Tips for Keeping Up with Your Keys & Wallet

How familiar is the following scenario? You awake to the sound of your alarm clock, and begin your morning routine. Perhaps it involves a shower and breakfast regimen, followed by a quick selection of your wardrobe attire for the day, an ever so slight grooming process and glance in the mirror, and you're ready for work or whatever activities the day may hold. But wait. Something is missing. Or is it? "How can something be missing if I've made it this far?" you think to yourself. By now, most of us are in the driveway, possibly even poised at the door of our vehicle, scratching our heads in total bewilderment. Then it hits us. We've left our car keys, wallet, purse, and/or cell phone lying inside somewhere.

If at this point in the article you are laughing to yourself because you identify with much of the above, why not try out some of these helpful hints, suggestions, and memory aid tools to alleviate this all too common phenomenon.

Practice & Study Memory Aid Techniques

Although countless people would simply tell you to leave your important belongings in a designated "safe spot", this practice can become faulty on several levels. How often have you thought, "I'll just pick a spot and always leave my wallet there and I'll never have to search for it again."? Unfortunately, too many of us still spend countless hours scouring through our homes, ransacking every nook and cranny in search of those precious items. The official website of The Memory Institute (www.thememoryinstitute.com) offers interesting insight into the perplexity that is the human mind and a chance to purchase their special e-book How to Unlock Your Amazing Memory, Gain Confidence, and Achieve Success. The e-book is also available in Adobe .pdf format for easy purchase and download.

The ancient Greeks must have had a grasp on the whole memory conundrum, considering countless wise orators and philosophers could quote entire portions of ancient texts (such as an entire New Testament book of the Bible; even multiple books) without the aid of notes or scripts. What mysteries did they know that modern science and psychology have yet to unravel?

Put a Label on your Memory

We've all heard therapists, psychologists, and physicians compare the human mind to a filing cabinet; a place where important information is stored, organized, and referred to at different intervals for different uses. And what should we do with file folders before dropping them in their designated spots? That's right. Stick a label on them.When trying to recall a particular thought to your mind, attach a secondary and meaningful thought, characteristic, icon, etc. to that thought. This is a technique often employed to remember lengthy alphanumerical information, including passwords, bank account and phone numbers, etc.

But the same trick works for tangible items such as wallets and cell phones as well. For example, a working mother of young children may often begin her weekdays by waking her kids up early in the morning to prepare them for school. She loves her children and is concerned with taking care of them. By placing her keys, purse, and other important items next to a family portrait of her kids, she will always mentally associate her children and their morning routine with her important items. When she needs those items, she is instantly cognizant of where they are located. She has successfully labeled or "tagged" this particularly memory.

Invest in a Key Hook: The Practicality Method

Key hooks are a great way to always know where your car and/or house keys will be. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and can typically be purchased at any hardware retail outlet, including Lowes, Home Depot, and even Wal-Mart. Install the key hook on a wall or other flat surface in a room you spend a great amount of time in, preferably a bedroom or living room area. Many people tend to install them near their front or side doors for an easy grab on the way out. However, a disclosed spot, more hidden from view, may be a safer option. Where you choose to place the hook is ultimately up to you, but keep in mind that the location should be easy to remember.

Develop a habit of hanging your keys on your key hook the instant you enter your home. This will keep them in the same location on a regular basis and you'll always know right where they are.

Ultimately, it all comes down to practicing good memory aid techniques and using a little common sense and practicality. And that's the key to success (no pun intended).