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Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

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Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#21

Post by AlwaysNewb23 »

amphitoky wrote: post #19

Not entirely related to little tasks from meetings, but when I need to remember something eg. the next morning but I'm already in bed and dont want to get up to write it down etc, I find that a quick way to remind myself is to take something nearby, for example the book on my nightstand or just a crumpled tissue or two, and throw it on the ground where I'll see/stumble over it the next morning and think "why is this…

My house / office is too cluttery for this to work well for me. It's a good idea though.

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#23

Post by civilitty »

AlwaysNewb23 wrote: post #21
amphitoky wrote: post #19

Not entirely related to little tasks from meetings, but when I need to remember something eg. the next morning but I'm already in bed and dont want to get up to write it down etc, I find that a quick way to remind myself is to take something nearby, for example the book on my nightstand or just a crumpled tissue or two, and throw it on the ground where I'll see/stumble over it the next morning and think "why is this…

My house / office is too cluttery for this to work well for me. It's a good idea though.

Keep a torch and a fire extinguisher next to the bed. Burn a random piece of clothing and put it out.

The next morning wonder why you have fire extinguisher dust everywhere and you'll remember!

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#24

Post by AlwaysNewb23 »

civilitty wrote: post #23
AlwaysNewb23 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My house / office is too cluttery for this to work well for me. It's a good idea though.

Keep a torch and a fire extinguisher next to the bed. Burn a random piece of clothing and put it out. The next morning wonder why you have fire extinguisher dust everywhere and you'll remember!

Now that's a great idea. How do I turn off comments? This one is the winner.

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#25

Post by AlwaysNewb23 »

mywacaday wrote: post #13

For small tasks or things that pop into my head I like braintoss, it sends a mail to my inbox with the txt/pic/voicenote. I like it because I do5get sucked into my inbox. I have it setup to open on my phone with a double tap of the power button.

I've not heard of this one. Can anyone else vouch for Braintoss?

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#26

Post by civilitty »

AlwaysNewb23 wrote: post #24
civilitty wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keep a torch and a fire extinguisher next to the bed. Burn a random piece of clothing and put it out. The next morning wonder why you have fire extinguisher dust everywhere and you'll remember!

Now that's a great idea. How do I turn off comments? This one is the winner.

I'm glad you like it! It web scales indefinitely as long as you have new things to burn to increment the burn index. Want to remember two things the next morning? Burn your shirt and pants! Easy peasy.

First Alert even makes a handy portable fire extinguisher that's perfect for your bedstand: https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/products/fire-extinguishers...

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#27

Post by greggsy »

annor wrote: post #5

Slack yourself or use whatever is faster.m,Reminder app , etc. Avoid paper Only use app you use on a daily based. Go back and consolidate them to at EOD.

I message myself in teams, mainly to store articles, draft messages, and memes for future use. I also email myself draft emails to pick up the next morning.

I have workflow in Alfred that copies the selected text into a ‘notes’ list in Reminders, which is linked to a keyboard shortcut, which is assigned to a spare button on my mouse. At the end of some research task I’ll consolidate it all, and add tags etc.

I spend way too much time stuffing around with similar hacks in obsidian.

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#28

Post by messe »

civilitty wrote: post #26
AlwaysNewb23 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now that's a great idea. How do I turn off comments? This one is the winner.

I'm glad you like it! It web scales indefinitely as long as you have new things to burn to increment the burn index. Want to remember two things the next morning? Burn your shirt and pants! Easy peasy. First Alert even makes a handy portable fire extinguisher that's perfect for your bedstand: https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/products/fire-extinguishers...

All this needs is a cryptocurrency that incorporates the externality of burning shit, and you’ve got a YC idea.

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#29

Post by AlwaysNewb23 »

messe wrote: post #28
civilitty wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad you like it! It web scales indefinitely as long as you have new things to burn to increment the burn index. Want to remember two things the next morning? Burn your shirt and pants! Easy peasy. First Alert even makes a handy portable fire extinguisher that's perfect for your bedstand: https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/products/fire-extinguishers...

All this needs is a cryptocurrency that incorporates the externality of burning shit, and you’ve got a YC idea.

It needs to include AI somehow and then it's a YC idea.

Re: Ask HN: What are your 'mental hacks' to remember small tasks?

#30

Post by navane »

a_e_k wrote: post #16

For work, I keep a file called todo.org in a company-provided synced directory. For personal stuff, I use a similar local file for longer term things and Google Keep for short term, transient things (i.e., grocery lists, packing lists and prep for travel).

Exactly this, additional I have my local file syncthing to my phone
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