Stop Saying “Remind Me”

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Have you ever had this happen? You ask someone for help or for a favor — and they say, “Sure, I’ll do that — just remind me.”

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I know this doesn’t usually come from a bad place — it mostly comes from being overwhelmed, disorganized, or not having a system to manage your tasks.

But the issue is that it comes across as disrespectful and unprofessional. When someone comes to you because your expertise or connections could help them solve a problem, saying “remind me” sends a clear message — that you don’t really want to do it, it’s not important to you, or you’re not organized enough to remind yourself. You probably don’t want to come across as any of these things!

Next time you catch yourself about to say “remind me,” try one of these strategies instead.

1) Divide up your to-do list by day.

It can feel overwhelming to add another item to your (likely very full) to-do list. That’s why I like to break up my to-do list by day. Be realistic about how much you’re likely to get done each day. Add the “remind me” task to the specific day you think you’ll have the capacity to do it. 

2) Create a notetaking system (that’s not just Post-it notes everywhere!).

“Remind me” tasks often come up unexpectedly. It can be easy to walk away and totally forget what you said you’d do. That’s why having a system to grab notes on the go is essential. Maybe you’re old school and a little notebook and pen works best. Maybe you have an app — or even just the Notes app that comes with your phone!

The key is doing something with your notes. Otherwise they’re not helpful at all. Create a routine of transferring your on-the-go notes into your main to-do list or task management system.

3) Remind yourself.

Sometimes a good old calendar reminder is the way to go. Put the “remind me” task in your calendar for the day you need to get to it. You can even schedule-send yourself an email if that’s more your speed. Whatever it is, the goal is to get a reminder on the day you actually have time to get to it.

How do you handle “remind me” tasks?

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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