The counting is optimally done at night, since the new day in Judaism begins at night. A blessing is recited and then one enumerates the specific number of the day. When you reach the first week, you also recites the number of weeks as well as days. For instance, on the 43d day, one would recite the blessing and then say "today is the 43d day, which is one day and six weeks of the Omer."
The unusual part of Sefirat Ha'Omer is that it is considered as a unit with 49 component parts. In contrast, most, if not all, other commandments are considered one-offs, that is, their performance is considered complete after a single instance. For instance, you light Chanukah candles every night of the holiday, and each lighting is considered a separate event.
This understanding of Sefira is consequential as to whether one recites a blessing prior to the counting. If one forgot to count at night but then remembered during the next day, one continues to recite the blessing before counting the next night. But if one completely forgot to count, then one has not fulfilled the commandment, and, as a result, no longer recites the blessing prior to the counting. In contrast, if you forgot or were unable to light Chanukah candles on one of the eight nights, you would continue to say the blessings before you light on subsequent nights.
Thus, optimally fulfilling the commandment of Sefira--meaning you count with a blessing each day--requires you to remember to count 49 separate times. This leads to those who have forgotten to count saying colloquially "I'm out," meaning they are still counting, but not doing so with a blessing as a result of missing a day.
Precisely because it's not easy to fulfill the mitzva of Sefira, one feels pride and a sense of accomplishment in completing the counting. A number of aids have been developed to help people remember each night. An old fashioned, but still effective, way involves using a Sefira counter, a wooden box with a movable knob that one turns each day to the next number.
Perhaps the best way to be remember to count is to go to shul every evening. Counting Sefira is incorporated into the ma'ariv, or night, prayer. In shul, one person, usually the rabbi, will recite the day and then the congregation follows, each person reciting the formula to him or herself. The first time I was able to complete the counting was when I was saying kaddish for my mother and thus going to synagogue on a regular basis.
There is, however, one big catch to the text alert and synagogue methods of remembering to count, and that is the sabbath. You're not supposed to use your cell phones on the sabbath, which renders useless the text alert. As such, no text alert is sent on that day. Instead, you get an alert on Friday afternoon that says "set your own reminder for Shabbos (the sabbath)."
Moreover, Sefirat Ha'Omer takes place during the spring as the days are getting longer. Most Friday night services take place and end before sunset. (This is called bringing in the sabbath early.) Since Sefira can only be recited when the new day begins, there is no recitation when services end before sunset. My problem is that I got used to remembering to count by going to shul. By the fifth sabbath during the Omer period, as the days got longer, Sefira was no longer being recited. I had to remember to count after I got home from shul. I didn't.
Here's what exactly happened. I was got up to day 41. Day 42 was the sabbath. I got home. I began enjoying my friday night meal. By that time I was no longer thinking about Sefira. And since I became accustomed to reciting Sefirat Ha'omer in synagogue, I wasn't thinking about having to say it at home. On the evening of day 43, I remembered that I had forgotten to count. I was "out." And I didn't feel good about it.
Various people had given me some advice on how to remember to recite sefira on Friday night. Someone suggested putting an object or note on your pillow so that you are reminded to count when you go to bed. Someone else suggested putting your watch on the opposite wrist on Friday evening. Another suggestion was to put a post it on the table so that you will be reminded during the meal.
Of course, all of these have one problem: you have to remember to set the reminder. Needless to say, I didn't.
My forgetting had ramifications not only for myself. On night 44, I was, as usual, chosen to lead the evening prayers. Then I got up to the point where Sefirat Ha'Omer is recited. No rabbi or other synagogue official was present. In such a case, the prayer leader would ordinarily recite Sefira for the congregation. But I couldn't do it because, having lost count, I could not recite with a blessing. Of course, I didn't want to admit it, so I looked at one of the regular shul goers and indicated he should say it. He wasn't used to doing it for the congregation and ended up reciting the wrong number (the previous night). Someone had to correct him. That only made me feel worse that I'd messed up the counting.
My record for making it through all 49 days of Sefira is not good. But, as when your favorite sports team loses, there's always next year.
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