We all misplace things from time to time. I have three designated spots where I try to keep my phone when I set it down at home, but I’ve been known to misplace it too. I may be organized, but no one’s perfect.
I’m a big believer in having designated drop zones at home and in the office. When you visit my house, there’s a tray where you can leave your keys. I also have a charging station on the counter (with my name on my charger) where anyone can charge their phone. The charger isn’t supposed to be moved—but it happens from time to time. That’s just life.
For the most part, everything in our home has a place—and it usually stays there, right where I need it. My husband and I both follow the system we’ve set up, which helps things run pretty smoothly. That said, every household is different, and living with children or anyone with ADD or ADHD can definitely keep things interesting. It adds a bit of unpredictability and keeps the rest of us on our toes!
According to Lostings.com:
The average person loses up to nine items every day.
The most commonly lost items are cell phones, followed by keys, wallets, and sunglasses.
Every year, more than 10 million Americans lose their cell phones.
On average, Americans spend about two-and-a-half days (or 60 hours) per year looking for misplaced items.
The estimated value of lost items in the U.S. is over $5 billion per year.
Most lost items are misplaced in public places like restaurants, hotels, and airports, while most found items turn up within just a mile of the owner’s home. But what about the everyday chaos at home? We’ve all heard the familiar cries:
“Where are my shoes?” “Where’s the remote?” “Did you check between the sofa cushions?” “Where’s the tape?” Or the classic: “I can’t find my… [insert item here]!”
Sound familiar? If so, here’s a solution: People organize differently, and that’s perfectly OK—the goal is simply to get everyone on the same page. While it may be challenging at first, once the household is aligned, life becomes much easier. Establishing drop zones throughout the home—and making sure everyone knows where they are—is key. If you have five people in your home, that’s 302.5 hours (or 12.6 days) lost each year just searching for misplaced items.
You can always earn more money or buy more things, but your time is finite. You can’t make time back—but you can manage it better by reducing how much of it is spent looking for lost stuff.
The best way to prevent losing things is by designating specific places for everything, like drop zones. When you come home, take off your shoes in the same spot, and drop your keys, phone, and bag in the same place. Use trays, baskets, and organizers to keep things in reach and easy to access.
Consider investing in Bluetooth trackers like Tile or smart tags, or using your phone’s Find My Phone feature to help quickly locate misplaced items. Attach these to frequently lost essentials like keys, bags, or passports. You can also set up a simple “lost and found” station—a small box or bin where temporarily misplaced items can be dropped. That way, instead of turning the house upside down, you have one place to check first.
Corrin Bomberger is the owner of Simple Organizing Solutions LLC (simpleorganizingsolutions.net/). She lives in Newburyport.