When you make a commitment, how d0 you follow-through? How often have you told yourself, “Oh, I’ll remember that.”, but then later realized that you forgot? Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It’s amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday.
I have a system for any commitment.
- Write it down. It all starts with writing it down. I carry a small notebook with me to record any commitment. I write down as much detail about what I need to do. For years I used a FranklinCovey® binder but have recently moved to a Moleskine® notebook.
- Transfer notes to a list. I review my notes at least daily (each morning) as I plan my day. I prioritize my list of commitments and action with the most important ones first. I only have one list (no post-its).
- Mark it complete. Nothing comes off the list until I do it.
When I make a commitment, I ask myself, “Am I really going to do it?”
- If the answer is no, I try to be honest with myself and with the person I commit to. I don’t commit if I don’t really expect to do it.
- If I really intend to do it, I write it down. I write it down right now. I do not wait or convince myself that I will remember. I write it down now.
Don’t be fooled after you get in the habit of writing down your commitments. Because you are writing down your commitments, you will tend to remember more. Writing things is an additional connection to your brain. Many times the act of writing is enough to remember later what you said you would do. At some point you may think that your memory is better. You start remembering without referring back to your notes. Once you stop writing down your commitments, you will begin to forget again. It is an evil natural cycle to keep you from doing what your commit to doing. Don’t fall for it.
You don’t necessarily have to write down your commitments. You simply need to record it in some medium. Leave a voicemail for yourself or make a recording on your smart phone. Sure you don’t like listening to your voice, but get over it. It is a great method for when I can’t write it down. Later when I listen to the recording, I add it to my prioritized list.
I even go the extra step and schedule what I commit to into my schedule. I block time when I will focus on completing the commitment.
How do you ensure that you do what you promise?
Have you ever made a commitment but forgot to do it?
Those Moleskin’s are perfect. That’s what I use. I was a sucker for their history: Van Gogh and Hemingway having used them…
I had no idea about Moleskine’s history. I’ll have to look that up. I really love my Moleskine notebook. I use it in conjunction with Evernote. Now that I know you use the notebook, it is one more reason for me to use it. Thanks for the comment.
Great post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! When you buy Moleskine (I love them, too) you get inside a small brochure, where you have its entire history of famous artists that have used it.
why are we suddenly going on about moleskins and different fancy notebooks?
I just love having something tangible that I can take note with. I many times will transfer my notes to Evernote or take a photo of my notes and copy to Evernote. Thanks for your comment.
I think it’s appealling to some people to be using the the same notebooks as famous people. There’s a slight self-induced mythology that we are as organized(or maybe even as creative) as Van Gogh and Hemingway.
This is a great post and I really like it. Thanks.
I never knew that!
Van Gogh? Hemingway was more expected…
Moleskins were never used by Gogh and Hemmingway, merely similarly designed notebooks from which Moleskins were based, from descriptions in the writings of Bruce Chatwin.
I hope you guys know there ara thousends of great pads and pocket notebooks, not only Moleskine. I hate one thing about Moleskine: the price. The same pad done by any other is half cheaper at least… so you can remember two times more things. And there are some as good as them.
I liked this post about remembering. I always had clear that I can’t remember a sh**, so I really need a pad in my pocket everytime. It have been more than a need for me, I feel confident with it. I’m a little bit obsessed with notebooks, too much I think.
Thanks for this accurate analysis of notebooks and pads for creativity or anything else.
Great comment and really good point. It doesn’t matter what media you use write things down. What is important is that you write them down. I also have an increased confidence having something with me when I need to write something down.
I am not quite up to snuff on the latest or greatest record keeping..but I had to comment on this one. I remember my father using the old-fashioned spiral-bound pocket notebook daily. I always wondered what he would write in it. I actually looked at it several times..lots of dates, names, telephone numbers! As I reflect back, I realize how important that little notebook was for him…not always the most organized, but at least he tried! Good memories!
What a cool testimony. I am sure he had a system that worked for him. I have years of notes in my old FranklinCovey system. Thanks for the comment.
I definitely think writing down things is a sure way to ensure that you eventually get to them. I write down things I intend to do on those “sticky notes” that come with Windows and post it on the desktop of my laptop computer. That way I don’t forget!
Great post and great tips!
Thanks for your comment. I think key for me is having one place to put all my notes. My one place is Evernote but my Moleskine is an interim until I can transfer my notes to my one place. Keep with the system that works for you.
Unfortunately, I have made committments a time or two and have forgotten to follow through. I think the problem was that I never wanted to do it anyways. Instead of being honest with myself, I would just say yes without considering if I was truly passionate about what I was doing. Thanks for sharing.
Great comment. Being honest about what you really intend to do with a commitment can reduce a lot of stress.
Well I dont use any one of those trademarked,branded diaries,but yes I appreciate the habit of diary writing or at least putting down your thoughts on a notebook.Congratulations on being freshly pressed besides your post was very relevant .
I really don’t think it matters what you use to write things down. Just write it down in a single location that you can go back to. Thanks for your comment. It has been quite an experience today being “freshly pressed”.
I love the idea of writing down a commitment. I think more people should heed your advice and take it to heart.
Of course, since I blog about my crazy divorce, I guess I should mention that I only wish my hubby had written down his commitment to me in a notebook. Oh wait, there was that whole marriage license thingie…
Haha…great post, great advice. I’m a fan!
