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> When I find that the only tube of toothpaste left is that special, sentinel toothpaste, then I know it is time to buy more toothpaste.

I buy more $CONSUMABLE whenever I take the last unit of $CONSUMABLE out of storage. If I don’t order online or add it to the grocery list right away, I put the old empty (second-to last) container in a place where it is likely to prompt me to resupply in a timely manner, which is often different from the place where $CONSUMABLE is consumed. Otherwise there’s the risk that the “special sentinel” is always encountered at a place or time where resupplying is inconvenient, and so it might run empty before you get around to it, despite its “special” nature. This approach also has the benefit that you don’t have to switch from your favorite variety of $CONSUMABLE.

[eyelidlessness]

My day to day shopping list is literally the leftmost foot or so of my desk—which is large enough to accommodate the extra space, and that space positioned right by the door leading outside.

I put anything needing resupply, empty or approaching empty depending on the item, right there on that part of my desk. Unless I’m rushed or preoccupied, checking that space before I leave for the store is usually pretty effective for my defective executive function.

Remembering to clean up the queue afterward is a bit more challenging. But that’s just a mild inconvenience compared to prior years of consistently failing to stock essential items on a routine basis.