Life Tips Daily

Yesterday, I explained how frustrating seeking a lost item can be. Today I’d like to share some tips to make finding things more bearable:

Retrace your steps
This is the step that most people do the moment they realize they have lost something: they think back to where they last saw the item, and check all of those places and see if the item can be recovered along the way. Sometimes it can be helpful to mentally retrace one’s steps before physically retracing them as this gives you a chance to map out an entire route instead of jumping from place to place.

Recruit help
If during the previous step you discover that you covered a large area of space before you lost the item, it may be necessary to seek the help of others. Letting people know what you’re looking for can be helpful in several ways: it may help the job get done faster (the whole “two heads are better than one” argument) and someone may have already found the item you seek and by you consulting them they can hand over an item whose owner they were uncertain of. Also, a helper can ask questions that help to trigger your memory as you try to retrace your steps.

Check each area thoroughly before moving on
Leave no stone unturned and no envelope unopened when you’re seeking something! If you are looking for something on your desk, go through each drawer one by one. Remove everything and look in pockets, nooks and any other crannies before moving on to the next. This is such an important step because going through an area swiftly without checking everything carefully guarantees that you will need to recheck the place, which wastes time and gives the frustration an opportunity to mount.

Give yourself time
Although most searches are somewhat urgent, it is important to give yourself time for this process. By taking the time to think carefully as you retrace your steps and check each possible area, your chances of finding the item are greater. If you feel rushed, you may not see things are right in front of you. Take the time to be thorough.

These are tips that have helped me in the past, what is your searching style?

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