Cleaning up the kitchen every night.
Used to leave dishes in the sink during college, then do them when it got full. Got a side job as a bartender, where you had to clean up every surface after the last shift, ready for people the next day. Applied it to home. Has stuck ever since.
Fortunately, married a woman who had the same habits. We’ve never gone to bed with a dirty kitchen, even after a group gathering.
My wife is super clean – I joke that her “light cleaning” is sanitized enough for major surgery. And I’m an absent-minded slob. But she gets me to do my part, usually through heckling and pinching, and our kitchen is usually clean immediately after dinner. If we have guests, well joke and talk in the kitchen while the things are done. Kitchen parties are the best anyway.
Put everything I need to remember in calendar, reminders or just set a timer. Since I started doing that consistently I never forget anything.
Deal with things immediately if possible or schedule it. That also means cleaning the kitchen after I’m done eating or even while cooking.
Never close the door without me seeing the keys in my hands with my own two eyes. Even if I’m 100% sure they are in my pockets, I will pull them out again. I have locked myself out two times already, won’t let it happen again.
I got in the habit of having my hand on my key when I close my door as well. If I’m at an office with a prox badge, I’ll touch it once as a habit. It’s saved my bacon more than once as I realized I was about to go to the loo (which required a badge) while my badge was back at my desk behind this door I’m about to close (which needs a badge). Bonus for the times when my phone’s not with me.
Furthering that OCD, I also try to have my phone my in hand when I leave the desk. I sustained a back injury a year ago and I’m still getting it addressed; if I have a relapse I can’t go get my phone but must call out from the floor and wait for help. It’s less embarrassing if that’s with a phone.
