| How to Remember to Take Things with You Posted: 21 May 2021 05:00 PM PDT We all sometimes do things like forget to grab our bag on the way out the door or leave our wallet on the table at a restaurant. Doing a few simple memory tricks can really help out, especially if you're the type of person who regularly tends to forget things. This article lists several great tips, starting with things you can do ahead of time and following up with effective last-minute reminders. [Edit]Organize your things consistently. - It's easier to remember your stuff if you can easily find it. As the old saying goes, have a place for everything and put everything in its place. Instead of just tossing your stuff anywhere when you get home, designate spots for important items you take with you—and, for that matter, for your stuff in general. The more organized your home is, the less likely you are to forget something when you head out.[1]
- This only works if you consistently put your stuff where it belongs! Put things away when you're done using them instead of letting stuff pile up and then having to do a major cleanup.
[Edit]Store your stuff by the door. - Make it harder to forget stuff by putting items right by your exit. Get an organizer with cubbies, hooks, drawers, shelves, or whatever else suits your needs. Set it up right near the main door you use to go in and out of your home. Be sure to put your stuff where it belongs whenever you come in the door, then build the habit of checking that you've gotten everything you need from the organizer when you head out.[2]
- If you have to remember something that you don't bring along with you all the time—for instance, a package you need to take to the post office—put it in or near your organizer. Consider setting aside a shelf or cubby as an "outbox" for just such a purpose.
[Edit]Pack up the night before. - Get your stuff ready without rushing around whenever possible. This works especially well if you tend to be late getting ready in the morning and often forget things while you're rushing around. Get as much of your stuff ready to go as you can when you're not feeling rushed or stressed—for example, the night before work or school the next morning. That way you can just grab and go in the morning.[3]
- It's still a good idea to use additional remembering techniques—like doing a mental checklist or singing your leaving the house song—when it's time to head out.
[Edit]Put up sticky notes. - Stick up reminders in can't-miss spots when you need added help. This method works well when you have something you need to remember that you don't typically bring along with you. For example, the night before you have a big presentation, put a sticky note that says "Bring the presentation!" on the middle of your bathroom mirror or right above the handle of the front door.[4]
- If you over-use sticky notes—if you put them up everyday, for example—they may become less effective reminders. Unless, that is, you specifically build a habit of checking and discarding your sticky notes each day as part of your departure routine. In this case, consider investing in a dry erase board instead of sticky notes.
[Edit]Set phone reminders. - This helps you remember to bring anything…except your phone. Set a calendar reminder for about 5 minutes before you plan to leave home, the office, etc. Create a message that lists the things you need to remember to take with you. So long as you can keep track of where your phone is, you should be good to go![5]
[Edit]Create a departure routine. - Do this especially if you often get distracted while heading out. Follow the same routine each time you leave home, head out from the office, get out of the car, leave a restaurant, and so on. Let your routines become second nature so you follow them without really thinking about them. You'll automatically notice any deviations from your routine, making it much easier to catch yourself forgetting to bring something along.[6]
- Turn your multi-sensory checklist—feeling for your wallet, jingling your keys, etc.—or your memory song into a consistent part of your departure routine.
[Edit]Run a mental checklist. - Identifying each item confirms you have everything you need. Speak to yourself in your head or, even better, quietly talk out loud to verbally run through your checklist. Turn this into a habit that you do every time you leave somewhere.[7]
- For example: "Do I have my wallet? Yes. My keys? Yes. My phone? Yes."
- Or: "Book bag? Check. Hat? Check. ID card? Check."
[Edit]Do a multi-sensory checklist. - Using senses like touch and sound enhances your mental checklist. Saying your mental checklist out loud works well, but adding more of your senses to the task makes it even harder to forget anything. For example, when you get up from a chair to leave somewhere, pat your hand against your back pocket to feel your wallet. Jingle your front pocket to confirm your keys are there. Look at your phone as you put it in your bag or pocket.[8]
- Taste and smell don't always fit into a typical departure checklist, but if you can find a way to include them, all the better!
