How Remember Things

How do you remember things, specifically important things?
I have tried the old string on a finger trick, but it usually comes to “Why do I have this string on my finger again…?” I try writing this down, but I either lose the paper, can’t find any, or just too lazy to get out a paper, write it down, and remember where I put it…. Yes, I can be.. I think the word is “flustered” but any suggestions of how to remember something would be appreciated.
You can use mnemonics, for example, to remember the order of the points on a compass, you would say:
N – Never
E – Eat
S – Shredded
W – Wheats
Personally though, I seem to just “take” information in. I don’t use any special technique of remembering what I read, write or give.
Some Tips On How To Remember Things… In American Sign Language