Are You Tired Of Losing Things?

 Let’s Get Into Why We Lose Things and How What We Can Do About It 

Are You a Professional Misplacer? 

It’s one of the most frustrating feelings in the world – losing something that has value to us. Whether it’s a credit card, a pair of keys, a laptop, or our beloved pup, it never gets easy, and we will never get used to the feeling of misplacing or losing something that is important to us. 

As a professional misplacer, I’ve always wondered, is it just me? Well as it turns out, I’m not alone. Collectively, we spend on average 2.5 days a year just looking for misplaced items. That’s almost half a workweek, or a whole weekend, that we lose just searching for something. But lost time isn’t the only consequence that comes with being forgetful. According to a study that reveals the most common items that go missing at home, 60 percent of people have either been late to school or work, 49 percent have missed appointments or meetings, and 22 percent have missed flights, trains or buses, all because of searching for a misplaced object. 

The question remains, what can we do about it? Fortunately, there are studies that can help us understand why we tend to lose things so frequently, and what we can do to avoid losing them or even have them possibly returned to us.

So, Why Do We Lose Things? 

The “oh sh*t”, where did I put that?” is a ritual every person has gone through more times than we can count. It’s common for people to have a mental checklist before leaving the house, “phone, wallet, headphones, keys, wait, where are my keys?” Maybe they’re on the dining room table, or maybe they’re in a bag. Why can’t you remember where you put them? You were certain you had seen them this morning. It’s truly a frustrating monologue that feels worse as the minutes go on. Let’s cover a few reasons why you may be losing your things: 

You’re Running on Autopilot

Typically, we lose things when we’re in the momentum of things – in our daily routines, whether it’s getting ready in the morning or coming home from work at the end of the day. Because we’re so comfortable within our routines and we practice them all the time, it becomes a time for us to think about everything or anything else than focus on where we’re placing things. 

Have you ever been driving down a road that you’ve driven on a million times? Have you ever caught yourself thinking or daydreaming and suddenly wonder how you haven’t crashed? That is because our minds are on autopilot and we are resorting to muscle memory. 

You’re Over-focusing on Losing things

Have you ever put something somewhere very specific, convincing yourself “I definitely won’t forget putting this here”, and once you look for it, you simply can’t remember where that hiding spot is. Whether it’s hiding cash in a book and storing it under your cabinet or placing your mailbox key in your pantry, we can easily forget the odd hiding spots we think are unforgettable. Over-focusing on losing things can get us over-thinking, resulting in confusion and frustration. 

Multi-tasking

Multi-tasking is a common part of our day-to-day routines. We multitask all the time, thinking of a thousand things at once, checking off a mental checklist while getting dressed, brushing our teeth, making breakfast or coffee, and feeding our pets. But even the best multi-taskers out there can result in losing something or misplacing an object without even realizing it. Studies have shown that multitasking can lead you to misplace things like your phone, keys or wallet in odd locations, such as your refrigerator or laundry bin. 

The Most Common Things We Lose 

It’s ironic, but we misplace and lose the things that are more important to us. On average, we spend about 15 minutes searching for something around the house. These objects include: 

• House keys 21.3 percent 
• Wallets 20.2 percent 
• Umbrellas 19 percent 
• Passports 18.9 percent 
• Drivers licenses 18.8 percent
• Debit cards 18.7 percent

Search With Purpose, Not Panic

Are you a little bit of a hypochondriac? Do you sometimes wonder if you have a brain tumor because you keep losing things? Rest assured, you are not alone, and chances are, you don’t have a brain tumor either. According to an article on Vice, experts studied that lapses in memory can happen to anyone, even those with a great memory. According to Solomon, a researcher from Vice, “it is an ineluctable part of the human condition to lose things.” And the reason can be as simple as the mind being able to only deal, remember, or process one thing at a time. 

When we are panicked, we let fear and anxiety control us, letting the strategy part of our minds drift away. Remaining calm while looking for something is easier said than done, especially if you’re looking for a missing pet or child. However, running around in circles and searching in the same place will only make you lose time. 

Steps on Looking for Something: 

Think of where you last saw what you are looking for: 

Ask yourself, how long ago did you see it? Where did you see it? 

Retrace your steps: 

Go over your routine. Retrace every step you took before realizing you lost what you are looking for. Think strategically and don’t hesitate to look in odd places. Remember that when the mind is on overdrive, it is not uncommon for a person to misplace something in the trash. 

Ask for help:

If you’re having trouble remembering where you put something, or if you’ve happened to lose your pet or child, call or ask for help. Depending on the situation, of course. Unfortunately, 911 won’t be able to help you track down your lost pet or laptop, but they will try to help you find your missing child. If you have happened to lose your pet, ask your friends to help you with the search process. The more eyes, the better. 

What If You’re Sure Something Is Lost: How To Protect What’s Valuable To You

Regardless of how much we love and cherish something, we still face the terrifying risk of losing it. As busy humans, we can easily get distracted or become forgetful – we are only human. Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to help with the frustration and agonizing process of losing something, finding it, or even having it returned to us. 

FOUND ME is a company that can help you with this problem. Whether it’s an object, a pet, or even a person, FOUND ME has a range of different ways they can help you reunite with what is yours, even from across the ocean. 

Tags, stickers, labels, bracelets and necklaces with QR codes on them can do just that. Due to COVID-19, QR codes have become the “new thing”. Restaurants and bars provide QR code stickers on tables as an alternative to menus in order to avoid people from infecting or contaminating others. 

Once the QR code is scanned by a finder, usually a good/curious samaritan, the owner (you) will be contacted immediately through an automated chat. 

Here are a few things to know about FOUND ME, and how it can help you reunite with what is missing: 

• QR code. Once scanned, the finder/scanner will be connected to the owner. 
• No radius limit. You can leave your laptop in China and still be contacted. 
• No language barrier. Your finder could speak Russian, and the chat will automatically translate the chat for you and your finder. 
• Possible reward. You can reward your scanner with a tip, as a thank you, encouraging them to want to return a missing item again. You can choose how much money you would like to tip based on how important the object is to you, or you don’t have to tip at all. 
• Emergency A bracelet or necklace will help you in emergencies. For example, if you happen to be in an accident, a paramedic can scan the QR code on the bracelet and gain access about you: blood type, allergies, medical conditions ect. If your child is missing, they can point to the bracelet and once scanned by another family or worker, you, the parent, will be contacted immediately.

These are only some of the many things FOUND ME has to offer. To learn more about FOUND ME and how you can protect the things, people, and pets you love, visit FOUND ME