[Edit]Use mnemonics. - Catchy phrases and images help you remember groups of things. You probably learned the mnemonic device "Roy G. Biv" in school to remember the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. Try creating your own mnemonic device to remind you of the main items you need to take with you. You might, for example, use the phrase "sell milk" and picture an old-fashioned milkman going door to door:[9]
- Sell for your cell phone
- M for money
- I for your ID card
- L for lip gloss
- K for your keys
[Edit]Sing a memory song. - Songs aid memory, so make up your own departure list jingle. There's a reason why kids learn the alphabet by singing the "ABC song"—it really works! Think about how easy it is to remember the lyrics to a song you used to love but haven't heard for years—adding music makes it easier to remember stuff. You might make up your own little ditty that follows the tune of the classic "ABC song":[10]
- "Cell phone, wallet, and my keys, / ID card and lip balm please. / …"
- Regular exercise is good for your brain and therefore your memory. The same goes for healthy lifestyle choices like getting enough sleep and eating a nutritious diet.[11]
- Don't hesitate to use a physical checklist if it helps you. Airline pilots use checklists every time they fly, no matter if they've just earned their license or have flown for thirty years.
- Have duplicates (when possible) in case you do forget something really vital. For instance, if you're likely to forget your key for home, have a duplicate at work, or be sure your roommate, spouse, or friend has a copy.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike Posted: 21 May 2021 09:00 AM PDT Ah, the good ole days of riding around with your friends without a care in the world. Life was so much simpler! For many children, learning how to ride a bike is a sort of rite of passage that opens up a more independent world. You can help teach them so they're confident and safe out there, and it's not as difficult or time-consuming as you may think. To help you out, we've answered a few of the most common questions that folks have about how to do it. [Edit]What is the best age to teach a child to ride a bike? - Around 4-5 years old is a good age to start. It's important that your child has enough balance and coordination to able to safely start learning how to ride a bike. Every child is different, but after about 4 years old, yours may be ready to give it a shot![1]
- It's not uncommon and totally normal for a child to not feel comfortable or ready to start learning to ride a bike until they're around 6 or so. Wait until your child is ready and try not to push them too hard or they may feel unconfident when they try.
[Edit]What does a child need to start learning to ride a bike? - They need a helmet that fits them well. While helmets are important for anyone riding a bike, they're especially important for children. A well-fitting helmet helps protect your child's face, head, and growing brain. Make sure the helmet covers their forehead and has straps that fasten it firmly to their head.[2]
- You can also choose a helmet that has reflective stickers and tape so other drivers can see your child on the road.
- They also need a bike that allows them to place both feet on the ground. The size of the bike your child uses can make a huge difference. Go with one that allows them to stand with both feet flat on the ground when they're straddling the top bar of the bike. Additionally, make sure the seat, handlebars, and wheels are in good condition and fit tightly.[3]
- There should be about of space between your child and the top bar of the bike.
- Check to make sure the brakes work well and the tires have enough air, too.
[Edit]How long does it take to teach a kid to ride a bike? - You can teach a child the basics in about 45 minutes. Of course, it'll take your child lots and lots of practice to really master riding a bike, but it doesn't take a ton of time to give them the basic tools. Set aside some time in the evening or on the weekend so you can go over the simple mechanics and controls of a bike with your child. After that, it's just a matter of letting them practice until they've got it down.[4]
- Understanding how to pedal, how to brake, and how to steer don't take a ton of time to teach.
[Edit]Where should you teach a kid to ride a bike? - Use an empty parking lot or a park so your child can learn safely. Don't start teaching your kiddo on a street—it's not safe and they may feel extra nervous. Instead, look for a nice, empty parking lot with lots of room for them to coast around. You could also use a park with a sidewalk. Choose somewhere open and free of obstructions.[5]
- If you live on an empty or quiet culdesac, it may be okay to use as long as you watch out for cars.
- Avoid practicing in the grass. Though it may feel softer if they fall, it'll be much harder for your child to glide and pedal.
[Edit]What is the best way to start teaching a child to ride a bike? - Remove the pedals, lower the seat, and let them glide on the bike. Instead of starting your child out by riding, let them "glide!" Use a screwdriver to take off the pedals and then lower the seat down far enough so your child's feet can reach the ground when they sit on the bike. Then, let them use their legs to walk and push so they can practice coasting and get better at balancing themselves on the bike.[6]
- You can also use a training bike that doesn't have any pedals and is low to the ground for little kids to use.
- Always have your child wear a helmet whenever they're learning how to ride a bike.