Mikalee
Thanks for your comment. That is an interesting idea to write down your commitment to your spouse in a notebook.
I am so glad to have you as a fan.
ah yes, lovely moleskin! I love these. I don’t need an excuse to write in mine. But seriously, you make a good sense in writing down your commitments. I think I might start! Gives me another reason to buy a moleskin
There is something about writing in that Moleskine. If I don’t write it down it isn’t getting done. Thanks for your comment.
Since I carry my iTouch everywhere I go, I use a couple of apps to help me remember things. The two best apps for the way I work are called: Do it Tomorrow, and Items. There are MANY others, but I have incorporated these two into my life quite nicely and there is just no impetus to explore the issue further.
“Do it Tomorrow” looks like a little Moleskine notebook, and since that was my pre-app day planner, it seemed like a natural choice. You make entries into the current date,and they follow until you mark them off. Brillars!
“Items” is basically a supplies list. You can enter your favorite stores, and when you input items to remember at those stores it begins a list that may be accessed later. It also begins to “remember” what you like, and after a bit you can just tap on the choices you wish to make because they’re already cued up.
These work for me because I enjoy the technology. But I learned early in life, that anything that I document in some way stands a much greater chance of actually getting done!
Great post!!
That sounds like a really cool app. I’ll have to check it out. Great last paragraph. I love that you found what works for you.
I make it easy for simple me by committing less than 3 things at any one time
Three things is a great way to prioritize the most important things. Great suggestion. I’ve used that method some days when there is no way I will get through everything on my list. “If I can get just these three things done then I can feel good about my day.”
That is good advice. For example, every day (after midnight) I make out a daily plans list, on which I write down all the things I need and want to do, ASAP. Whatever I don’t get done that day, I put on the next day’s list. Before I started doing this, every day seemed without purpose. Now, I have a purpose (indeed many) every day.
Great testimony. I experienced the same thing until I started planning each day. Thanks for your comment.
This is so true. It will save you a lot of time when you decide to be honest with yourself and not commit to something your hearts not into. Last Sat I missed my dear friend’s party because I lost the invite between the seats. I don’t want to do that again!
Great example. Thanks for sharing. I checked out your web site. Your photos are beautiful.
Instead of a notebook I use an online service called remember the milk. http://www.rememberthemilk.com/ . It uses nice keyboard shortcuts and lets you keep track of due dates and priority
It’s free unless you want to access it from your phone as well and then its still pretty cheap.
That looks like an interesting application. My problem with it is that it’s an application. I’ve tried to train myself to use the technique that Christopher talks about here in the past, but my mistake has always been using the latest whizz-bang software application.
Call me a luddite if you like, but paper has greater longevity than software. (If you think I’m wrong, let’s use this handy time machine I’ve got here to nip forward ten years…).
Thanks for the suggestion. I have seen rememberthemilk. I especially like the free thing. I haven’t found anything that I like better than the Google Spreadsheet I use that keeps track of all my “to-dos”. I’ll blog about that in a later post. I know several people who swear by rememberthemilk.
I bought a watch that records audio. I know it’s geeky, but my best ideas come to me at the worst times (usually on the freeway). The irritating thing, of course, is that when I record an idea on the watch, in never forget it. If I don’t, well…
That is cool. I love that you can record anywhere any time. My best ideas also come to me when I can’t write it down (walking someplace, driving, etc.). I have been using Google Voice to leave a message for myself. Not only can I access my message from my smartphone but I can also read the transcription. I will have to check out that watch idea. Thanks for your comment!
Every day I try to write a list of 5-10 things i want to accomplish on that specific day. I find writing things down is a good way of getting yourself to actually follow through =)
I totally agree.
Good advice! I am the qeen of lists.
I am the same way. If I don’t write it down, it isn’t getting done.
I use the “Things” app on my iPod. Being I always have my iPod in my pocket anytime I think of something I need to do or remember I will quickly put it in there. Saves me a lot of stress trying to remember things.
This is the second mention I have heard of “Things”. Having a way to record with a device that is always with you is a great system.
[...] You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. (via My Simple Inspiration) Posted on June 17, 2011 by Surf Monkey When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
I’ve got one moleskine I use for my time, now I think having another for commitments or an actual set of ‘to dos’ would probably be a good match and help capture everything. Nice post – and thanks for reminding me that the second I stop writing it down, that item that needs to be done will evaporate, but still be hanging out there waiting.
I like your evaporate visual. That is exactly what happens to me if I don’t write it down. Thanks for your comment.
I am a checklist junkie… but it works
. . . but it works. That is key. It doesn’t have to be pretty or impress anyone.
My habit of keeping journals was a result of being a reporter and freelancing when I had time to for other publications. I’m trying to get back into the habit of carrying notebooks (I have two wonderfully leather covered notebooks I’m eager to fill up with thoughts and “commitments”). Thanks for this inspirational message.
Did you write down your commitment to fill up your leather notebooks with thoughts and commitments? If you are having trouble getting started, commit to it for 21 days. Then, let me know how it worked. Thank for your comment.
thanks for sharing! i enjoyed it a great deal
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Great advice! I always check my planner before I make a commitment…I have the terrible habit of double-booking myself because there are always so many great activities to take part in.
I always carry around a journal as well. I used to tell myself I would remember a great line for a poem or an image and then promptly forgotten it because I didn’t take the time to write it down. I tend to use journals with eye-catching covers so they don’t get lost amongst the piles of books I tend to have around the house, haha!
