The trick is to have the things obstruct the door, so you're forced to become consciously aware of them as you leave. Nothing short of that (or a spreadsheet for packing if you're going overnight) works for me.

I'll never forget the day I went out to the grocery store a couple blocks down and thought it was a good idea to also take the trash out.

I took the trash to the grocery store.

This is relatable. In my experience, the only way to prevent is to make it literally impossible to leave for the place without bonking into the thing. Like don't put the thing next to the door, put it in front of the door.

I don't understand how it happens every time. EVERY TIME.

I have forgotten my suit pants for two separate weddings.

Put car keys under the thing

I'm in this picture and I don't like it

I don't think i'm a dinosaur, but I'm clearly in this comic...

Is this a case of everybody just saying that it's ADHD or nah? Because I don't think I have it but this is pretty familiar

"Thing thing thing remember to bring the thing" "I always forget things, but not this time because I'm thinking about thing" "I must have ADHD for always forgetting to bring things" "How do other people just remember things?" "There's a bunch about me that's different from other people, probably from my undiagnosed ADHD" "Like how I can't focus during conversations because my mind drifts" "And how I..."

2 minutes later

"I forgot the thing"

I'm starting to suspect ADHD in my genes... lol

Having a mnemonic helps me with routine everyday things, though one-time things require the “attach keys or block door” method.

What I have settled on for routine items is a numbered list. Nothing complicated to remember. Just which item is which number.

When I get ready to leave my house, or stand up to leave work, it goes like this counting in my head:

1, 2: work phone and personal phone in one pocket

3, 4: wallet and keys in the other pocket

5, 6: watch on my left wrist and water bottle in my right hand

[7, 8]: if necessary: wireless earbuds and backpack

Plus at work, I have a strict rule that I cannot put my keys anywhere but my pocket. My fob to get in the building is on my key chain, and after the second time I locked myself out I made the rule. If I do take my keys out of my pocket to clip/unclip something like a USB flash drive or nail clippers, the keys stay in my hand until they go back into the pocket.

Another good tip is to try a positive reminder. So, instead of: "Don't forget the thing!" you'd rather tell your self: "I will totally take the thing!"

I don't often personally identify with this comic, because I don't have ADHD, but I feel this one deeply.

I have found that putting things by the door doesn't work as well as putting them with things that you will never forget to take. For example, I don't wear shoes indoors, so I will put the thing I need to take inside my shoes. Or since I have a private garage, I can simply put it in my car ahead of time.

Where are the cameras?! Why are you spying on me?!!

This is easy! I got this one. Use mnemonics.

Say you want to remember to take a particular bag with you when you leave. Close your eyes for 5 seconds and imagine something outrageous, surreal, balls out crazy. Only takes 5 seconds, but the crazier the image you make up the better.

For this one I might imagine my postman or UPS standing there when I open my door, with the bag covering his head. Or I might imagine that bag as a giant bag full of rabid weasels blocking the door.

You might not even see the image again, but you will remember the bag. Shit's like magic.

Assuming you're driving, I find putting my car keys with the thing works. Just be careful if you have a fob; sometimes they don't work as well after being in the fridge.