Tips to Help You Locate Things You Misplace
I misplace everything including car keys, eyeglasses, cell phone and more. Do you have tips or tricks to help with tracking down misplaced items?
There is a wide variety of tracking devices that can help you find commonly misplaced items. Here are some top options to consider.
To help you remember where you have misplaced an item, it is most important to stay calm, take a breath and have patience with yourself. There is no reason to beat yourself up over it, because losing things happens to everyone! If you live with others, ask if they may have seen the missing item.
You may want to retrace your steps from the last place you remember seeing the item. That will often help you remember and find it. To limit losing track of an item try using a designated space, such as, an ornamental bowl or a hanger and return the item to that space after each use. It will take some time to build this habit, but it should eventually become second nature. Eventually, every time you come home or are done using the item, you will put it where it belongs. You may find that you will be able to locate your previously lost items much quicker and easier.
You may want to use a decorative hanger for storing your keys on when you get home. Also, add a brightly colored keychain or lanyard to make your keys more visible. Misplaced eyeglasses are another common cause of frustration. Try to remember to return your eyeglasses to a protective case and keep that case in the same area. You may want to purchase a brightly colored protective case to make it easier to locate. Most protective eyeglass cases come in dark colors and can be easily misplaced at night when you may need them the most.
For your cellphones and tablets, try to keep them charged and leave the ringer or sound on. It may be easier to locate your device if you can hear it. Some devices are equipped with a "find my device" tool that will trigger a sound, even if it is in silent mode. A cellphone docking station will charge your phone and keep it in the same location for easy retrieval.
If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can use a Bluetooth tracker to easily locate lost or misplaced items like keys, purses, wallets, remote controls, smartphones, tablets or even laptops. There are several types of tracker products on the market today. Many pair with mobile device apps to help you locate missing items. Some of these devices also work with voice-activated assistants.
In many cases, all you need to do is attach a small battery-powered tracker to the items. You may have the option to attach the tracker with an adhesive sticker or a key ring. For larger items, such as a purse or wallet, you can store the tracker inside the item. When a tagged item goes missing, you simply access the app on your smartphone or tablet to see how far away you are from the item or to find the last known location on the map. If you are nearby, you can usually trigger the device's alert sound so you can easily find it. If a smartphone is lost nearby, some of the tracking devices can work in reverse. The user may press the tracker's button twice to make the phone ring, even if it is on silent mode.
You may find similar options for glasses as well. You can purchase a tiny rechargeable Bluetooth device that sticks to the inside arm of the glasses so it is not noticeable. When the glasses are missing, but nearby, an app on your mobile device can be used to make them ring. If the item is out of Bluetooth range, you can check the last known location on the map.
There are also radio frequency devices that can help you find misplaced items and do not require a smartphone or tablet. These devices typically come with an item locator remote and four to six tags. Attach a tag to the items you want to keep track of with a key ring or adhesive sticker. Each tag is color-coded and corresponds to a colored button on the remote.
When an item goes missing, you simply press the colored button on the locator remote and the tag will flash and beep. The signal has a tracking range of around 100 feet. Make sure you keep the finder remote in a safe spot. If you misplace the remote, you will not be able to find the tagged items.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
There is a wide variety of tracking devices that can help you find commonly misplaced items. Here are some top options to consider.
Tips and Memory Tricks
To help you remember where you have misplaced an item, it is most important to stay calm, take a breath and have patience with yourself. There is no reason to beat yourself up over it, because losing things happens to everyone! If you live with others, ask if they may have seen the missing item.
You may want to retrace your steps from the last place you remember seeing the item. That will often help you remember and find it. To limit losing track of an item try using a designated space, such as, an ornamental bowl or a hanger and return the item to that space after each use. It will take some time to build this habit, but it should eventually become second nature. Eventually, every time you come home or are done using the item, you will put it where it belongs. You may find that you will be able to locate your previously lost items much quicker and easier.
Practical Ideas
You may want to use a decorative hanger for storing your keys on when you get home. Also, add a brightly colored keychain or lanyard to make your keys more visible. Misplaced eyeglasses are another common cause of frustration. Try to remember to return your eyeglasses to a protective case and keep that case in the same area. You may want to purchase a brightly colored protective case to make it easier to locate. Most protective eyeglass cases come in dark colors and can be easily misplaced at night when you may need them the most.
For your cellphones and tablets, try to keep them charged and leave the ringer or sound on. It may be easier to locate your device if you can hear it. Some devices are equipped with a "find my device" tool that will trigger a sound, even if it is in silent mode. A cellphone docking station will charge your phone and keep it in the same location for easy retrieval.
Higher Tech Options
If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can use a Bluetooth tracker to easily locate lost or misplaced items like keys, purses, wallets, remote controls, smartphones, tablets or even laptops. There are several types of tracker products on the market today. Many pair with mobile device apps to help you locate missing items. Some of these devices also work with voice-activated assistants.
In many cases, all you need to do is attach a small battery-powered tracker to the items. You may have the option to attach the tracker with an adhesive sticker or a key ring. For larger items, such as a purse or wallet, you can store the tracker inside the item. When a tagged item goes missing, you simply access the app on your smartphone or tablet to see how far away you are from the item or to find the last known location on the map. If you are nearby, you can usually trigger the device's alert sound so you can easily find it. If a smartphone is lost nearby, some of the tracking devices can work in reverse. The user may press the tracker's button twice to make the phone ring, even if it is on silent mode.
You may find similar options for glasses as well. You can purchase a tiny rechargeable Bluetooth device that sticks to the inside arm of the glasses so it is not noticeable. When the glasses are missing, but nearby, an app on your mobile device can be used to make them ring. If the item is out of Bluetooth range, you can check the last known location on the map.
Radio Frequency Finders
There are also radio frequency devices that can help you find misplaced items and do not require a smartphone or tablet. These devices typically come with an item locator remote and four to six tags. Attach a tag to the items you want to keep track of with a key ring or adhesive sticker. Each tag is color-coded and corresponds to a colored button on the remote.
When an item goes missing, you simply press the colored button on the locator remote and the tag will flash and beep. The signal has a tracking range of around 100 feet. Make sure you keep the finder remote in a safe spot. If you misplace the remote, you will not be able to find the tagged items.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Published March 19, 2021