[Edit]How do you help a child learn to pedal a bike? - Introduce pedals and let them practice pedaling and braking. As your child gets a little more used to balancing and coasting, add the pedals back on the bike if you haven't already. Show them how to push the pedals to move the wheels and make the bike move forward. Then, show them how to use the foot brake (pedaling backward) or the hand brake, depending on what type of brakes the bike uses.[7]
- Make sure they're wearing their helmet just in case they fall.
- Walk alongside and hold onto your child as they practice pedaling. Place your hand gently on them and walk/run alongside them as they practice pedaling and riding. If they start to fall or lose their balance, support them so they stay upright. Let them get used to pushing the pedals, applying the brakes, and improving their balance.[8]
- It may feel tempting to let your child learn how to balance as they get better, but it's important that they know you're there to catch them if they fall to help boost their confidence.
- Support your child, not the bike. Place your hands on them and if they need more support, you can place your hands beneath their armpits.
- Let them start on their own once they're ready. If your child is feeling confident enough to try riding solo, have them start in the "ready position" by aligning the pedals so 1 is raised up. Then, they can stomp on the raised pedal to get the bike going on their own. Let them pedal on their own and build up some more speed so they can practice riding around by themselves.[9]
- It can feel a little nerve-wracking to let your child ride a bike solo for the first time. If it helps, you can have someone else step in as teacher so you aren't as worried or stressed out.
- Keep in mind that it'll take lots of practice for your kiddo to master riding a bike, but getting started on their own is part of the journey!
[Edit]How do you teach a child to steer a bike? - Show them how to make gentle turns by moving the handlebars. Start while they're standing still and sitting on the bike. Have them move the handlebars left and right to get used to how it feels. Then, let them make small turns while they coast and ride the bike so they can get the hang of it.[10]
- It can take some time for your child to become confident steering and making turns, so take it slow and be patient with them.
- Tell your child to look ahead when they ride. It's normal for kids to look down at the ground or at their handlebars when they're first learning to ride. But it can make it harder for them to steer and ride in a straight line. Instead, have them look ahead, which will keep them balanced and make it easier for them to control the bike.[11]
- If your child starts to look down as they coast or ride, gently remind them to look up.
[Edit]How do you teach an older child to ride a bike? - Let them coast at first and show them how to pedal. Much like allowing younger kids to glide and learn how to balance, older kids can practice coasting on the bike, but you don't need to remove the pedals or lower the seat, since they're likely big enough to reach the ground with their feet. Choose an object like a sign and have your older kid coast in a straight line toward it. Then, have them make a turn while they coast. Once they feel okay with balancing and maneuvering, you can have them start pedaling.[12]
- Older children may actually pick up on things a little quicker than younger ones. Once they've got the basic mechanics, all they need to do is spend time practicing and they'll be pros in no time.
- Keep things light and fun. Your child doesn't have to master riding a bike in 1 day. Let them try for as long as they want and then give it another shot another time. Eventually, they'll get it down!
[Edit]Warnings - Always have your child wear a helmet whenever they're riding a bike.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Use Better Word Choice in Stories Posted: 21 May 2021 01:00 AM PDT Word choice, or diction, is an essential part of any type of writing, and learning to use better word choice can greatly improve your creative writing! The more you think about your diction and practice using better word choice in your stories, the more naturally it will come. We've compiled this list of tips and tricks to help you start choosing even better words for your next story. [Edit]Read for at least 20 minutes a day. - Reading regularly increases your vocabulary. In other words, you'll know more words to choose from when you write stories. Read whatever is interesting and enjoyable to you, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, short stories, novels, books, or articles. Add variety to what you read to expose yourself to different styles of diction.[1]
- Even if you typically read crime novels and you want to write crime fiction, it's still a good idea to switch up what you read to expand your vocabulary outside your comfort zone. For example, you could read a sci-fi or fantasy novel once in a while.
- You can even listen to audiobooks when you're on the go to get your daily reading in!
[Edit]Use a writing app. - There are lots of free writing apps that can help you improve your diction. Download some different ones and try them out when you write. Writing apps help you with the basics like spelling and grammar, but they also make word suggestions and offer alternative sentence structures.[2]
- To find writing apps, search online or in an app store for "writing apps." Look for ones that have good user ratings and reviews.
- For example, there's an app called Hemingway that helps you write more like Ernest Hemingway by highlighting sentences that are too long or dense, words that are too complicated, and unnecessary adverbs.
