How do you best remember things?

[Unorthodox]

I'm rather notorious at work for my paper planner surrounded by smartphone users. 

[gwillybj]

I'm definitely a note writer.

[Buster's Uncle]

I take after my dad - lists are great, but keeping a list makes you dependent on the list - and I can keep track of that appointment next Wednesday in my head better...

[Unorthodox]

I take after my dad - lists are great, but keeping a list makes you dependent on the list - and I can keep track of that appointment next Wednesday in my head better...

I've found that the act of writing it down is what makes me remember.  I don't usually NEED my planner to remember something, but I NEED to write what I want to remember IN it.  Typing doesn't give me the same memory lock. 

[Buster's Uncle]

I've found writing it down tends to make me forget, no kidding.  That's fine if you don't lose the list.  Repeating whatever to yourself several times out load helps - I think it involves another area of the brain as reinforcing memory, even though the listening part of my brain, like Daddy's before me, doesn't work very well.  You probably know the mnemonic trick of creating visual associations...

Jotting stuff like appointments down on a calendar helps, maybe because I mostly don't take calendar entries too seriously.  -When keeping it in my head works, it definitely works best.  I will wake up, and think (X) is today...

[Buster's Uncle]

-Mind you, this only works for pretty bare facts like "Dr. Clonsky, 12:30 Wednesday".  Anything much more complex, and my vivid imagination starts improving on it - I'm terrible at precise quotes from memory, though very, very good at recalling the gist of it...

So something like my parts in a high-security rocket project?  I'd write everything down; not a lot of room for mistakes and oversights, there.

In fact, when I was working as a print reporter, the receptionist loved one of my time-filler habits to look busy when it was slow; I wrote out all my appointments meticulously on my desktop calendar - she could always find out where I was when I wasn't in.  I was juggling so many different things I had to LIVE BY lists and careful organization to keep track.  I just mostly kept track of the appointments in notebooks.  -But there's something there about good organizational communications and leaving information you WANT your coworkers to know on your desk in plain sight...

[Unorthodox]

I think it involves another area of the brain as reinforcing memory

I honestly wonder about that.  Being sinister, as I am, maybe my writing it triggers the correct area of the brain. 

I often recall very fine details extremely accurately, if I can remember where to start. 

I'm moving towards having to live by a list, though.  Between work and house.  Especially the house.  There's too much to do in areas I'm not experienced with.   

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm good at remembering enough when I'm juggling a lot of things that all require waiting for developments to figure out what I don't recall when I need it again.  [shrugs]  There's no beating lists in situations when you can't afford to overlook anything, that's for sure - just don't misplace the lists...

But I'm not kidding at all about how I actually remember better without writing down - something about not trying as hard to retain, I think, once I know I have it down somewhere to consult.  There is a lot to be said for having it all in your head, according to how much detail's involved, how sensitive to utter accuracy, and how good you are at that.

[ColdWizard]

If I want to get it to stick for a while, writing and rewriting. The reading and writing repetition cycle beats it in. Typing works as well as writing for this. Otherwise, if it's important, notes on whatever media is most likely to be seen or is at hand.

[Buster's Uncle]

I had a thought, Uno, related to this thread while I was kitten-watching just now.

If I was telling someone new about the kittens and my project to civilize all the family, I'd surely find myself frequently near-quoting from the Kittehz! thread, where I've already said so much on the subject.  Those thoughts are somewhat organized for me in advance, and on occasion, I've come up with a particularly good joke, well-turned phrase, or image.  For me, when I've written about something in complete sentences, like in a letter, I will recall a lot of what I said when the same subject comes up elsewhere - and perhaps, come off wittier and more thoughtful than I would have otherwise.

I gather you have to do a LOT of work presentations at times of various sorts, and I assume, of varying levels of formality.  In situations like that requiring a less rigorous level of preparation, you might still profit from writing out various aspects like you're explaining to someone appropriate, don't try to memorize, but maybe have some bullet points index carded as prompts -maybe not, depending- and something like what you wrote will naturally come out of your mouth, thoughts having been organized a little/expressed in advance by you in your style...

At least that's my mileage...

[Buster's Uncle]

Pi master’s storied recall
http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=1769.msg4961#msg4961

[Tuberski]

I use a notepad on my phone.

[Rusty Edge]

I use a notepad on my phone.

Me, too...Now.

I may have used a ballpoint pen on my arm sometimes. That was nearly infallible.