Ask HN: How do you remember your tasks?

I'm terribly forgetful. I require a written list if I need more than 3 items from the grocery store.

However, I don't find the grocery store list helpful when programming. I've kept written notes, but I rarely go back and read them so I tend to forget things.

My largest problem is that I haven't been able to find a good way to handle really large tasks, small tasks that are part of the large tasks, and small independent tasks. How can I keep track of all these things in a way that still makes them all actionable?