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Comment by Inconel | Hacker News Reader

That's definitely an interesting method. I'm always surprised that I don't see more people relying on checklists in day to day tasks. I use checklists religiously at work and have incorporated them into my daily life as well. I have a number of friends who are constantly leaving things behind(cellphones, wallets, house/car keys), I don't think I'm any less of a naturally forgetful person than them, but because I use simple checklists I rarely forget things compared to them, even when I'm exhausted or stressed out.

Whenever I babysit my two young nieces I now just add an extra step to my checklists; don't forget kids in car.

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When the Navy introduced the NATOPS[0] program, including pilot checklists, aircraft mishaps decreased significantly.

The introductory statement:

NATOPS is a positive approach toward improving combat readiness and achieving a substantial reduction in the aircraft accident rate. Standardization, based on professional knowledge and experience, provides the basis for development of an efficient and sound operational procedure. The standardization program is not planned to stifle individual initiative, but rather to aid the commanding officer in increasing the unit’s combat potential without reducing command prestige or responsibility.

There is significant research that when hospitals required surgeons to use checklists, surgical errors decreased significantly.[1]

Some friends who are NATOPS qualified pilots actually do have NATOPS-style checklists for parenting their kids, for both routine and non-routine/emergency tasks.

e.g Check that the kid is not in the car as they exit.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOPS

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/0...

I have a bad habit of forgetting things at home when I leave in the morning. I developed a habit: “Wallet, keys, badge, smokes, phone” I pat the pocket each item should be in as I say it out loud.

Unfortunately, I now do this on auto-pilot. I pat the pocket, say the word, leave the house... and realize I don’t have my badge on me when I arrive at work.

I’m thinking about installing a card reader that locks me in the house if I don’t have my badge :)

I developed the habit of feeling each item instead of just patting the pocket. That way, if the item is missing you won't be able to complete the action.

On the other hand, I've found that I now have the problem that if there's an item that's supposed to be missing (for example if I've lent my keys to someone) I have a constant low-grade panic where I keep checking my pockets, realizing there's something missing, reminding myself that it's supposed to be, and then doing the whole thing over again a few minutes later.

That's how I do the same thing, and I have the same problem.

You just need to mandate actual physical contact with the item in question. I won't let my apartment door close until I've jingled my keys in my pocket, has never failed me.

On Japanese trains, staff use a system called "pointing checking" where you point and say the name of the thing to check that it's been done.

The verbal confirmation seems to help avoid actions becoming automatic.

I like this thread. My people are here.

My atheist grandfather taught me the sign of the cross for this reason - "Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and keys."

For those who tend not to forget their testicles, just patting the pockets where you store the wallet and keys works for me. I think of it in terms of a number - day to day, it's three: phone, wallet, keys.

Out of curiosity, what system do you use for recalling / going through your checklists?

Depending on the situation it's a combination of to-do list programs on my phone and computer, I personally use both Google Keep and Todoist, and physical checklists that I either type out and print or hand write.

For the most important checklists, especially at work, I will usually hand write them in addition to using a computer. I'm a stickler for good penmanship and I find that taking the time to make an outline of my checklist and then transposing it to a handwritten pad involves a kind of deliberateness that is both somewhat relaxing and helps insure that I've covered all my bases, while only adding a few minutes to my day.

Less important things may start off as a physical checklist but then once they become second nature enough I just rely on memory. But again, for things where mistakes would result in something more than a minor inconvenience I still use physical checklists. The beauty of these checklists for me is that instead of having to remember 5,10,20 or 50 individual things, I just need to remember one thing, that is to check the checklist.

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