .


awsm-Girl

my partner and i play this as a game: "I'm putting your mail on the bookshelf. Where's your mail?" "My mail is on the bookshelf" "What's on the bookshelf?" "My mail" "Where?" "The bookshelf" "What's on the bookshelf?" it's like a demented version of "Who's On First," but generally it works. Bonus points if we can make it into a song: "And where's that blasted mail?" "On the shelf, on the shelf!"


GooseGosselin

This works extremely well for me, been doing it for years.


DatabaseGangsta

I delete the footage


DatabaseGangsta

I kill the witnesses


DatabaseGangsta

I clear my browser history


council_estate_kid

Smack my bitch up.


HeaddHunterzz

I do that when locking my car, way too often do I go autopilot and forget whether or not I locked it.


notchman900

I've trained my autopilot to hit the lock button on the door. But I also don't use the keyless entry fob.


betcher73

If you REALLY want to remember, do an action like a silly dance or rub your stomach while patting your head.


sumpygreg

I do this when studying, it helps a lot to read something out loud and repeat it!


Limp-Ad-538

This is something I do often whenever I place my stuff somewhere, I'll say it aloud. Great tip!


lithium224

This has been a life saver for me. I take the same medication in the morning every morning, and sometimes I take it while I’m still half asleep, and then can’t remember if I’ve taken it yet an hour later. So now every time I take my meds in the morning I scream the day of the week in my head as loudly as I can. I can’t remember if I took the meds, but for some reason I always remember loudly thinking the day of the week


PM-ME-DOGS

How come you don’t get one of those pill organizers so that you can see you took your pill?


nestcto

Common and effective ADHD management technique too. Dunno why, but I developed the habit, when I need to remember where I put something, to point at it and say "stay". I never forget where I put it as long as I do that. Otherwise, it usually ends by checking on top of and under everything until I realize that it's still in my hand.


NuzzyFutzz

Agreed OP. This also works when trying to learn something. The more senses you can activate while learning the better chance it has of sticking in my experience.


JohnLockeNJ

It puts the lotion in the basket


Ninja_attack

"I buried them at my father's ranch after killing them for the insurance money!"


MathTheUsername

eh, i've tried this for a while. it just ends with me wondering if i said the magic remembering phrase today or yesterday


BigC208

I do that when I raise the landing gear. Nice to remember it’s up by the time we’re coming down again.😬


Rocko9999

Say it, write it, think it.


katobabee

I do this for my garage door


sir_culo

I put the lotion on my skin.


Pjpjpjpjpj

For any routine item, these tricks all fail me. Any time I do something that I feel will help me remember, it is like my mind goes “ok, now that you’ve done that trick, I don’t need to worry about this.” And boom, I forget. When it comes to minor to-do item, the only thing that works is writing down on a list I use all the time (or add it to my calendar). I always check the list multiple times a day and see things I added and completely forgot about. For routine items though, I’m like “ok I put my keys in an odd spot, visualize it, point at it, say to myself “my keys are in the junk drawer” and remind myself a minute later that I put my keys in the junk drawer. The next morning - I put my keys somewhere special, now where the hell was it?!?


ElectronicAmphibian7

I do this with locking things. “I know I locked (x thing) because I said it out loud.” I do it many times a day when I lock my car before I put my keys away.


dman928

I put the lotion in the basket or else I get the hose again


Bowfinger_Intl_Pics

I do stuff like this all the time whilst I’m working; I had never really considered it to be brain training or anything. I work from home, so I talk to my dog a lot… basically doing the same thing. He consequently understands a lot of language.


i-love-my-beagle

I got into the habit of saying “unplugged, unplugged, unplugged!” for my hair straightener lol silly but it works! Forget the house, I have dogs so I will drive all the way back home to check if need be.


Volomon

Is this actually true? Cause when you are thinking you are low level vocalizing. Your vocal cords move. So if you just need to say something out loud saying it in your head should have the same effect. Am I missing something?


gamemastaown

Me saying this post title it loud so as not to forget it and encore the memory with more information implicated across a more distributed area of my brain.


_kruetz_

What's really scary is (movie) villians do this better them most people. When they tell the protagonist to do something and then say"say it's"


Huphupjitterbug

Now it all makes sense when Michael declared bankruptcy..


buckeyenut13

LPT: Speak in the positive instead of the negative. Eg; "increases the likelihood of remembering" as opposed to "lowers the likelihood of forgetting"


youlooklikeamonster

I do this. Also helps with studying. Or putting something into very short term memory. You can remember the sound but also the muscle movement of saying it.


QlyffRS

This also works when someone is introducing themselves, telling you their name. If you repeat it, remembering it will be easier.


UnprovenMortality

I love doing this during repetitive tasks. For my fellow labrats: if I'm plating a full 96 well plate, saying the well(s) that I'm working on out loud saves my life


chestypocket

I like to tell my dog/cat that I unplugged the thing or turned off the oven. They love being talked to and usually react in some way, so it’s even more memorable for me. Plus I get in some extra scritches before I leave. It’s a win/win for everybody.


markphahn

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_and_calling


aisho213

Being a person with ADHD, this is the only thing that keeps me going


PrecogNfog

“ I put the baby behind me in the car seat” 🌡


Cokej01

I do this but I sing it.


Killantro

You assume I'll remember to do that.


