He's losing it
In the first week of the New Year I’m going to publish a fairly extensive list of New Year’s Resolutions which I hope will, in combination, allow me to continue my progress towards being a better person in all departments. I’m going to appeal for your help with several of them, starting with this. I’ve mentioned this on the blog before, but what with the change of year, this is the time to take what politicians call ‘decisive action’.
All my life I’ve been terrible for losing things. I’ve always sort of felt as if one half of my brain is in a permanent battle with the other, and the half that holds my day-to-day existence together is constantly being thwarted by the half that loves to put things in stupid places. When working together, the halves of my brain make up a useful enough mind which can more or less drag me through the many complexities of life, as well as wheeling out a few party tricks like remembering 16-digit credit card numbers or identifying any of the world’s national flags. But just as often, they appear to be at odds, and I’m so absent-minded that I’m well capable of walking out of the door without my trousers on, or forgetting where something is
even as I’m holding it.
A good example is my glasses, which I lose, on average, 16 times a minute. The trouble is that I’m short-sighted enough to need me, but not so blind that the world instantly spins out of focus without them. So it’s possible for me to remove them – for reasons which are never clear in hindsight – and put them somewhere illogical and wander away for some distance before it dawns on me that I’ve lost the blighters. I went through around four pairs in 2010. The local opticians know my name and the woman’s voice takes on an amused tone when I call. I think they’re getting close to asking ‘your usual, sir?’ like landlords do.
This is funny sometimes in a charming hapless-professor sort of way, but when you also consider that I’ve got to keep tabs on my Oyster card, my credit cards, train tickets, phone chargers and a dozen other things, my losing-stuff habit is starting to become annoying. It’s a waste of my time and it undermines my self-respect if I have to purchase 1,000 new phone chargers per tour because they’re all plugged uselessly into the walls of Britain’s hotels. In order to push forward with my self-improvement programme, I need to make 2011 the year I don’t lose most of my stuff.
The sensible way to approach not-losing is to have a nice neat place for everything, and I’m constantly trying to do that. But as you know, I spend a disproportionate amount of time travelling around. Even with a very carefully packed bag, I’ve got much less of a comforting routine than most people.
So I’m looking for not-losing-stuff tips of any kind, which factor in the unusual hecticness and the itinerant nature of my life. Please. Are you one of these effortlessly well-organised people? Or are you a former serial loser who’s managed to kick the habit? Are you a glasses-wearer with a foolproof method of not being parted from your spectacles? All advice gratefully received. Thank you. Now I’m going to post this before I lose track of where the laptop is.
Posted by Rhian on January 4, 2011
Laser eye surgery? It must be very difficult to mislay your eyes.
Posted by Aislinn on January 1, 2011
(Although, then again, I don’t wear glasses and I don’t travel round half as much as you, rendering my last point mostly invalid.)
Posted by Aislinn on January 1, 2011
I lose things a lot. I make sure I have a place for everything and then before I go to bed I make sure there isn’t a single thing out of place. It’s a flawed plan in that the only time my room is tidy is when nobody’s there to see it, but it helps me stop mislaying things. Mostly.
Posted by George on January 1, 2011
I’ve also got a terrible memory for useful things and when I’m travelling the only way I can make sure that I get to my destination with all my bits and pieces is to number them off before I leave. I count the number of things in my pockets (lets say wallet, keys and mobile) and the number of things I’m carrying (bag, jacket, passport and book) so I know that I should have three things in my pockets and four things in my hands. This way whenever I stand up of leave a room I just have to remember, “3,4″ rather than a list of seven different items.
Don’t know how well I’ve explained that. Might help.
Posted by Rachael on December 31, 2010
I agree with all the list suggestions, and if you pack most stuff the night before then you should write down the things that haven’t been packed so you remember to put them in before you go.
Posted by Katie on December 31, 2010
I lose my glasses a scary number of times considering I can’t actually see further than about 2cm without them. Combining that with what seems to be a selective short term memory I am a recipe for disaster. For example, I will take my glasses off to be cleaned, somebody will say something, I’ll forget I’m cleaning them, and then can’t find where I put them down. How depressing.
I am also a sucker for losing sheets of paper. I may be able to find an obscure document in my father’s huge and full hard drive, but my new timetable? Not happening!
