The secret of task tagging

This simple suggestion seemed weird to me when I first heard it, but I have grown to use it more and more with each passing year.

If you are not near any of your normal note taking options (as discussed in the blog “better notes”), but you need to remember to something, lock that thought onto something visual that you know you will see.  I call it “task tagging”.

For example … As I am walking to the mailbox, I think, “I need to feed the birds”.  Now, we all know that the moment I bring the mail in, open it and decide what should be pitched and what needs to be dealt with – I will have forgotten all about feeding the birds.  So, as I walk, I repeat to myself, “when you see the cat food (which is in my kitchen, where I put the mail), remember to give the birds some food”. 

So, I take the mail to the kitchen and sort it all.  I get a glass of water.  I have totally forgotten about the birds and go walking into living room.  Voila, I see the cat food.  That quick visual makes me think “feed the birds”.  Since this is a two minute or less task (see my Two-Minute Rule), I stop, put the water glass on the counter, and fill the bird feeder. 

And… my cats love it.  Cat TV is back on in the backyard and everyone wins.  I feel good about myself for helping the birds (and squirrels), entertaining the cats, and I get to check one more chore off my list.

Another example is … I am working in the yard.  I remember that I need to call mom.  I don’t plan to be done in the yard for another hour.  Again, we all know I will totally forget about the call by the time I get back to the house and clean up.  I think a few times to myself, “when you finish taking a shower, notice the pictures in the bedroom and really notice mom’s picture”.  It is amazing that once you get used to this visual tagging, you will get out of the shower and while you are dressing, you will notice the pictures and then remember that you need to call mom. 

It took a bit to get good with this visual task tagging, but honestly, it really does work and you get better with it over time.