Keep misplacing things? You just need these habits

Written by: Ehsan Siddiqui Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 1 October 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-a1d57730-d30a-4e09-a34f-fe163862ff6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d636dc5b-f7a7-4f39-b9f1-08983e9e68a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.65046%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Always losing your keys, phone, or wallet? You're not alone! Misplacing everyday items is a common problem these days. Here are some common tips to help you. Photo Credit: Freepik

Use Visual Cues

[{"selector":"#anim-dbe25a6e-bcf3-43fb-a53c-9ab50a85ec32","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4beeb90a-a679-48b9-8c31-d11a7d01c72e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10c8494b-ccaa-4f94-bbe3-1fff007ead8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e65ee34-aa31-4ff0-bdf5-0086b91679dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 689.50653%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Trays, hooks, or boxes in bright colors might help you find your belongings quickly. Regularly seeing things helps to prevent misplacement and strengthen recall. Photo Credit: Freepik

Declutter

[{"selector":"#anim-1176e5bb-e3be-4dd5-8bd1-00402d19ec6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74d5651c-401a-458e-86d7-6466357de8dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e167d93f-379c-4ff0-bade-450378be1646","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5629cfe-86cc-453d-b365-4393a05a6542","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 745.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You are less likely to lose things if you have fewer possessions! Declutter your space frequently and discard anything you don't use or need. A neat space makes it easy to locate your essentials. Photo Credit: Freepik

Make a “Home” for Everything

[{"selector":"#anim-624e5129-bfe2-412e-8943-02f7d55ec1f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c983caed-6c0e-4459-88c0-4b8978735a07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.48072%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6611e442-5c1a-4988-8251-2f8ff371bf09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ffdfd55-8f73-4796-8f53-64aa3398a09b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 428.26786%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Set up a specific area at home or at work for your necessities. Putting items back in the same spot repeatedly educates your brain to remember where they go. Photo Credit: Freepik

Use Trays & Baskets

[{"selector":"#anim-29d1cde8-a8c4-4860-98d2-da2888798859","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd81fa5d-2133-4e7d-976f-e96875d73d4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.66439%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-348fe0fb-d366-458d-9b79-ba144bf4dfa9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2629f8fc-8b64-4a3b-b3c8-5cc3ea77b424","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 767.28427%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Use trays or little baskets for smaller objects that are prone to dispersing, such as remote controls and keys. This makes related products easy to find by keeping them together in a small area. Photo Credit: Freepik

Take a Moment To Remember

[{"selector":"#anim-4b3098d7-f181-4dca-a4ce-463782555868","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75c8148f-ebb0-41fc-aaf2-6071670c0a3e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 126.0101%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9f78188-d984-4e76-923b-8dee94e2efab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-212aafe2-0656-4f60-82b1-53ee4702ad4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 488.56191%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Things are misplaced more by distracted brains. Take a time to concentrate on what you're doing before putting something down. Saying or mentally repeating where you're placing an item will help you remember it better. Photo Credit: Freepik