Thanks for this post
Thanks for your comment. Great plan to keep from having your notes lost.
No prob!
It’s so crazy to read when someone else follows the exact same process that I follow. My Moleskine is the reason I remember to follow up with minor tasks that I would otherwise forget, and checking off an item on a list is so satisfying!
More importantly, this post is great because it shares a simple way for people to become accountable to the things they say they are going to do.
Thanks for sharing!
You really captured what I was trying to say. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad to know someone else shares my process.
My pleasure! Also, I am impressed that you’ve replied to everyone who’s commented on this post. That’s dedication. Good luck with all that you do!
I am trying to reply to everyone but it is more than I was prepared for. I am committed to get to all of them eventually. Your web site is very entertaining. Those Golf Boys are hilarious. http://donnidar.wordpress.com/
With a smart phone just install a voice recorder app. Anytime you need to remember something just click the button, speak, and save.
Yes. I love it. I have used Google Voice and Evernote’s recorder feature. Both work great! Thanks for the suggestion.
there’s a thought there for all of us I think. I’m not a list person but it sounds very organised. Maybe I could learn something.
Try it for 21 days and see if you like it. If you don’t you can always go back. Even if you don’t use a new system, you might learn that you like a part of the new system. Thanks for your comment.
I live in my filofax. I may be 19 but without that little thing in my handbag I would quite literally be in the street with no home right now- some of the things you remember when you leaf through the week you’re currently on make you realize how much could be at stake if you forgot.
I dread to think of losing it- as well as being my life-planner looking back through notes and to-do lists brings back priceless memories : ).
I can’t imagine losing my notebook either. I have my notes from 2007 and (like you say) I am able look back at priceless memories.
I am going to start this TODAY. I do not wirte down my commitments and I have forgotten things I said I would do b/c I do not reinforce with putting them in writing. In a waork environment, I write down the things i need to remember bu tnot in my personal life. Thanks for reminding how I can use the same tools in different areas of my life!
I’m glad you caught that. Personal and professional all go to the same notebook for me. Let me know how if goes.
Great post. Completely agree about only saying “yes” when you truly commit. Unfortunately I have done that too many times where I’ve said “yes” when I should have said “no.” It’s far better to just say no in the first place.
I agree. It may be hard to say “no” in the first place but it is even harder saying I forgot or to say “no” later.
I use my iphone for everything. It’s practically attached to my hands. But for the life of me, I have never been able to use my phone as a good way of keeping my commitments straight. I carry a planner which is the same size and feel of a moleskin. I need to keep my dates straight and organize things with a calendar. No matter how much I think I will remember something without writing it down, I WILL NOT. I decorate cakes and will only take requests via email to ensure I have everything in writing. At the end of each day, I make sure I’ve transferred all possible info from my email to my planner. There’s no better way to organize than physically writing it down!
It sounds like you have a good system. What is key is that you have found the system that works for you. If you are using your iPhone for everything, check out Evernote. It’s free and my electronic notebook. Everything I write down in my Moleskine makes it to my Evernote. https://www.evernote.com/
I SO love this Blog! My memory as I get older (40′s) leaves a lot to be desired and sooo many things sound good to me at the time…I think if I were to write them down, I would have to really give them deep thought before I spread myself too thin! I think I will run out & buy the Moleskin! I also like the idea of one of your commenters ideas of the iTouch . . .perhaps a future gift? Congrats on being Freshly Pressed, you deserve it, I think writing things down will help me remember! (I hope!)
Try it for 21 days and let me know how it goes. Even if you don’t stick with it, I suspect you will keep with some form of a system to remember things. Thanks for your comment.
I dont have much to say, but i love this blog.
That’s okay. Thanks for your comment.
[...] You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. (via My Simple Inspiration) Posted on June 17, 2011 by futuremylove When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
Oh yes indeed many promises not kept. Mostly due to that stage in my life when I believed it was best to tell people what they wanted to hear rather then just say no I can’t do it. Nowdays though technology has made life so complex great care has to be taken to sift through all the diversions to determine what is truly important and what isn’t. Thankfully my youthful indescretions didn’t cause any major pain to those who’s feelings I didn’t want to hurt. Such as not showing up to a party you promised to attend.
Thanks for your comment Steve. I love the name of your web page: http://www.theelectronicvegetablegarden.com/
I am also a fan of “Live From Daryl’s House”. http://www.theelectronicvegetablegarden.com/2011/04/music-is-your-friend.html
I live with my lime green moleskin from Barnes & Noble. Without lists and reminders I’d be a goner, I wouldn’t remember a thing.
Can’t miss lime green. Without mine, I’m a goner too.
It’s taken a long time but I’m finally at the point where I admit to myself that I’m just not going to remember. I had journals created out of my own travel photos so that I want to write in them and I keep my “running list of to dos journal” by my bedside for those inevitable times when I’m comfy and cozy in bed and think of something I have to do the next day. Between that and the iPhone app I have I’ve been so much better about getting things done.
I’m glad to hear your success story. Great suggestion to keep you journal next to your bed. Your web site is beautiful. You are a gifted photographer.
I was searching for small notebooks several months ago. I saw the Moleskines in a book store but couldn’t justify spending $15 on one small notebook. In stead, I spent $0.79 on a notebook at Walmart. It has done the job just fine.
