How to Use Object Permanence to Stay Focused and Organised

Four-panel comic showing a woman transforming from chaos to calm by creating a launch pad, hiding phone distractions, and using visible cues for focus

Welcome to a game-changer for anyone who thinks 'out of sight, out of mind' was invented just for them. If your brain struggles to remember things that aren't directly in your line of vision, you're not alone—and you're definitely not broken. Object permanence challenges affect many neurodivergent minds, but here's the good news: you can work with your brain instead of against it. By designing your space to keep important things visible and distractions hidden, you transform your environment into a personal memory assistant.

Create Your Launch Pad

Start by establishing a 'launch pad'—one designated spot where you always place your daily essentials. This could be a small bowl by your front door for keys, wallet, and work badge, or a tray on your kitchen counter for everything you need before heading out.

  • Choose one consistent location that you pass naturally during your routine
  • Use clear containers or open trays so you can see what's inside at a glance
  • Keep only the essentials here—if everything is 'important', nothing stands out

The beauty of a launch pad is that it removes decision-making from your morning rush. Your brain doesn't have to remember where you left your keys because they're always in the same obvious spot.

Hide What Distracts

Now for the flip side: make distractions invisible. If your phone constantly pulls your attention with bright notifications, put it in a drawer when you need to concentrate. If you're prone to online shopping during work hours, close those tabs and keep your browser focused on a single task.

  • Identify your top three distractions (be honest with yourself!)
  • Create physical barriers—drawers, cupboards, or even another room
  • Out of sight truly means out of mind, so use this principle to your advantage

When tempting items can't hijack your visual field, your brain has space to focus on what genuinely matters right now.

Use Visual Cues to Stay on Track

Here's where the magic happens: strategic visibility. Leave yourself breadcrumbs—simple visual reminders that show you exactly what to do next. A bright sticky note on your laptop that says 'Next: finish report' means you don't waste mental energy figuring out where to start.

  • Place reminders where your eyes naturally go—on your monitor for work tasks, on the fridge for meal prep, by the sink for chores
  • Use one clear action per note (not a whole to-do list)
  • Colour-code by urgency or category if that helps your brain prioritise
  • Update your breadcrumbs at the end of each session so Future You knows exactly where to pick up

Think of Future You as that slightly forgetful friend who needs giant, unmissable notes. When you leave clear visual cues, you're essentially having a conversation with yourself across time.

Let Your Environment Do the Remembering

When your space is designed to support your brain's natural tendencies, life gets remarkably easier. You're not constantly battling to remember or resisting distractions—your environment quietly handles both. Make the important things obvious, make the noisy things quiet, and watch your stress levels drop.

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