Compensating for a fading memory

23 February 2026

I miss my excellent memory. When I was in my twenties, I had a mind like a steel trap. Oh, the things I could keep in there and recall in a nanosecond! It made me a valuable employee and my ability to keep details straight and handle logistics well allowed me to work on some great projects. For example, I organized—and attended—a small conference in Kenya with participants from all over the world. I organized it from my office in Washington, D.C.. And I did it without the internet. It boggles my mind.

I was 42 when I started Peace of Mind Organizing in 2005 and now I’m 63. Believe me when I tell you that I’ve had to come up with ways to compensate over the years for the fact I’m not able hold a zillion facts in brain like I used to. So what do I do? I ease the stress on my brain by not even trying to remember.

Here are some of the tools I use instead of relying on my memory:

I’d be lost without my Bullet Journal. I keep task lists and chronological notes about everything in it. And I update an index in the front of each journal every week to make it easy to find my notes.
For money-related questions (like “what did I pay for that thing?” or “did I really subscribe to that app?”) I can count on YNAB the amazing spending app that I update daily. FYI, that’s a referral link; if you click on it and end up subscribing, we’ll each get a free month added to our description.
I put all my appointments in my electronic calendar on my Mac (which syncs with my iPhone). I can’t even imagine trying to keep track of my schedule in my head!
I find myself consulting emails and text threads to remind myself of communications. It’s one reason I prefer email or text to the phone—it means I don’t have to rely on my memory of a conversation.
I set alarms a lot on my phone. For me, alarms have more impact than reminders. If I need to reach out to somebody in an hour (or in a few minutes), I will set an alarm (with an appropriate label) rather than just try to remember. My husband and I drive an electric car and there are only two chargers in our apartment building. So it’s important for us to move the car from the charger in a timely manner. The alarm is a life saver!

At 63 though I’ve become more forgetful, I’m still going strong. Thanks to these tools, I’m doing great. I’m not going to lie: I do miss the amazing memory I used to have. But I also cut myself a lot of slack. I’ve earned the right to ease up on my brain and be kind to my mind!

Tagged with: apps, calendars, memory, task list, task management, technology