Jeffrey C. Long

This is a simple little trick to help you remember to do things. The first place I learned it was from the book Mind Hacks which showed that you can combine the reward system of caffeine with something you need to remember on a regular basis. I have medicine that I’m supposed to take twice a day that I had a hard time remembering in the morning. Evening wasn’t so hard because I associated it with going to bed. So, I began taking my medicines when I made my first latte in the morning. It is interesting that we not only associate the caffeine reward with the morning cup of coffee but also the rituals that go into making it, including grinding the beans, microwaving the milk and the mug that you always use. Adding another habit requires a little practice, but soon enough, it is part of the ritual.

This can be done with other things. The key is rituals. Doing the same things over and over and associating them with multiple tasks.

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