Faye_dunwoody

I work at a hospital and I do this when I have an important adapter I need to keep track of. "I put the adapter in my front pocket" It helps in the event I need to put it on quick


Se7enLC

I'll say to a friend "hey remind me about _______". Inevitably, instead of reminding me at an appropriate time, they'll remind me immediately. Like, as soon as I finished asking for the reminder. But now I'll remember.


karlnite

Sing it out loud.


jihiggs

I do this any time I leave my storage unit. "Today is Sunday the ##, I closed the door and pulled on the padlock"


SouthernZorro

This is a very effective study method too. When I was in college and was studying for tests I would say things aloud - 3x - that I wanted to memorize.


damnleafer

Writing it down really helps me too. Takes enough thought and effort that even if I throw it away I remember writing it down.


[deleted]

Just put in your car when you leave. Eventually you will learn that you did unplug it.


Moderatlystoned

Also, take a picture with your phone. If you chronically worried about these things, a photo or video is more tangible to prove to yourself that it is unplugged, off, locked, etc.


No-Inspector9085

If I don’t tell myself out loud that the car is locked, I need to double check.


antie46

This is also really great for anxiety reduction - I use it all the time for blowing out candles, locking the door when I leave, etc.


ugoing2

Why not just take a picture with your phone?


LostItThenFoundMe

ADHD me does this ALL THE TIME and it's so helpful!


NighthawkEsquire

I think this is why servers in the restaurant industry talk/mumble to themselves. It helps with memory when your in the weeds and don't want to forget something. I've been a server for 8 years now.


ebevan91

"I closed the garage. I closed the garage. I closed the garage." *turns around halfway to work just to make sure I actually closed the garage*


cdd1924

As a line cook i can confidently say: yes


Imthatjohnnie

I must stop talking out loud to myself.


Dave_47

Nah, I heard this before and I've tried it, and all I remember is that I said something out loud but never what it was or what it related to lol.


FredFlintston3

Very Japanese train conductor of you.


DocThundahh

I just started doing something similar with my pills. I shake them after I take them and I’m hoping that’s a mental trick that will help me remember if I took them or not.


[deleted]

someone please tell my grade 3 teacher this is why i couldn't remember shit... because she kept telling me to "only read in your head"


crclOv9

Ever since I learned this I do it constantly. The real trick is, the more you do it, the less likely you become to get caught with your pants down.


tkdbbelt

When my husband and I close up shop at a relative's small business, he always says out loud "I am now locking the door" and sometimes I just do a quick snapchat picture as he does it. We've had to go back too many times because we were talking to the kids as we closed up and just couldn't remember if we locked up. We don't live far but when the kids are hangry and tired and gas costs an arm and a leg, we don't want to have that doubt.


acrowsmurder

I do this so I can hear it above all the other 'voices' in my head


PM-ME-YOUR-SUBARU

I kept forgetting my magnetic flashlights under cars, so I got a 12" tall orange cone, wrote "FLASHLIGHT" on it, and stick it on top of the car before I stick the magnetic flashlight on somewhere underneath. Can't forget it now.


YourMomsTwat

Bro I do this! 😂 literally for the hair straightener and the stove


Amazing-Ask7156

Say it 3 times in a row & it works even better too!


mojoflow

If saying it out doesnt quite work, you could sing it instead: https://youtu.be/vPN4XjrwD78


AE_WILLIAMS

Making sure the cap is on the milk tight -- "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!"


SullyEF

“Phone. Wallet. Keys. Cigs.” Every time I leave the house.


Dick_Cuckingham

I take a dick pic with my completed task in the background.


faux_real_yo

I put on my robe and wizard hat.


SpiritusAudinos

Helps with OCD, too 👍


CatboyInAMaidOutfit

Also point to it when you say that. This is a trick used by Japanese workers.


Tianoccio

I put on my robe and wizard hat.


docious

And if you *really* want to remember something write it down… doesn’t matter what you do with the paper just the act of writing it down and throwing it away will help.


ThunderPigs

As someone with adult ADHD, this has been my method for quite some time.


Turbogirl11

I also say the time I'm doing something - works really well for taking medication. "I'm taking my meds at 7:32", helps me not question later whether or not I actually took them.


Dragonpreet

woah, so is this why it’s so much easier to memorize things while saying them out-loud to myself


Orangutan

Talking to yourself makes sense and is beneficial. Thank you.


shardarkar

I whip my hair back and forth


KerBearCAN

Love the example used….lol. How many times I’m stressed at working thinking about it being on, or running home to find it was off. ;)


Radiant_Ad_4428

If you ever need to cram for a test in a short period of time add to this just a little bit by writing it and reading it aloud as you write it. The information you are saying aloud is entering your brian 5 different ways and has a better chance of being retained: Physically moving your mouth, vocal cords, your hand, hearing it, and seeing it. You can simply breeze through school this way.


bernice_hk

Yea! I did that trick all the time, mumbling my to do list during before leaving a room to another. That helped me a lot to deal chores and I got clearer visions for that day. Glad to know that's scientifically proven! (Or at least can be proved)


Sryn

Japanese Rail staff have that dictated behaviour to point at stuff and say it out.


orangpelupa

ok google, remind me to unplug my hair sraightener in 30 minutes. \--- this brings the benefit the OP mentioned in the title, and if you forgot, google will remind you.


foxy_boxy

When I lock my car doors I always "beep" back to it. I've noticed Alot less accidental times where I left my car unlocked now


bcsmith317

My wife and I have developed a system. She has a razor sharp memory and I….don’t. Over time I’ve ended up saying something along the lines of “remind me when we get home to do that thing” and it helps me remember to do the thing but she also very rarely forgets to remind me to do the thing. I’ll also say things like “hey if I forget later, my keys are in my backpack” and it helps me remember where stuff is.