Posted by Tracey on December 31, 2010
Hi Mark. My husband would empathize with you! He spends his time travelling around – not on the same scale as yourself but his job demands that he travel the length and breadth of Scotland and he’s left the main cable for his laptop in Highland hotels before, to cite one example! He usually manages to get someone to meet him halfway and deliver it to him. That’s after phoning me to have a rant – at his own lack of thought I should add, which I absorb like a sponge. I’m the organized one and all I can do is remind him to have one last check round before he leaves the hotel although he’s well known in many of them now so the staff will usually phone him if he’s left anything there.Beyond making a list of how many things you take with you and making sure you have that exact number when you leave – which just involves making more lists which can be lost, I’m not too sure. Generally, my husband will always ask me where anything is that he can’t find and expect me to produce it! Nine times out of ten, I can do it. Meanwhile, Happy New Year Mark, to you and your family and to everyone else on this site – All the Best for 2011 Tracey x
Posted by Alice on December 31, 2010
I’m a professional itinerant too, doing tours etc I spend most nights in travelodges or on mates’ sofas. The only way I manage keeping my stuff together hinges on these things:
Don’t bring a single item more than you need. This will obviously not apply to trips with a baby/small child as they need everything, apparently, but it helps when travelling solo and there’s no one to ask if you packed the charger.
Keep everything in the hotel room/spare room/living room as close to your bag as possible. Then it all goes straight in come the morning.
Get up earlier than you need, take lots of time over your morning. If you’re like me then rushing is a guarantee of phone charger loss.
If all else fails add it to your tour manager’s list. He won’t forget, trust me.
Posted by Madeleine on December 31, 2010
Quickly on New years resolutions, I would like to suggest (Challenge?) you and the rest of the Watsonians to try and cut out a bit of meat from your diet. Ideally of course I’d love everyone to go vegetarian, but even one less meal a week can do a world of good – highest contributor to greenhouse gass, horrendous, disgusting factory farm conditions etc.
It really is one of the best things you can do and if you gave it a go maybe other people would be inspired as well (unless you find it incredibly hard and give up – in which case keep it to yourself).
I loose things constantly as well! At school I would have to buy a packet of pens each week because they would just dissapear from my pencil case whenever my back was turned.
My trick with glasses was to buy a ridiculously expensive pair so that I’m so terrified of loosing them that I am constantly checking that they’re safe. I also never take them off untill I go to bed, when I put them on the bedside table.
My worst thing is with clothes, probably because my closet is so messy and I travel a lot I tend to loose a lot of clothes, recently a t-shirt of one of my favourite bands that actually just broke up. Crushed.
Posted by Will F on December 31, 2010
I’m now mortified that I typed ‘danging’ rather than ‘dangling’!
Posted by Will F on December 31, 2010
I always thought these (as worn by Sid on CSI:NY) seemed a really good idea if you constantly take your specs on and off. It’s like having them on a lanyard or chain, but rather than danging against your chest, keeps them out of the way nearer your neck. Just not sure if they’re available in the UK.
http://www.sportclic.com/
Posted by Beth on December 31, 2010
I used to be utterly hopeless about phone chargers. In the first six months of 2003, I left NINE in hotel rooms. I really wish I was kidding.
My solution was a recurring reminder that I set into my phone. Every day at 10pm, my phone would beep and this message would flash up on the screen: PUT THE LIST ON THE DOOR.
It would keep beeping until I pressed a button on my phone, but I wouldn’t be allowed to press the button until I had put the list on the door.
Putting the list on the door was what it said on the tin. I would sellotape my list of Things To Check I Have Not Forgotten over the door handle, so I literally could not leave the hotel without being reminded to check The List. The List was simple: charger, passport, keys, wallet. It was low-tech and involved me treating myself like an absolute moron, but it worked.
I wish I had a solution to the glasses-losing, but my eyes are so bad that the only time my glasses are off my face is when I’m asleep. I can’t take them off until I’m safe in bed and I have to put them on before I get up – otherwise I will be guaranteed to walk into a subtle interior design feature like a door or, on one memorable occasion, a wall.
Posted by Juliet on December 31, 2010
I do wear glasses but they’re with my contacts so when I take one thing off, I put the other on. But I do tend to lose them, especially if I’m reading or writing something. And I lose everything, last week I lost my camera’s charger, but it appeared behind a desk. So I don’t think I can give you any piece of helpful advice.
