Save the Location, Not Just the Information

When people think about remembering information, they usually focus on the information itself.

But many everyday frustrations have a different cause.

The problem isn't that you've forgotten the information.

The problem is that you've forgotten where you saved it.

Consider a few common examples:

• The Disney reservation confirmation is in the email with the subject "Your Disney Reservation Confirmation."

• The boarding pass is in Google Wallet.

• The rental car details are in the Hertz app.

• The campground reservation is in Recreation.gov.

• The concert tickets are in Ticketmaster.

• The insurance claim information is in the State Farm app.

In each case, the information already exists somewhere.

The challenge is remembering where.

Information Lives in Many Places

Years ago, most information was stored in a filing cabinet, a folder, or perhaps a single computer.

Today, information is spread across many systems.

You may store things in:

• Email

• Wallet apps

• Mobile apps

• Websites and portals

• Cloud storage

• Notes apps

• Calendars

The information isn't missing.

It's distributed.

When you need something later, the first question is often:

Where did I save that?

A Different Way to Think About Memory

Sometimes you don't need to save the information again.

You only need to save directions to it.

For example:

The Disney reservation confirmation is in the email with the subject "Your Disney Reservation Confirmation."

Or:

The boarding pass is in Google Wallet.

Or:

The rental car details are in the Hertz app.

These notes don't contain the actual information.

They act as pointers.

When you need the reservation, you know exactly what to search for in your email.

When you need the boarding pass, you know which app to open.

When you need the rental car information, you know where to find it.

A simple pointer can often save more time than storing another copy of the information.

The Goal Is Faster Retrieval

Many productivity systems focus on collecting information.

But collecting information is rarely the hard part.

Retrieving it later is often the real challenge.

Instead of asking:

What was the reservation number?

You may first need to ask:

Where did I save the reservation?

Knowing where information lives is often the first step to finding it.

Not Everything Needs to Be Stored Twice

In many cases, the information you're trying to remember is already being maintained somewhere else.

Reservations get updated.

Boarding passes change.

Tickets are transferred.

Insurance claims progress through multiple stages.

Event details change after registration.

Creating duplicate copies of that information means you now have multiple versions to manage.

Often, it is easier to remember where the information lives than to maintain another copy of it.

The important thing is knowing where the current version can be found.

Sometimes the Pointer Is the Valuable Part

Most people have experienced the frustration of knowing they saved something but not knowing where.

The information exists.

The challenge is finding it.

A simple note that points to the right email, app, website, or online account can eliminate a surprising amount of searching.

Sometimes the most useful thing to remember isn't the information itself.

It's where to find it.