Thursday, June 26, 2008

I'd Lose My Head if it Weren't Attached...

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Did your mother ever tell you that when you would misplace things? Mine did, ever stating the oh so obvious.

I have been losing my mind over what I did with an important document that I received several weeks ago. I distinctly remember opening the envelope, reading what was in it, then telling myself "put this in an important place so you don't lose it". This was actually also stated in the very document--"put in a safe place". Well, I went to look in the "safe place" where I thought I had put it and guess what, it wasn't there! Help!!! I've tried to remember that day and all I can get is a picture of me opening it and placing it on the dining room table and then...

What do you do when you can't find something? I'm going to try for a run this morning to clear my head. I don't want to spend the entire day searching for this and I hate the thought of having to go to the office to start the procedure all over again ("oh, she's really professional, just received the paperwork and already lost it!")

Any tips?

11 comments:

Lynn said...

I have specific places for things in my house. On my desk - where all the mail is deposited - there are three stacking bins. Immediate, Moderate, and Keep.

Immediate is just what it says: things that need to be dealt with immediately.

Moderate are things I have some time to worry about

and Keep is "don't lose this, but I don't need to do anything with it immediately."

I also have file folders in my desk for specific items: car and insurance information, important documents, medical information, etc.

As for looking for something, try being very methodical. Start in your dining room and go clockwise around the room, looking in and under everything in the room, before you move on. That way, you know you haven't missed it. Try behind pieces of furniture. Papers are slip-slidy and have this odd liking for ending up tucked neatly behind the end table, stuck to the wall.

If you have trouble remembering where you already looked, grab a pad of sticky notes and whenever you clear an item, stick a sticky note on top of the pile, so you know you already looked there.

Good luck

Anonymous said...

I usually just go and do something else. It usually comes to me.

Is it possible that youwere doing something else at the time ad confused the 2?

RunningNan said...

retrace your steps... then sit down and close your eyes... I'm the same way you are.. I'm always losing everything important, but I have 30,000 bed bath and beyond coupons.

Take One Stripper Pole said...

Every time I can not find my keys ... I can hear my mom in my head ... if you would just put them in the same place every day .... lol.

Anonymous said...

Have you pulled drawers right out to look behind them? We found something stuck behind a drawer once.

Ready Maid said...

Whew! I live with this "issue" all the time. Whether it's a right brain phenomenon, I'm not sure.

Lynn's advice is good and practical. Thank goodness, I'm married to a compassionate man who is not very creative, but boy howdy, is he ever systematic. I'm eagerly learning to adopt some of his ways.

When I DO misplace something, I literally pray outloud, "God, your word promises that the Holy Spirit will cause all things to come to my remembrance, whatsoever I have need of. I'm asking right now for help to find..."

Hope that helps!

Anonymous said...

I pray and then I usually find it!

MB said...

I hate when that happens. I'm so organized in the office but my home files are a mess. When I can't find things I usually try to retrace my steps and think of what I was doing the last time I saw it. Stay calm and focused. I hope it turns up soon.

Cammy@TippyToeDiet said...

I lost my car registration renewal last week, so I feel your pain. I'll think positive thoughts for you!

Anonymous said...

All my papers tend to end up in a huge stack on my desk until I get to them. However, there have been times when it has gotten out of hand and I need to clean it up because of company or whatever. It will all get thrown in a box and that's where I look when I can't find something...lol. In fact, that is one of my goals this weekend to clean out that box.

Nicole said...

This happened to me once, and I PRIDE myself on my organizational skills. My mom thinks I should open my own company!

I never did find it. I probably threw it in recycling by accident. SO frustrating.