Here’s How to Find Your Lost Stuff Like a Pro

Lost and Found: We can all relate to getting ready to head out the door and then suddenly realizing your keys are nowhere to be found. Losing stuff is maddening, and the scramble to find something you need can turn a normal morning into a small crisis. Luckily, professional searchers have some smart tricks for finding missing items.

How to Do It: Start by picturing the item and thinking about what makes the object stand out, like its color or shape. Experts in visual search say thinking about those key details can help your eyes zero in. Then think about where you usually set it down and where you’ve lost similar things before. If you’re still stuck, try a grid search by splitting the space into sections and covering each one. And if you dropped it outside, one pro recommends retracing your steps and tossing a stand-in object the same way, because it could land in a different spot than you’d expect.  

The Benefits: Developing and following a system beats checking the same couch cushion for the fifth time. However, the real secret to finding something is tenacity, so don’t give up too soon.