Excellent choice. It doesn’t matter where you write it down. Just write it down. During back to school you can get those notebooks for $0.25.
Great thoughts! Thanks for this post.
I’m glad you liked it.
Possibly one of the most horribly embarrassing moments of my life came from a commitment that totally slipped my mind. On my college campus, we have social clubs, which are sort of our version of the Greek system. I’m not in a club, but I have many friends who are, and I promised that I would take the club picture for one that most of my girlfriends are a part of. So imagine–80+ girls all show up to take a picture, all dressed up and ready to go. And where am I? Oh, out taking a jog with another friend. By the time I got back to my cell phone, I had about fifteen missed calls. I was supposed to have been at the photo shoot TWO HOURS ago. And I completely missed it, and they had to get someone who hardly knew what a camera was to take the picture. It’s been a year and a half since then, and they still haven’t let me live it down.
Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve had situations like that. What a terrible feeling.
Matter of fact… All my blog notes and ideas are kept in a MoleSkine note book. Good post by the way.
Thanks. Many of my blogs start in my Moleskine.
i write the stuff down but then i STIll dont follow through smh
Try spending 5 minutes at the beginning of your day looking back at the notes you took yesterday, then decide what you will do today. Just 5 minutes.
Great post, love the sarcasm. Another thing I used to do to remember events, etc is put alarms on my phone,not just for bdays but for important events as well, a day or 2 before they occur.
I’ve done that too. Great suggestion.
Great blog. I totally agree that if you don’t write it down in your notebook, you are setting yourself up for failure. I love moleskin notebooks and have been using them for many years. I too had a Franklin Covey planner but then they stopped selling them from their UK website. I’ve now switched to a page a day moleskin diary to compliment my moleskin notebook.
I’m glad I switched to Moleskine. I like the size better than my FranklinCovey planner.
That’s it! I’m going to write everything I think of doing starting today! You’re right, inspiration strikes and we often forget so many good things….it happens all too often I think, not that I’d remember!
Thanks for your comment. I love the photos on your site.
Like you, I carry a notebook with me everywhere I go. And I LOVE lists! Scratching something off a “to do” list is all kinds of satisfying.
I agree. I’ve heard that crossing off a “to do” actually releases endorphins.
This is excellent advice. Being organized may seem boring to a lot of people but in reality it just simplifies things and makes it so much easier to achieve more. Keeping the notes to a minimum and putting it all down in notebooks or a journal IS the way to go. Congrats on the WP first page, excellent post you deserved it!!!
http://www.takeahappybreak.com
Thanks so much. I’m glad you appreciate this post. I took a happy break to your site and enjoyed some really nice photography. Keep up the good work.
[...] Membuat janji, membuat komitmen, kadang hanya sampai di mulut saja. Kelanjutannya tidak ada. Cara sederhana untuk membuat kita tetap konsisten dengan apa yang telah kita janjikan dengan diri sendiri — apalagi dengan orang lain — sederhana, pastikan hal tersebut tercatat dan mampu mengingatkan kita sampai hal tersebut betul-betul dilaksanakan. When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
Oh wow! Thank you for this article. Not a lot of my friends get my habit of writing everything down and creating a list for everything. To them it’s a complex. But to me, it’s a huge help to focus on other important things so I don’t constantly remind myself of things I have to do. I know it sounds like I need a validation for what appears to others an OCD quirk, maybe I do, but also I can share this with my friends and other people who need help in remembering things.
Also, I own piles and piles of moleskine. That’s where I jot everything down. Saturday errands seem aimless if I don’t write my route down. Impulsive purchases are often avoided when I stick to my list in my moleskine. My monthly budget go in my moleskine. All these go in what I call “list book”.
I bet you see more results than your friends that don’t get your habit of writing everything down. Your system is very inspiring. It really is a terrific system to keep yourself accountable. It’s good to be like no one else you know. Keep up the good work.
Darn it, I guess I do not do enough to have the possibility to forget anything. I do own a wonderful red Moleskine – still with pristine pages…
Thanks for the history facts – it is very impressive that great people used those!
Fill up that Moleskine. I use mine sometimes just to carve out my thoughts.
I am new to WordPress and this is the first blog i stumbled upon. Great piece.
What a true honor to be the first blog that you stumbled upon. I am still fairly new but have learned a lot in a short period of time. Feel free to ping me if you have a question or want to bounce an idea off someone. You have a great start to your website. I like that you are already thinking about making errors. Go for it!
I do like having a little notebook around to jot down “remember to…”, phone numbers, websites I want to visit when I’m back at a computer, etc., etc. I use the mini-composition notebooks from Staples. When they’re filled, I keep them in a little stack. It’s fun to flip back through them because the notes serve as remembers of some events — kind of like a snapshot of what was going on that day/week. I also enjoy the moments when I look back at a note and ask, “What was that about?” So I find these notebooks become a mini-archive. And, in terms of the “remember to…” the notes to remind me to transfer them to my “to do” list where the next big challenge might be to actually do them!
Great comment. Yes I have notes from over 15 years of note taking. Thanks for your comment.
[...] you have to read this You Are Lying to Yourself. You Won’t Remember … I don’t have a notebook to write down all my appointments, commitments or tasks, I [...]
This is an EZY 1!!! You’re lying to yourself – if U’r pathological!!! A reasonable, balanced, “normal” person knows the limits of deception – w/the self or otherwise & knows he or she is in a bad state when crossing the line of self-delusion… probably 2/3′s of all Conservatives fit this description. Can I get an “amen?”
