How many times have you lost something because you set it down somewhere, and then forgot where you left it? Losing things is a classic ADHD challenge. We’re in the middle of doing something, get distracted, and drop what we’re doing. Or holding. We don’t even notice it until we realize the item is missing.
The solution? Don’t set it down. If you’re walking in the door with bags of groceries and your phone rings, don’t put your keys down to answer it. Keep them in your hand or loop the key ring around a finger. TV remote perpetually lost? Keep it in your hand, on your lap, or in its place. Nowhere else. Frequently kick off your shoes at the end of the day, then can’t find them in the morning? Walk to the closet and take them off there, or designate a place for shoes by the door. Always leaving your purse at restaurants? Set it on your foot under the table.
The secret to not losing things is to never set them down where they don’t belong. Hold on to them – literally – until you can put them away. Condition yourself to believe that setting something down is like dropping it into a black hole. You don’t know when or if you’ll ever see it again.
Yes, there will be exceptions. The baby starts shrieking and you’d rather throw the keys into that black hole than delay her rescue by even ten seconds. Your second best bet is to tell yourself – out loud – where you are putting the item. “I’m putting the keys here on the end table.” Using two senses helps us remember things better.
Like any other habit you’re trying to develop, this will take practice. The first step is to work on becoming aware of when you are about to set something down. Then remember that black hole. The rest will follow.
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