- Some other apps to try are Grammarly, Word to Word, OneLook Reverse Dictionary, and Vocabulary.com.
- There are also vocabulary apps that teach you a word a day to help you further expand your vocab.
[Edit]Eliminate unnecessary repetition. - Variety is the spice of life—and of writing. Highlight words that you use often when you write to identify where you can add some different word choices. Look up synonyms for those words in a thesaurus or brainstorm other ways to convey the meaning you want to get across. Change some of the words and sentences to add more variety to your story.[3]
- When you're writing on a computer, use CTRL+F to search for and highlight different words.
- Reading a draft out loud can also help you identify passages that are repetitive.
- It's an especially good idea to eliminate repetition of weak, non-descriptive words, such as "stuff," "things," "it,"and "got." For example, replace "got" with "received," "obtained," or "acquired."
[Edit]Pick words that elicit emotions. - This helps convey what you're really trying to make readers feel. Replace neutral words with alternatives that have positive or negative emotional connotations. One word changes the entire connotation of a sentence or passage.[4]
- For example, replace the word "looked" with "glared" to convey feelings of anger. Or, replace it with "gawked" to convey feelings of disbelief or awe.
- Keep in mind that stronger words aren't always a better choice than simpler ones. Always consider the message you want to get across when you're choosing words. In some cases, "looked" may be perfectly adequate!
[Edit]Use more specific words. - More precise words give the reader better context. Try to replace basic adverbs and adjectives with more descriptive words. Think of other ways you can describe people, places, and things to paint a better picture in the reader's imagination.[5]
- For example, instead of saying "he was a very average player," say something like "he was a bench warmer," which gives the reader an image of the player spending most games sitting on the bench instead of just being an average player on the field.
- Here's another example: instead of writing "she has a tendency to overcook rice," write "the rice almost always ends up charred when she cooks it." The reader can now picture what the rice actually looks like and maybe even imagine the taste of charred rice.
[Edit]Select visually evocative verbs. - Verbs, or the action of a sentence, really bring your writing to life. Come up with 2-3 different verbs that you could use in a given sentence. Choose the best, most descriptive verb for each sentence to make your writing more vivid for the reader.[6]
- For example, instead of writing "the river comes down from the mountains," write "the river winds down from the mountains." Changing "comes" to "winds" helps the reader visualize a river bending from left to right as the water flows down from the mountains, instead of just giving them a vague idea of where the body of water is.
[Edit]Choose the appropriate level of formality. - This can be especially helpful when you write character dialogue or thoughts. Think about how certain characters would talk or think about things in real life. Write sentences that actually sound like those characters in terms of formality.[7]
- For instance, a farmer from the deep south in the USA probably wouldn't say "she was quite mad when I showed up late." The man would probably speak more informally and with slang. He might say something like "she was right ticked when I got home!"
[Edit]Use fewer words whenever you can. - Getting rid of unnecessary words keeps your writing clear and concise. Keep an eye out for wordy sentences and try to replace them with a fewer number of words that say the same thing. Some of the most highly regarded authors, like Hemingway, are known for using short, to-the-point sentences in their writing.[8]
- For example, instead of writing "I came to the conclusion that…" write "I concluded that…" By removing 3 words from that sentence, you get your point across to the reader faster and more clearly.
[Edit]Limit your use of clichés. - Describing things in other ways is more impactful than using clichés. If you write something that comes to mind immediately, but it sounds familiar, that might be a warning sign that it's a cliché. If you catch yourself writing a phrase you've seen a lot in other writing, pause and think of a different way to say what you mean. Try to rewrite the phrase in a shorter, more original way.[9]
- For example, instead of saying "he was as dead as a door nail," you could just say "he was dead" to get your point across without using a played-out cliché. Or, if you want to be more descriptive, say something like "he was as dead and as cold as a rock."
- Another example of a cliché that appears in lots of writing is: "A single tear trickled down her cheek."
[Edit]Revise phrases later with better words later on. - It's totally fine if you get stuck with a phrase you're not happy with. Mark it in your draft and come back to revise it later on. Give your mind a rest and search for inspiration, then rewrite it when you have an alternative that you know is better.[10]
- In other words, don't feel like you have to choose the best words all the time when you write the first draft of a story. That's why it's called a "rough" draft!
[Edit]References |
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