A good message to writers. Jot that thought down in a moleskin notebook, or for me, my easy-on-the eye green college-ruled chemistry notebook. If you think you’ll remember that great line, title, character — “You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember.” Thanks for the reminder.
Green college-ruled chemistry notebook is the back up I was going to suggest but I ran out of space. Ha! It doesn’t matter what you use to write it down. Just write it down. Thanks for your comment.
Besides the size the convenience, I love the little pocket in the back. Good for preventing small things from getting lost.
I didn’t find the pocket until after almost two weeks of using my Moleskine. I love the size too. Very easy to take almost anywhere.
i usually use my notebook to arrange the schedule and write down some plans.
well sometimes it doesn’t work. but at the time i realize it didnt work well, im able make to make new plan, the clearer target and description how it should be done.
yup, it much more better than letting your brain forget your plans easily.
It has taken me years to design a system that works for me. I still miss some things but writing it down significantly improves my chances of keeping the thought. Keep with it. You will make small improvements. Thanks for our comment.
I used to write down my notes in a notebook. Gradually, even a notebook is too much to carry around. I’m the technological kind of gal so I have a private blog where all of my notes and to-do lists get posted and I can open it from my phone or any computers. You’re right. It’s about being honest with yourself. If I don’t really want to do a task to begin with, even if I put it on the list, I would still feel very reluctant to do it and sometime even refuse to do it. It’s like when you are in school, if you don’t really want to study, even if you spend days in and days out of the library, you won’t remember a thing because your heart is not in it. For me, it’s the moment when I get to cross things off the list after I get them done that keep me going
Cheers and congrats on being freshly pressed!
http://hindsightnotes.tumblr.com/
Thanks for your comment. There are times I keep looking at something I planned to do but ultimately determine that I am not going to do it. I cross it off at some point and release the burden of keeping it on my list. Some commitments I have to let go. Thanks for reminding me of that. I really like your quotes on your Tumblr site.
Good post! That’s true, I have experienced many times when I keep reminders in my mobile for any work that I wanted to do in future and I remember the things the day that I intend to do before my mobile alarm rings
I feel this is something our brain remembers the physical activities that is when you write or record something through any medium and that’s why you remember the things without even looking at your notes most of the time..
Great point. I experience the same thing. I regularly wake up a minute before my alarm. Thanks for your comment.
[...] When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
So true. Agree. I always write down good quotes or advices from books, friends, etc as well. One time, i fully comprehend the meaning, but then I forget the lessons. Taking notes helps me so much. Thanks for motivating me more.
Great. I have quite a large quote collection too. Thanks for your comment.
I love your blog.
Couldn’t agree more with this post! I was a Franklin Covery junkie, but found I was spending a lot of time transferring items from day to day. Love Moleskines and used one for a year or so. Found that I required a weekly calendar across the pages I was using for the week, so have ended up creating my own diary system. It’s A4 and has across the top of two pages the weekly calendar with dates and regular appointments pre-printed. Any new meetings or commitments for a specific date get added to that. I have the remaining 2/3 of the two pages as my “to do”, and then two blank pages for additional items, meeting notes and so on. I have 6 months of these done and then behind those I have blank pages which I use for different projects and so on. I do also use my Blackberry calendar for work appointments.
I should note that at home, we also have a week by week diary, in which we record all the kids’ commitments (and with 6 of them, that’s a lot of commitments some weeks!).
My boss has an iPad which comes with Franklin Covery software and he swears by that and the post it note system on the iPad diary/ desktop.
Check me out on Being Gluten Free in NZ on wordpress! http://glutenfreenz.wordpress.com/
I like that you created your own system. I think that is when someone takes their system seriously. The FranklinCovey system on an iPad looks pretty cool but that is what works for your boss. It sounds like the system you have is pretty cool too. You should think about publishing it. I bet others could benefit from your system.
Great web site. I’ll have to try the soup.
Hey that;s just the advice I need for my little moleskines.
I use three. But now I understand I can just chuck out one. I’ll keep the other one for my doodling and schemes and schematic sketching and the other one just for the notetaking and the list keeping. That will be the daily one!
I check my notes every day but it was all over the place so I didn’t remember it. The bit about transfering it to a list was what did it for me. That’s the little help I needed. Thank you so much.
have a good weekend all!
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you were able to find help to tweak your system just a little more. You sound pretty organized to me.
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said! I am the kind of person who writes everything down. I bought an appointment book like the ones that the doctors have and I schedule my days down to every fifteen minutes.
And I always have to keep it on me because otherwise writing it down won’t help either! Great entry! I enjoyed reading and relating.
Wow. You have a detailed system. I like it.
I absolutely love your site. Anyone reading this comment needs to check out http://tliou.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/hidden-in-the-cupboard/
Very cool photos.
so true! i always have something to write on with me in case of new ideas or commitments. it is not only a way to remember things but also a kind of deal with myself. if sth is so important to be written on, it’s also so important to be done!
Like your quote, “if this is so important to be written on, it’s also so important to be done!”. Great frame of mind. Thank you for your comment.
I completely agree and I think the Moleskine is such a great friend to have!
Though I always believed that I can remember everything, I did forget one or two things. A very nice and simple post!
It is so easy for me to convince myself that I will remember when it is at the moment. Thanks for your comment.
