Lost Something? Here’s What You Can Do To Get It Back
Do you know what to do when you lose something (or have it stolen)? In our state of panic or disappointment, we tend to forget the things that we should immediately do the moment we find out something is missing. We at Security Info know that losing an item is frustrating. You could have already had an awesome day but, instead, find yourself wasting time and energy looking. To avoid this inconvenience in the future, our team has gathered some tips in finding and safekeeping some of the most common items lost — so you can immediately go back to enjoying your day.
Nobody is immune to losing a valuable item. At some point in one’s life, you will experience what it feels like to be in this situation. However, that’s not enough reason to just do nothing and accept that it can happen to you. If you really want to prevent losing something important, there are many preventive steps you can take to ensure that you are protected. Have you ever been in that situation where your heart sank after realizing you left your phone or wallet in a cab? This guide will very helpful.
How To Avoid Losing Your Things In The First Place
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, as the saying goes. The same certainly goes for stolen or missing items. While we may not be able to stop a thief from targeting us or prevent ourselves from forgetting something, there are some steps we can take to ensure that the odds of us becoming a victim are lower. Fortunately, these steps don’t cost anything. All you need is presence of mind and a little extra awareness.
– Safeguard your things and don’t leave them unattended
You might be tempted to leave your phone or laptop on the table at the coffeeshop while you go to the restroom. It’s just going to be a few minutes, right? And it’s in broad daylight. The truth is, it takes mere seconds for somebody to swoop in and take your exposed items. It may feel like such a chore to pack up and unpack every time you leave the table, but that’s so much easier than having to deal with the stress of getting your stuff stolen.
– Quash absentmindedness by being consistent
Always follow a routine or a system when you leave the house or go anywhere. Always put your house keys, cellphone and other valuables in the same place every time. This way, you never have to rummage through your bag or wonder if you dropped something because you know that there’s only one place where you always leave your stuff.
– Set up a message on your phone’s lock screen.
If you have that habit of leaving your phone and forgetting about it, you can increase your chances of it returning to you by composing an “if found” message on your screen. Not everything that’s left gets stolen, so you have to give the finder an opportunity to give it back to you. Doing this will make it easy for him or her to contact you.
– Memory tricks are helpful.
Psychologists and even those who practice memory recovery tactics can attest that there are certain exercises you can perform to stimulate your brain into remembering important details. Visualizing and picturing yourself at your last location and tracing your steps back in your head will help you locate it eventually. Another trick that experts swear by is creating an association between your item and the environment. This will help embed your item and it’s location in your otherwise preoccupied brain, thus increasing the odds of you finding it easily.
– Use technology.
There are plenty of anti-theft and anti-loss devices and apps that you can use to make sure your things don’t get lost. You can use a dedicated laptop lock, for instance, or an anti-theft bag (which is perfect if you always commute). Another method is to tag your item with a discreet tracking device that you can link with your phone or computer so you can locate wherever it is and track it down.
Can’t Find Your Keys?
Keys are one of the most common items that get misplaced or left somewhere. It almost always happens when we are in a hurry or are distracted by another event, so realizing that you lost them aggravates an already slightly panicked state. To prevent you from running around like headless chicken, these are steps you should follow.
Calm down and stop. The moment you discover that your keys are not in the place you expected them to be, stand still and do nothing. Breathe, take the time to gather your thoughts, and then slowly try to remember where you last left them or went. The calmer you are, the greater the chances of recovering your keys by memory.
Retrace your steps. When was the last time you had your keys in your hand? Visualize that situation in your head. When you’ve identified it, go to that place.
Don’t rule out strange places. There’s no real explanation but, for some reason, keys tend to end up in odd places. After you’ve gone through the usual spots, start checking out weird locations like the fridge, between sofa cushions, or sinks. Don’t rush and panic once again. By going through each space thoroughly, you save yourself from having to check the same place many times.
Always have a backup. If you’re the type who always misplaces things, just accept that fact but don’t get defeated by it. Hand out spare keys to trusted family members and friends, so that the next time you lose them, you have someone to call. If you don’t have a spare and still can’t locate your lost key, call a professional locksmith to help you out. You can change your locks as a last resort. If you lost your car keys, get in touch with your dealer for help.
Overall, nobody likes to suffer the stress of having something valuable lost or stolen. The good thing is that there are plenty of ways and resources available to help ensure that they come back to you. Employ memory techniques or be more sure about finding stuff by installing the right technology that will help you track and monitor your stuff’s whereabouts at all times.
