Featured Article 10 Ideas to Help You Remember by Maria Gracia You’re busy and have tons of things to do. How can you possibly remember it all? Having a sharp memory recall can be as simple as finding ways to help jog your memory. Here are 10 quick ideas: 1. Write it down. With the amount of things you have to remember in any given day, why should you try to stuff it all into your memory bank? When you want to remember something, the very best thing to do is write it down. When you need to recall it, it will be there for you. 2. Keep it together. When you write down things you want to remember, keep them in one consistent place. Otherwise, you're going to spend a lot of time looking for your notes. 3. Maintain good health. Eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, and exercise. These are all important for your memory, staying focused, and being alert. 4. Record your thoughts. Sometimes you might want to remember something, but it's not convenient for you to write it down, such as when you’re in bed in a dark room. Use a phone APP, like Rev, and voice record your thoughts instead. 5. Call yourself. If you're at the office, and you want to do something when you arrive home, call your home or office voicemail and leave yourself a message. When you arrive, you'll listen to your message and remember exactly what you wanted to do. 6. Believe in yourself. If you keep saying you have a bad memory, you'll probably continue to have a bad memory. It's important to have a motivated, “I can remember” attitude. 7. Send yourself email reminders.  There are many free email reminder services available. You type in what you want to remember, such as a birthday, anniversary, or event, and you then receive an email reminder when the date is approaching. 8. Post sticky notes. Those wonderful, little sticky notes can be amazing memory helpers. Want to remember something before you leave the house? Jot it down on a Post-It Note and stick it on the inside of your door. You'll be sure to see it as you're getting ready to walk out. Have to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone. 9. Set timers and alarms. Take advantage of alarm clocks and timers throughout the day. Have to take the clothes out of the wash at 3:00? Set your alarm clock to remind you. Want to leave for the basketball game by 6:15? Set your phone timer to beep a few minutes before. 10. Use visual reminders. Visual reminders can help you remember and focus. I especially like visual reminders for remembering your goals. If your goal is to take a trip to a beautiful island in a few years, keep a magazine photograph of the island right on your desk.