Keys, Clues, and Sticky Notes

1. A key in hand is... worth having!

To avoid locking yourself out of your car, make sure you have your keys in your hand (not in your purse or pocket) before getting out and closing the car door. Two tips for developing this habit: tape a brightly-colored note to the lower part of the driver's side window to remind you, and add a large, colorful bunch of ribbons or fabric strips to your key ring. This makes your keys more visible, which is also helpful when scrabbling around in your purse hunting for them.

2. Leave yourself visual clues

Leave yourself visual reminders on brightly-colored sticky notes for things you often forget. Post one on your bathroom mirror that says "Pills" to remind you to take your medicine. Put one that says "Cell Phone" on the front door so you remember to take your phone out of the charger and put it in your purse. Stick one on the refrigerator door to prompt you to eat up the leftovers or produce that will otherwise go bad.

Need to take something with you in the morning that's not part of your usual "kit"? Put it in front of the door where you'll practically trip over it, or write a note on a big pad and toss the pad on the floor where you can't help but notice it.

3. Too many sticky notes?

If you've already got sticky notes all over the place, get yourself a large flip-top spiral-bound notebook and slap them all in it. Start writing your to-do's, phone numbers, and notes in your notebook, and keep it in a specific, clutter-free place on your desk. Then make it a point to browse through the notebook every morning. The nice thing about this method is that you can re-arrange your notes as your priorities change.

ORGANIZED FOR LIFE