Love it – only one list and cross nothing off until it is complete….. i run a to do list in my diary… prioritise for the day, cross of the complete and then transfer the remainder to tomorrow. Works well although my boss did ask how many days i intend to transfer an item before I actually deal with it…..lol @ Me the organised procrastinator.
There have been times when the pain of having to transfer an action to the next day was enough for me to complete it. What a great ritual.Thanks for your comment.
[...] — Attributed to Goethe When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
Personally, I need to physically write my to-do’s/commitments down. Even though it would be easier to have it stored on my iPhone, it would not be the same. The satisfaction for me comes from crossing out the completed tasks. Great post!
nice plan, I never had a time to plan my life the way you do…
still commitments don’t just come and go..
so we have to accomplish before its too late to remember…:)
like the way you plan..not the way I think..:)
I write things down in my Daytimer directly after I have done them. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. As to things that pertain to the future yours is the only way that makes sense. Still it needs to be practiced. Memory isn’t a muscle but does depend on muscle. Well put. Great post.
There is no greater satisfaction than having a to-do list and getting everything accomplished that was on it. Good Post!
hah, i have to text myself the intersection of the street i park on outside of my apartment because i know i’ll forget…!
agree. I even list my commitment on my phone wallpaper. Reminds me not to waste my time and actually do something..
Interesting. I’ve embraced the technology. My phone has a great calendar application. It’s Android so you’d expect as much. Now if I could only figure a way to extend the battery life.
Great, simple post. I always forget little things!
Sometimes , Forgetting is a big problem, I can’t think of my best friend’s name…
Hi, Nice piece and true
I can honestly say I can’t remember forgetting to do something. The task literally flies from my thoughts the moment a butterfly passes by or some other shiny object captures my attention.
I’m really trying to get in the habit of writing things down, but even remembering to do that is a bit of a chore. Next step, Ritalin.
Thanks for the helpful post!
Sorry for the follow-up comment, but have you checked out EverNote yet? Great little tool that might help you trim out some time of organizing your lists and keeping everything synced up.
http://www.evernote.com/
This totally just inspired me! Thanks, Christopher. Great post!
Were you always this organized? Or did it happen after forgetting alot of appointments and committments? Very disciplined system.
I have a son who just graduated from college and is living on his own. I’ll be really interested how he gets his act together remembering things. He is not disciplined at all.
My current system is putting appt and events it in my phone calendar with a reminder alarm going off 1 day, 2 hours or even 15 minutes in advance.
I also have a Day Runner calendar at home for addresses that I plan for the week and months ahead. But the phone is the immediate one I log info into.
That’s a great idea. I have an app on my android phone that I record things on then later write them down.
i love that moleskin! =D
thanks for sharing your thoughts here. i too always carry a notebook; i write a lot. it’s like my therapist.
Nice reminder. I am a busy lady at work as my job keeps me on my toes for the 8 hours I am there. This week I have been challenging myself to make a larger commitment at work, and one of those things I have to do is make a record of items and merchandise I am out of stock in in the lands and stores I work in( I work at Disneyland). On top of all that I am compiling them into one large note for the end of the week so that I can pass that information onto my management team. So writing down and recording all this is a high priority for me at the moment. And yes, I agree, our brains do trick us into thinking we will remember everything.
Absolutely fabulous post, and thank you. I work in a chaotic environment as a stage manager for a symphony orchestra. Info comes in from a zillion channels at all hours of the night, often in the dark backstage.
I was once a cubicle slug (fortune 100 America) and we were trained using the Franklin Covey system. Love it, but not practical in my current job. No office, no desk, except when I’m at home – which is almost never.
I once carried the Palm Pilot, and up until recently, had never found a phone as capable of calendar, to-do, and contacts as that very simple interface.
My system today? An iphone, inegrated with email and google docs… and a moleskine. The pencil is my therapy, the phone is my brain! I need both
This post is really inspirational. To keep record of our commitments, to remind ourselves that we are committed people!! Hmmm… You get a point! And by the way, I also love Moleskin®. It is not a fancy item, it’s history. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about living an inspiring life.
Great Post Chris. There are a lot of different blogs out there but I like the blogs that deal with practical things in a sensible manner. Thanks. Keep Blogging. Keep Writing.
Interesting article especially in this day and age where everything is electronic.
Forgive Everyone And Rebuild – F.E.A.R
It’s true. I have to write most of the things I really want to remember down. I have to do it by hand, otherwise it just won’t stick. I see that’s valid for a lot of people
I do the same thing every day and I really think it is the key to accomplishing both minute and major goals. I’m glad that you posted about it!
Keep shining,
The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook
http://www.thesunnygirl.com
I always forget whatever committments I make. Like this year I thought I would make a calendar and write down all my friends’ and relative’s birthdays so that I don’t for get to wish them like last year or year before that, but well half a year is over and I still haven
‘t made it… I’m just too complacent..
uh… what happens when you have a Moleskin and you write it down but then you don’t get to it –can you make that your next post???
I suggest you take a COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY course in college to help you understand how you can store more informationan into LTM (long term memory) Remeptiton is key here.
I suggest you RETAKE THE COURSE to jar your LTM so you can spell.
nice post christopher. I think we could all benefit from improved memory.
Most successful people are successful because they write out their commitments and goals. Excellent advice to all of us.
You are dead on. Writing things down gives your brain yet another way to “connect” your thoughts so you can remember them later on. Great advice!
