Do you feel like you’re constantly forgetting something? If so, today’s blog can help you. Keep reading for some strategies and tips to help you remember more!
“Strategies to Use Your Memory Efficiently
- Use as few places as practicable to keep written information, which will limit the number of places you need to search to find information; a diary, a list of contacts and a notebook are invaluable tools for this, and whilst most offices have electronic versions of all these, a personal notebook is always helpful to take notes from calls or other communications which can then be put into electronic form later.
- Keep to-do lists either electronically or in hard copy, prioritize the tasks and ensure they are realistic for the day/week involved. Remember to include routine administrative tasks to avoid having them build up.
- Tick off completed tasks as they are done, review the to-do list and revise it as necessary on at least a daily basis.
- Put all future appointments and deadlines in the diary as quickly as possible, putting in countdown reminders/cue dates before the expiry of deadlines at appropriate intervals, whether monthly or weekly.
- Check your to-do list and diary at the beginning and end of each day to help you plan ahead—for example, being proactive about things such as whether a meeting room needs to be booked for a meeting later that week/month, whether travel arrangements need to be made for any meetings and diarising reminder dates for chasing responses to emails or letters which have gone out that day.
- Use your diary to forward plan tasks (or salami-sliced tasks) on defined days/times and ensure that it is reconciled with others in your department or unit as necessary.
- Use alarm/reminder systems to remind you, say, 15 minutes before a meeting or a scheduled time for calling someone.”
Contact me if your office needs legal training. Don’t forget to enjoy your weekend!