I wear a set of silicone bands on my left wrist. They serve two main purposes.
First, they act as a buffer for my wristwatch. Without them, the crown dings and digs into the back of my wrist. At best, it’s irritating. At worst, it bruises.
After a lot of experimentation, I discovered that two big bands and two thin bands make the perfect combination.
Second—and more importantly—they serve as a memory system. My analog, last-line-of-defense, tie-a-string-around-your-finger solution.
My memory bands.
How it works
Whenever I need to remember something, I move a band from my left wrist (the starting position) to my right wrist (the open position).
If it's a small thing to remember—little band. If it's a big thing to remember—big band.
Usually, I snap it on while saying the thing out loud, just for good measure.
I use this when:
- My hands are occupied (driving, carrying something)
- I don’t have quick access to my phone or notebook (showering, walking)
- I need to remember something in the near future (folding laundry, putting away dishes, picking something up)
(I also notice I do this a lot when traveling. Airports.)
My phone?
I do use my phone! But the silicone band is faster, simpler, and harder to ignore.
I can see it. I can feel it. I don't need to unlock anything with my face.
It’s right there, wrapped around my wrist. A physical reminder anchored to the moment it was needed.
The "Extreme" Version
If something’s really important—something I absolutely cannot forget—I take it a step further. I move the band off my wrist and around my hand.
The constant tension means you won’t forget it’s there. You won’t stop thinking about it. It’s like a pebble in your shoe, except you have control over it:
You can move it back to your wrist. Or better yet, you can do the thing and remove the nagging reminder entirely.
Not just me
I’ve been doing this for years. This little trick has saved me in countless situations—preventing forgotten tasks, missed deadlines, and small crises.
What makes it so effective is how simple and immediate it is. The solution is already with you.
Not long ago, I stumbled on a YouTube video where a blind person shared how they used a rubber band to "see".
When they needed to remember something in their environment, they moved it to their hand. The constant, low-level tension reminded them to stay alert.
Brilliantly simple
Yeah. It's literally just a band you wear around your wrist. A simple solution for everyday life problems.