A list person myself, I would definitely second this motion!
I have to say that as a person who never makes lists, I actually do usually remember. The only times that I’ve forgotten are when I have had little sleep and my mental to-do list just got too much to bear. If I’ve been afraid that I’ll forget something, I just write it on my hand. Otherwise, I’m pretty good at remembering.
My to-do lists become a journal of sorts. I use tiny memo-books and spiral bound at the top. When the list is mostly done, and those items that are not have been transferred to a new list, I tear out the used list, fold it tightly, and throw it in an old Mason Jar. Someday it will be a nice little time capsule of what occupied me at various periods in my life.
Emailing myself from my blackberry is a great tool too! I’m always going back and forth between “paper and plastic”.
I am not very good when it comes to planning and taking notes ! But yes I never make a commitment to myself or anyone else if I have the slightest doubt in my mind that I wont be able to keep it. I am not perfect but I try ….
[...] via. You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. | My Simple Inspiration. [...]
I have a specific notebook I use to write down everything I need to remember. It’s gotten to the point where it never leaves my side.
I really appreciate your flow of thoughts. And you give a REAL suggestion, the same suggestion we give to our self without really listen to us. But you described it more accurate. Maybe, if it’s someone else that explain to us the better way to make efficient our “to do list”, we feel more encouraged to dot it!
Repetition must be a key to such a forgetful mind as that of mine.
I am a Moleskin user of 5 years, however I was shocked to go through my 2007 diary only to find out I had written about something in such detail which I am in total oblivion!!!
like it a lot! keep it going!
I keep a notebook by the bed, not to rate my partner I should add. You always get those moments when you think of something just before you drift off, it’s always worth being able to save those.
As a person with bipolar disorder, I have two issues in play related to your post. One is that I forget everything, so every appointment and plan must be written down. The second is that I’m only ever sure about what I can commit to in the present moment. As the illness swings, so does my ability to interact with people, meet a deadline or complete a task. Actually, the stress of a future commitment is difficult in itself. I’m blessed with friends and family who understand and remind me to write things down.
Spoken like a true champion. I just made to commitment to write in my journal this morning. It’s amazing what a difference it makes. I got one of my biggest fears down on paper and read over it. Turns out that while the problem was in my head, I made it seem 1000 times worse. Seeing it in my journal, I was able to create a plan that solved it in less than 5 minutes. This is my first time checking out your post Chris, but I can definitely tell you’re on your way to doing great things.
- Extus
This post is so true! My boyfriend always has his Moleskine with him and is writing things down and drawing in it. He keeps telling me to do the same but I never listen… Could be time to take the advice onboard!
Right on! I’m an editor and a writer with a million ideas a day. And I lose 9,999,994 between breakfast and bed. The six that make it are the ones that occur near a pen and a writing surface. Thanks for this.
from today I am committing not to commit to anything. Better write it down etc etc
[...] When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
[...] You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. Categories: Uncategorized Quick sand. RSS feed [...]
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I used to be quite organized with a list. Now I have lists everywhere, in my writing notebook, in my laptop, various places. So much lists until I’m disorganized. these are written down on free notepads that i get, or recycled bill envelope. I recently start writing again in a journal that I bought over a year ago. Only now I have the courage to ruin it. I have this weird problem, I have some nice journals given to me as gifts, and some that i bought. I can’t bring myself to write in them! even the moleskine, ecosystem, etc. especially the ones with nice covers, im scared of ruining them. or that when theyre all filled up, where do they go. because I always travel and move, i have this crazy notion to scan everything i ever wrote. so i dont lose anything, nothing gets left behind, and its more secure that way. only if i REMEMBER to do it! i used to be able to write freely.
I do that too, thanks for the smart phone that they now have a reminder or at least a notes application, so we can write down list we have to do. And the being honest with ourself part, totally related with me!! xx!
[...] Source [...]
I appreciate the idea of being honest with yourself, as well as honest with others. Sometimes people over commit themselves. I like to write everything down, and I do find that simply writing it is often enough to imprint it in my brain.
I have an organizer/dayrunner. Section for notes, things to do, calendar, etc, and I make sure it comes with me whenever I leave the house. This way if I promise anything or make a commitment or schedule something, I put it onto my notes and calendar right away. Force of habit I guess due to my career in the secretarial field
Thanks for the post. I know I won’t remember 5 out of 10 little things until it’s too late.
For the past few year everything goes into my daytimer. Although meetings are on my Blackberry, at the start of every month and the start of every new week the daytime and the BB are manually synched.
All the to do’s an notes get reviewed on Friday and at the end of the month, always looking for that little “what did I miss”. On the last day of the month, the daytimer pages are scanned an put on my hard drive and a flash drive. Paper copies are kept for 12 months.
[...] When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
A Harvard Business School study reported that ten percent of graduates wrote out their goals. Those ten percent who wrote out goals owned ninety percent of the wealth of all the others combined.
It pays to write out your goals, even if you don’t intend to act on them immediately.
[...] 19 juin When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
Hmh, I get the concept. But I find it anachronistic to write a blog about traditional (paper) notebooks. And what about the ‘green’ aspect of saving trees?
What about changing our style a bit and go straight into digital? Tools like WordPress or EverNote greatly support that.
You can post notes from your smartphone or table, you can eMail them directly to your blog account. And – I particularly like that one – you can keep them private until you are completely ready to publish them, or you can keep them completely to yourself and use them as a notebook, or journal, or diary in the cloud.
