If you ask Matt, he’ll tell you I have a terrible memory. And, well, he wouldn’t be wrong. Chances are, if it’s not written down somewhere, I’ll forget. I often have a lot on my mind and remembering everything all of the time is impossible for me. So I turn to “written” down lists to stay organized.
Throughout high school and college, I was big into paper planners. Erin Condren, specifically. I really liked getting my syllabi, sitting at my desk and filling in due dates for the semester ahead. From there, I figured out when to work on a specific task, when to grocery shop, when to do my laundry, and when to workout (among other activities).
As I get older, the need for a paper planner continues to diminish. I don’t have a set spot in the apartment to work on things; all of my “computer time” is on the couch or in bed since we have a desk but no chair. And I so rarely carry a bag to even house my planner. So, I’ve turned to Apple Reminders to be my BFF.
I rely heavily on Apple Reminders and my calendar to remind of X, Y, and Z. For better or worse, I always have a piece of tech on me. If I’m at work, I’ll have Siri remind me to check on whatever for a patient or coworker. So, for convenience alone, it’s the best system for me.
How I use it to stay organized:
- Lists: I have lists for anything and everything, from daily tasks and grocery lists to gift ideas and travel itineraries. I have lists within lists and lists within larger categories. For example, I have a folder labeled “personal” and inside, I have lists for clothes I want to buy or grad school tasks, among other lists.
- “Hey Siri…”: If I think of something while on the go, all I have to do is say, “hey Siri, add avocados to this weeks grocery list” and voila! The next time I open the list, the avocados are on it! This makes grocery shopping nearly painless 😉
- Setting reminders: So, duh, the app is called “Apple Reminders”. I love being able to create a task and assigning a due date or time. Nowadays, I don’t have many due dates but it’s certainly helpful to have.
Mostly, I love that the app gives me a spot to dump everything going on in my brain. I find that if my headspace is clear, I’m better able to focus on the tasks at hand. This is especially helpful when I am at work; thinking of something other than work can be harmful to my patients. I’m still trying to figure out if reminders and notes can coexist or if I will solely transition to notes. In Reminders, I can create the bullet point, add a note, add tags(!) and add a URL on top of everything else.
This is what works for me, for now. If you’re looking for more information on how to stay organized with Apple Reminders, I highly recommend the following links:
- This TikTok (the creator has a few videos with more info!)
- The official Apple website regarding Reminders
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