I have the memory of goldfish
THE RUB
The Blood Center has been calling and texting me every other day for a couple of weeks. I’m eligible to donate again. Their nudging worked. I’m finally scheduled for the week after next.
Now when I schedule, I’m reminded of a donation appointment that taught me a valuable lesson about communicating with our future selves.
I make a double red blood cell donation, and it takes a little longer than whole blood. I usually block out 90 minutes, and they work hard to keep moving things along. But this time was slower than usual.
I’d been there 45 minutes and still didn’t have a needle in my arm. The place was packed, everyone hustling, and I had a hard stop approaching fast. My phlebotomist noticed my concern.
“No worries,” he said. “I’ll get you out of here on time.” He asked if I had donated on this particular machine before. I hadn’t.
“This one’s called the ALYX. It does three bigger pulls and returns instead of many smaller ones. Much faster.” He explained how it calculates based on your height, weight, and hemoglobin.
Twenty-seven minutes later, the needle came out. Before I left, I asked two questions: How do I get this machine next time? And when are your slowest times?
He gave me the inside scoop. Ask for the ALYX or “the blue machine.” And avoid the plasma appointment times (8, 10:30, 1, and 3:30) when they get flooded with donors.
Two valuable tips that would save future Todd some time. But I wouldn’t be eligible to donate again for another 112 days, and I have the memory of a goldfish. How could I make sure I remembered?
THE FRAMEWORK
“If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 20-year-old self?”
Fun question, but backwards time travel isn’t available yet.
Forward time travel is. You can send messages to your future self, and if you do it well, you can actually change behavior instead of just wishing you’d known better.
I happened upon one simple success after spending way too much time stringing and restringing Christmas lights down the banister. I created a just-in-time job aid – a note with a hand-drawn diagram – and placed it in the storage box with the lights. When I opened the box the next year, past Todd had left future Todd exactly what he needed.
The key isn’t remembering the information. It’s having a system that reliably delivers the information exactly when future you needs it. I used to use paper-based systems like Franklin Covey, but in our current digital world, there has to be a better, more reliable system.
I wish I heard from past Todd more often. He usually just leaves notes of regrets and disappointments. I can be much better to future Todd.
THE PRACTICE
Here’s how I plan to build a more effective self-communication system:
Identify high-value recurring moments. Where do I repeatedly waste time relearning something? Annual tasks? Maintenance intervals? Prime candidates for messages to my future self.
Capture insights at the point of learning. Don’t wait. Right after I got that blood donation advice, I went to the Blood Center website and scheduled my next appointment for 9 a.m. (off-peak). When I added it to my calendar, I included a note: “Ask for the ALYX.” The lesson was fresh, the action was immediate.
Deliver information just-in-time. The Christmas light diagram worked because it was in the box with the lights. Three mediums for delivery:
Calendar: Reminders for things with a date. Appointments, birthdays, anniversaries.
To-Do App: Things is my current app of choice. I can put in triggers for things like changing my air filter in 3 months.
Context: I keep notes about what socket wrench size to use for changing the oil on our various vehicles. I keep a running list for “things to get at the hardware store.” I’m working on a system to track good beers, food, or trails when I return to a travel location years later.
This week: Think about one recurring task or situation where you repeatedly wish you’d remembered something. Create one just-in-time message for your future self. Put it where you’ll actually see it when you need it.
Future you will thank you.