Am I not getting the point?
As an executive assistant for nearly 20 years, almost solely supporting CEOs, this is how I do my job everyday.
useful life tips, especially for me as a fresh office worker!
thanks!
[...] When you make a commitment, how to do follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot?Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all st … Read More [...]
I only recently (a bit over 5 months) started writing things down to make sure that (a) I remembered them and that (b) I actually get around to doing them.
This is a really good reminder that I am on the right track.
My grandmother always used to be writing notes in shorthand of different things that were on her mind or different ideas she wanted to accomplish. It amazed me; she write on any bit of paper that would reach her fingers, any scrap at all.
Thanks so much for posting this. It made my night, and congrats on being freshly pressed. ^^
Inner power! Great tips and congrats!
One way I find useful is to use this todo list system.
http://mylists.creativitygames.net
I find it works for me as most of my work is done near a computer and if I pop out the list I can have it on the side of my screen where it is always visible.
There are other good todo list systems out there but I find that if it’s not dead simple then the effor outweighs the benefit and I don’t use it.
as they say we can only use 20% of our brain..
imagine if we can use 100%
Yes, I always tend to forget things I promised.
Thanks for the tip, I will use it now, haha.
Because I think I really need it.
Yup, gotta love those Moleskins! Ha ha. I do write down commitments but sadly on pieces of paper that end up kept so well I myself can’t find them…
Thanks for the post!
Thanks, Nice topic man.
Nice post. Now, lets talk about the best “pen” to use in Moleskine notebook Ha ha.
I like it.
My professor advised me earlier about this subject and it really did help me.
[...] When you make a commitment, how d0 you follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot? Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all … Read More [...]
I write stuff down, and then lose the pad of paper…
However I have found that once the pad of paper turns up again (usually days or weeks later) that I’ve either done everything on the list, or the items were so totally unimportant to begin with, that doing them is no longer necessary!
For me sometimes writing it down is enough for me to remember. Looking at my notebook is an additional backup. Thanks for the comment.
Moleskine is great, but about two years ago I received a notebook for Christmas from Gallery Leathers: http://www.galleryleather.com/planners It’s done wonders for my note-taking. The one I got was slimmer so it fits into more pockets, it has the gilded pages, and my name engraved on the front cover. And it has more space than it looks, so it’s taken over all my notes.
But onto the blog itself; I do this all the time. From short-term goals to long-term, I put a little box and a date area for when I do the stuff I say I want to do. And time goes by and it doesn’t get done… I write down why; brutally honest with myself. It helps me see the patterns and has done wonders for accomplishing things.
It sounds like you have a pretty good system. I like that you are able to be brutally honest with yourself. I do something similar through journaling. Thanks for your comment.
Well said sir…the complexity of the brain. I’m going to use that the next time I forget to do something because I forgot to write it down.
Thanks for your comment. I hope you use it.
I want to buy one, but I can’t imagine that it was too expensive for a student like me
It doesn’t have to be a moleskine. I happen to like the moleskine but choose anything. The most important point is to keep a single notebook to write your notes as soon as you can. Let me know how it works.
Good post! I’ve been using the same method for the past year. As they say “a smart man writes down, a fool tries to remember”
Thanks for your comment. I really like that quote. You have a great website as well.
You know this is so true! I used to be really good with mental lists but since having a baby and hitting 30 my mind is overwhelmed. So I started doing lists and post-it notes and it’s really helped. Once a week I redo my list and prioritize. It also helps with not feeling overwhelmed by a lot of things, when I look at my list it doesn’t seem as bad. Thanks for the reminder
Thanks for your comment. There is a real serenity in having things written down that reduces the stress of trying to remember everything.
[...] Include images or other visuals. Most of the images are my original photos or artwork from my kids. When it isn’t I link the visual back to the source of the visual (as I did in my featured blog). [...]
[...] When you make a commitment, how d0 you follow-through? How often have you told yourself, "Oh, I'll remember that.", but then later realized that you forgot? Everyone has the good intent of remembering or doing it later. How often do you really remember? It's amazing how complex our brains are and how much information can be stored but I still forget the thing I said we would do yesterday. I have a system for any commitment. Write it down. It all … Read More [...]
This post says it all! I can’t begin to think of all the things I have set out to do then forgot about them. That is why for several years now, if I feel that it is of the utmost importance to me, I WRITE it down.
This step always somehow, some way, makes it possible for me to achieve everything (Big or Small) that I set out to do! Cheers. 
Great testimonial. Thanks for your comment.
[...] You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. [...]
[...] August 17, 2011 by Christopher| Leave a comment I have written before about not remembering if you don’t write it down. If you need to create a written link to information, you need a system to record the link. © [...]
[...] Write it down and commit to it. Keep track so that you can determine how you are doing. [...]
this post is great, remembers me to keep my agenda all the time with me
[...] also try to keep things in one place if possible. For example, I only use one notebook for all my notes. I know people use multiple notebooks for each subject, but having one notebook is simpler to keep [...]
[...] time it is easy to feel that you will remember what was just said. But, the reality is that you won’t remember. I always carry a note pad with me almost everywhere I go. I transfer most notes to Evernote for [...]
You are lying to yourself. You won’t remember. | My Simple Inspiration is an amazing share. Thanks a lot for this writing.