Reminders

Are there tasks that you need to remember to do weekly, annually, or anything in between? What about habits or tasks you want to be sure to do daily?

I know a lot of people that use reminders on their phones for things they need to remember later that day, but I haven’t come across many people that use them as robustly as I do (maybe I just travel in the wrong hexagons).

If there is anything I want to make sure to get done with any sort of regular frequency, I add it to my reminders. I don’t need a reminder for all of them, but the knowledge that a reminder exists relieves that little worry in the back of my brain that I will forget to do something important. Multiply that by the number of ways I use reminders and my brain has more capacity to think about bigger things (like existential worries that reminders can’t fix)!

You can use reminders for pretty much anything, from daily goals to annual appointments, from responsibilities to fun activities. Below are just some of the things I use them for to make my life just that little bit easier.

Household

Water Plants: This is particularly useful if you have plants that only get watered every couple of weeks.

Food Subscriptions (CSA and meal prep boxes): No one wants to get surprise food that you don’t have time to use, so you have to remember to cancel or edit them each week.

Flip Mattress: Who ever remembered to do this before the days of reminders?

Change Brita Filter: I recently added this to my list, as I rarely remembered to change it.

Health

Journaling: I write first thing in the morning to help me start off in the right frame of mind and again at the end of the day to help slow my mind down for bed.

No Screens After 11pm: Gotta get away from that blue light before sleeping!

Doctor Appointments: Every November 1st my phone tells me to make all of my annual appointments over the following months.

Recurring Appointments, Expirations, or Renewals

Car Registration and Inspection: No one thinks to check the stickers on their car regularly. If you know someone who does, I would like to meet them.

CPA License Renewals: I have to renew my licenses every year and can’t work without them, so this is crucial!

Credit Check: This used to be every four months, as you get one free credit report per year from each of the big three credit unions, but I have changed it to six months because I am currently avoiding Equifax.

Fun

Read: I try to read a chapter of non-fiction and a chapter of fiction every day.

Games: I have a couple of puzzle games with ridiculous days played streaks that I am proud of maintaining.

Podcasts: I like to keep up with podcasts that watch or read things in a serialized manner by rereading or rewatching the source material before listening each week.

Music & Movies: I don’t want to miss something new that I am excited about!

I currently use the Reminders app on the iPhone, but I am planning to make a switch in the not too distant future and am exploring the many options out there. What is your favorite method of keeping reminders? What are some unique ways you could use reminders to help yourself?