You don’t need to worry about when to charge your phone. My rule is simple: When the phone needs a charge, plug it in. And you should never be worried about the Dreaded Memory Effect when it comes to your mobile gizmos.

The Dreaded Memory Effect is something you’re probably unaware of if you’re under 30, but those of us who grew up with the first “rechargeable” batteries remember it well.

Back in the day, you could use — and re-use — rechargeable batteries over and over. If you wanted them to last, however, you had to ensure that you always drained them completely. When you didn’t, even if it was just once, the battery would remember that capacity. From that point on, you could never get as much time from the battery as before.

That Dreaded Memory Effect was the bane of the Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) type of rechargeable batteries. That type of battery was used in early cell phones and laptops, but not any longer.

Today, most portable devices use Lithium-Ion batteries. These batteries come with support hardware that manages how they’re used. The hardware ensures that the Dreaded Memory Effect doesn’t take place, so you can fully drain the battery or just drain it a tad, and the battery retains its robustness.

Bottom line: Don’t worry about having to recharge your gizmo. You can let the battery drain or not and it won’t matter.

For example, at the end of the day, I plug my smartphone into a charging cradle. (I use it as my bedside clock.) It charges overnight, but because of the Lithium-Ion battery’s smarts, it won’t overcharge or overheat. (Well, unless there’s a problem, but normally there isn’t.)

Sometimes, during the day, I may have to charge the phone. If I do, it could be for a few minutes or an hour. It doesn’t matter. If the battery needs juice, I give it.

My tablet may remain plugged into the computer, but generally it’s loose. Only when I see the battery warning do I plug it in. Ditto for my laptop: It’s plugged in most of the time, but when I unplug it I generally keep it that way until it complains about being low on juice.

Finally, be aware that Lithium-Ion batteries are not eternal. Eventually they lose their capacity, but it happens over time, not because you incorrectly charged the thing.

When the battery does hold less of a charge, replace it. Ensure that you obtain either the manufacturer’s replacement or equivalent. Then dispose of the original properly. Lithium-Ion batteries are not to be placed into the trash.