Misplacing something sets off a chain reaction of aggravations and setbacks. Losing your phone doesn’t just mean you can’t make calls. It means your wife gets worried when you don’t answer, or you don’t see that important business email. Not to mention you waste time looking for it as well as money if you need to replace it. These consequences and more stem from simply misplacing something. Fortunately, there are psychological and technological means to prevent these annoyances. Look through our tips on how to not lose your belongings to learn more.
Start a Routine
Driving is likely an activity you consider second-nature, to the point that you don’t remember the journey to your destination. Other activities can become automatic too if we practice them and they become habitual, including not losing things. One way to build up a habit of remembering is to create a routine around where you put your things. You can put your keys and wallet on the same centrally located desk every day or keep them in a small box out of others’ reach. Whatever you choose, do it consistently for several weeks to avoid the stress of cycling through all the places your things could be and wasting time looking for them.
Scan During Transitions
Another way to not lose your belongings is to habitually scan rooms you’re leaving for valuables. Transitions are occasions for losing something, and if you double-check your surroundings with the expectation that you’ll find something, you’re less likely to leave things behind. Go through the three categories of places—table, seat, floor—in three seconds, and then be on your way. If you struggle with making a routine, try to carry fewer things around. That will make your routine more realistically attainable.
Track Your Wallet
One of the most essential items lost during transitions is the wallet. Carrier of your driver’s license, cash, and credit cards, losing your wallet disrupts everything from driving to buying a meal. One way to keep tabs on it is to use a tracker card inside your wallet that allows you to see its GPS location. Tracker cards are flatter than traditional GPS tracking devices, and you can prompt it to emit a sound if its close by. You can also affix a GPS device to your keys that have the same properties.
Find Your Phone
There are a few settings on your phone that are easy to switch on and capable of saving you time and money in a pinch. Turn on Find My iPhone if you use an Apple product or Find My Device if you have an Android phone. These features allow you to ping your phone and see its location on a map like a tracker card, so whether it’s near or far, you have a better chance of finding it. Also, don’t put your phone on silent if you can help it so you can call your device if you misplace it.
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets
