Reminders - I GIVE UP!!!

[SquarePeg]

ok so now I start back to work on Monday and need to put stuff in my work diary so I thought I would write my to do list for tomorrow in there. Well I wrote it and then turned the page and saw that I had written the info down for 27 August.
I always have some much trouble with dates and numbers (but not telephone numbers). I swear I saw the word September.

I once boarded the wrong plane because I misread the info or for who knows what reason. I don´t like traveling because I know I can make huge mistakes.

[stef]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

ok so now I start back to work on Monday and need to put stuff in my work diary so I thought I would write my to do list for tomorrow in there. Well I wrote it and then turned the page and saw that I had written the info down for 27 August.
I always have some much trouble with dates and numbers (but not telephone numbers). I swear I saw the word September.

I once boarded the wrong plane because I misread the info or for who knows what reason. I don´t like traveling because I know I can make huge mistakes.

I have exactly the same problem! this is the nightmare of my job - I have to book travel for people sometimes. I have to look at the calendar/the email with the request about 50 times.

[SquarePeg]

Stef, booking lunches and travel was supposed to be part of my old job but I always used to get someone else to do it!

If I write down the details as someone is talking then I usually get it right the problem is when I have to transfer the information into a diary, I make mistakes. So I usually have to keep the scrap of paper with the original info as well.

Do you think it´s the impulsiveness of ADHD that makes us make careless mistakes? i.e I think I glance quickly at something and make assumptions which I think are correct without reading the full information. I know from observing my adhd son that he does this. He answers questions wrongly at school because he hasn´t read the question properly or is making assumption and coming to conclusion before the end of the question. A lot of the time the information he has written is correct but doesn´t actually relate to the question.(if that make sense).

[stef]

it's not even impulsiveness, it just seems ok or it's like my mind fills in the details but that's not what's even on the screen/paper in front of me.
I hate this!
I also have a terrible time proofreading anything I've typed.

[fracturedstory]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

ok so now I start back to work on Monday and need to put stuff in my work diary so I thought I would write my to do list for tomorrow in there. Well I wrote it and then turned the page and saw that I had written the info down for 27 August.
I always have some much trouble with dates and numbers (but not telephone numbers). I swear I saw the word September.

I once boarded the wrong plane because I misread the info or for who knows what reason. I don´t like traveling because I know I can make huge mistakes.

Once again you have inadvertently reminded me to write in my journal.
It clears my mind.

I thank you again.

[zoomman]

Many years and many (many) jobs have taught me that each situation, each job, requires a slightly different reminder system.

Currently I carry a notebook in my pocket, and I print out work order lists at work. I write on and check both of them constantly.

I also keep a journal for work. I keep it in my car and write in it at lunch time as I want or need to. This job, less than my last one where I kept daily logs and lists of work orders because my manager was insane.

I also liberally leave notes to my future self where I expect he'll be. (Like on my/his keys) and try (try, try) to forgive when my nature takes over and I don't do any of it.

This morning I was going to copy the grocery list from the dry erase board on the fridge into my notebook, but forgot about it reading an article at the breakfast table. Tonight we eat leftovers!

[fracturedstory]

Once again I'm reminded to write in my journal.

Someone should sticky this thread?

[amberwillow]

My reminders just ask me prompting questions at roughly appropriate times...

i.e.. Are the bins out? (at 7:40 on bin night)

Have you have lunch yet? (at 1pm)

I don't resent the reminder and it sets my brain chewing over the task at hand.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by amberwillow

My reminders just ask me prompting questions at roughly appropriate times...

i.e.. Are the bins out? (at 7:40 on bin night)

Have you have lunch yet? (at 1pm)

I don't resent the reminder and it sets my brain chewing over the task at hand.

This was the thing that changed reminders for me. If it said something like "Google Calendar Reminder" it's just something that's nagging me. If it tells me something like "Give dogs heart worm meds", it seems to work better. Probably the same thing, brain gnawing.

[stef]

Originally Posted by amberwillow

My reminders just ask me prompting questions at roughly appropriate times...

i.e.. Are the bins out? (at 7:40 on bin night)

Have you have lunch yet? (at 1pm)

I don't resent the reminder and it sets my brain chewing over the task at hand.

that's a really nice format!

[tudorose]

Originally Posted by stef

I have exactly the same problem! this is the nightmare of my job - I have to book travel for people sometimes. I have to look at the calendar/the email with the request about 50 times.

This is the hardest part of my job!

I call it herding cats because I generally need to find a time that many people are available, then book a room for the correct time and then send out the invite without screwing it up. Then someone decides they want to change it!!!

I have 4 people's calendars in my outlook!

I use outlook reminders all the time but the snooze button gets used a lot too.

[stef]

Originally Posted by tudorose

This is the hardest part of my job!

I call it herding cats because I generally need to find a time that many people are available, then book a room for the correct time and then send out the invite without screwing it up. Then someone decides they want to change it!!!

I have 4 people's calendars in my outlook!

I use outlook reminders all the time but the snooze button gets used a lot too.

OMG exactly the same, exactly.
or you have to find a time for 6 people and the 6th guy FINALLY answers. And he isn't available at all the only day that the 5 others are.

haha have you ever sent an invitation out from the wrong calendar?

[amberwillow]

Originally Posted by stef

that's a really nice format!

Thanks. I've tried several different styles and that's the most effective for me.
I dislike being reminded via nagging or feeling patronized by a message, but a simple friendly question does the trick.

[tudorose]

Originally Posted by stef

haha have you ever sent an invitation out from the wrong calendar?

Yeah I have.

But then outlook tends to come up with weird stuff all by itself too just to confuse me. I made the appointment in my own calendar and I show up as the organiser but when I go to forward it to people it says I'm sending it on behalf of someone else and then they get those responses (when I got all the original responses. Not sure what happened there...

The other day I booked a room for my bosses to speak to the big boss (via phone). They ended up getting kicked out of the room with someone insisting that they had booked it so they had to cut the meeting short which they weren't unhappy about coz they were being given a bollocking anyway. Turns out I had booked a room but not that one - I'd sent them to the wrong room on the wrong floor!

[stef]

Originally Posted by tudorose

The other day I booked a room for my bosses to speak to the big boss (via phone). They ended up getting kicked out of the room with someone insisting that they had booked it so they had to cut the meeting short which they weren't unhappy about coz they were being given a bollocking anyway. Turns out I had booked a room but not that one - I'd sent them to the wrong room on the wrong floor!

*shudders*