History Main / NoteToSelf

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In one episode featuring a short but recurring StableTimeLoop, Data finally sends a very short (single character) message to the past.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. The episode "Cause and Effect" has the Enterprise destroyed before resetting in a GroundhogDayLoop. The crew have a [[DejaVu vague sense of what's happening]], so Data leaves a clue for himself on which tactic will prevent their destruction.

* ''Film/{{Paycheck}}''. Especially [[spoiler: the stamp thing.]]

* Professor Denzel Crocker in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents''.

* ''Series/PaperGirls'': Somehow, the purple clouds end up causing a memory wipe with Larry leaving a note to himself on who he is and what he does with a code before putting on headphones to try and block the effect. He tracks down ally Jennifer, playing a recording she left herself, but she doesn't remember it or him to send him away.

* Literature/{{Discworld}}:
** In ''Literature/{{Snuff}}'', the Time Monks force Sam Vimes to do this to himself so they can tell him sensitive information without letting him remember it. Sam being who he is, he figures it out again anyway.
** In ''Literature/SoulMusic'', during an early demonstration of Susan's PerceptionFilter, Miss Butts has a note on her desk saying "You are interviewing Susan Sto Helit. Try not to forget it." After a while, she looks at the note, puzzled, throws it away, and gets on with her paperwork. Susan waits politely for a moment in case there's anything else, then leaves.

* in the ''Persona 4/5'' crossover fanfic series ''Fanfic/ForewarnedIsForearmed'', Akira cuts an important message into his arm because he knows he's going to have a case of LaserGuidedAmnesia once he leaves the area he's in, having lived this event once before because of TimeTravel shenanigans and noticing wounds and scars wont fade, even if the memories will.

** In ''Literature/SoulMusic'', during an early demonstration of Susan's PsychicInvisibility, Miss Butts has a note on her desk saying "You are interviewing Susan Sto Helit. Try not to forget it." After a while, she looks at the note, puzzled, throws it away, and gets on with her paperwork. Susan waits politely for a moment in case there's anything else, then leaves.

* Literature/{{Discworld}}: the Time Monks force Sam Vimes to do this to himself so they can tell him sensitive information without letting him remember it. Sam being who he is, he figures it out again anyway.

* Dr. Pretorius in ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'' [[RunningGag constantly says]], "Mental note--[insert mental note here]" when he gets an idea.

[[folder:Visual novels]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'':
** When chasing the original holder of the [[LaserGuidedAmnesia Memory Stone]], Clover the Clever wrote notes to himself to make sure he'd always know who to chase in case his memory was stolen.
** Before Sunset Shimmer confronts a classmate she suspects of possessing said Memory Stone, she turns on a nearby camera before confronting her and preemptively leaves a note in her own pocket telling herself to check it. The note and the footage do indeed help her when her memory gets wiped.
[[/folder]]

* In Creator/EddieIzzard's stand-up routines, he would sometimes mime writing on a tablet when a joke fell flat, muttering, "Don't link those two things again..."

* in the persona 4/5 crossover fanfic series Fanfic/ForewarnedIsForearmed akira cuts an important message into his arm because he knows he's going to have a case of LaserGuidedAmnesia once he leaves the area he's in, having lived this event once before because of TimeTravel shenanigans and noticing wounds and scars wont fade, even if the memories will.

* The main character from the original ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' used two video messages. These set up some of the best lines and scenes in the movie. Turns out [[spoiler:that he came up with the plan and is manipulating himself with the clues he left behind to function as the perfect mole. It's not every day you MindScrew yourself on purpose.]]

* There's one SF short story where aliens steal all human memories - each night, those of one more day, going back in time. People have to employ this for a long time - more than a decade, in fact.

* In the episode "The Storm Before the Calm" of ''Series/HappyEndings'', Dave is giving himself reminders on a tape recorder.
--> '''Dave:''' Black plague, hack plague. Don't forget it.
--> '''Max:''' If that's a recorder, you [[FridgeLogic don't have to tell yourself not to forget.]] You're already doing that.

--> '''Recorder!Dave:''' David, always remember don't call a person sailor unless you're absolutely positive that person's a sailor.
--> '''Max:''' Oh my gosh, you do that all the time, you do that all the time.
--> '''Recorder!Dave:''' Oh! new downstairs hair design idea-double lightning bolts. Win, win...On a personal note, I really love my friends...
--> '''Everybody:''' Ah, Dave.
--> '''Recorder!Dave:''' In the following order.
--> '''Everybody:''' What?!

-->'''Fred:''' Look, here's a paper. [passes it to Mindy]
-->'''Mork:''' Must be a footnote.
-->'''Mindy:'''(reading) Dear Mork, if you don't use your gleek within one hour, you'll be dead. Love, Mork.
* Rodney [=McKay=] in ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' used a video message when everyone in Atlantis lost their memories in "Tabula Rasa." Later it turns out [[spoiler:Lorne]] has a picture of Sheppard with a note saying "This man is your commanding officer. Trust him" which becomes critical at a certain point.

* In the parody song 'bimbo nr 5' 'Bill Clinton' literally says 'note to myself, nail her later.'

* In ''VisualNovel/LittleBusters'', [[spoiler:Kurugaya starts leaving notes to herself when she realises that, because the world they're in is breaking down, she is losing her memory of Riki trying (and succeeding) to ask her out. The jig is up when Riki discovers a note saying '[[AmnesiacLover You're going out with Riki]].']]

* In ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', [[spoiler: this is how Sorin Sprocket deals with the anterograde amnesia he developed in a traffic accident. He meticulously logs the events of his day in his personal notebook so as to remind himself of what he'll inevitably forget. This factors into the case, since his vengeful butler Pierce has been tampering with said notebook to manipulate his memories against his bride, who is your client]]

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'': Before Sunset Shimmer confronts a classmate she suspects of possessing LaserGuidedAmnesia powers, she turns on a nearby camera before confronting her and preemptively leaves a note in her own pocket telling herself to check it. The note and the footage do indeed help her when her memory gets wiped.

Garfield: I'm going to go cry now.

* ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'' starts with the player character waking up close to one of these, informing him that he wiped his own memory willingly, and now has to kill a certain baron of the castle he finds himself in.

** Ted has a habit of of writing letters to himself after his breakups so that in the future, if he is tempted to start dating one of his exes, he can go back to the letter and be reminded of why they broke up to avoid making the same mistake. Some of the previous episodes become HilariousInHindsight after this revelation as Ted's first letter of this type is about Karen, the pretentious JerkAss and [[YourCheatingHeart notorious cheater]] who was Ted's college girlfriend who he kept getting back together with, even after the relationship kept ending the same way.

I know you may find this hard to believe, but it was actually you who wrote this page. Upon learning of a GovernmentConspiracy (though it could have very easily been an AncientConspiracy), you decided to investigate. Unfortunately for us (remember, I am you from the past), the local BigBad found out and decided to make you forget everything through LaserGuidedAmnesia, even implanting FakeMemories to throw you off. As he warmed up his AppliedPhlebotinum, you quickly scribbled this page on the first piece of available medium you found. It could have been [[HumanNotepad yourself]], a piece of paper, the floor, a videotape, or the back of a DNA-tracking device. If you're [[FridgeLogic wondering why]] you chose a wiki where [[WikiVandal anyone can get at this note and alter it]], well... [[HandWave it was there.]]