During my 5 years in high school I lost 4 pencil-cases, a dress, a (huge) book, two coats and a pair of shoes. Yeah, I left them all at school. I suck. xx
Posted by Natalie-Helen on December 30, 2010
In terms of your phone charger, what about gettting one of those charging mats which does ipods and phones and other things just by placing it on top. Then everything will be sitting on top of it rather than tucked by a wall.
The only way I manage not to loose my glasses is by wearing them all the time. Though a couple of times I’m had to put contacts in to be able to find them in the morning having knocked them of the side onto the floor.
And all the other bits that you need stay in my handbag all the time. If I take them out for any time (like if I’m using an evening bag etc) I put them back in my main bag immediately after.
Also the mantra “keys, phone, purse. oyster” recited just before I leave somewhere seems to help. Because I tend to think where they are and if I can’t remember I check.
^_^
Posted by Lisa D on December 30, 2010
I’m forgetful as well, but I come across as organized thanks to the buddy system for my stuff. I find that I usually lose particular things, but not all things. For example, I used to lose my train pass a lot, but not my keys. My solution was to buy a wallet that has a loop for my keys. Since I always need my keys and never take the pass out of my wallet I haven’t lost my train pass in about 4 years. Most of my stuff is now paired up in a similar fashion.
As for your glasses I say just keep them on; they really suit you.
Posted by Misha on December 30, 2010
Oh and, as suggested by Sarah, the final sweep is always worth doing.
And if you’re really stuck with the glasses, you could put them on a chain like my old headmistress, hanging around your neck at all times!
The primary reason I still use the fuschia pink plastic case I first got is so I don’t loose my glasses.
Posted by Misha on December 30, 2010
As a glasses wearer, but not a fulltimer, loosing glasses is something of a speciality for me. A good step is to never put them down, I still frequently loose my glasses on top of my head, or down my cleavage (not a problem i’d imagine you’d have, but it’s a good place to stick things) but people are more likely to spot them.
Anyway, if you really can’t avoid taking them off, try to have “houses” for them. (Yes, I really do think in houses) as in a desk “house” a kitchen work top “house” etc. I’m intrigued actually now, how short sighted are you?
As for generally loosing things, I used to loose lots, then I developed OCD, as you do. So again “houses” This goes here, that goes there, this pocket of the bag is for pants and socks etc. And also list making. If you list everything and tick it off as it comes out of the bag and again as it goes in, that works wonders.
Posted by Ally on December 30, 2010
I really don’t have many suggestions. I’d suggest a list of some description like I tried to do. Whenever I left a hotel/friends house/ my room I would check off on the list that I had everthing. Then I started losing the list…
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 30, 2010
I tend usually only to lose my glasses when I’m in the shower – I take them off, put them somewhere in the bathroom, then forget where when I get out. I then spend between five and ten minutes peering at every surface from a few inches away, until I find them. They have thin black frames which is utterly useless because I can’t see them, but they were all I could afford
I also lose them if I redo my hair, or for some unknown reason decide to put on some makeup, or put on a polo-neck top … so the point of that is that a) I feel your pain and b) have no advice. Sorry.
As for everything else, I live by lists, mental or physical. It’s not a failsafe (I will often forget to check the list for a final time if I’m dashing out of the door) but it means I can function. I will however lose things at home by forgetting where I’ve put them. h2osarah’s suggestion of doing a final sweep of the hotel room sounds effective. We do that sort of thing wherever we stay on holiday – usually in a static caravan, so it takes a bit longer, but it’s been a few years since we left anything behind now.
An idea for your glasses just sprang to mind – if you have to take them off, make sure to hook them on your top or trousers if appropriate. My friend’s reading glasses live on her top; it’s the only way she manages not to lose. Just be careful if you have to bend down for anything in case they fall off.
Posted by Josie on December 30, 2010
I always keep things I need to take, eg. wallet/bus passes/iPod next to my phone because I always remember my phone even though I don’t remember the other things, so if you have something you never leave without you could put it with that.
Posted by h2osarah on December 30, 2010
I have a couple tips for not losing things. I’m afraid I can’t help you with the glasses, as I need mine at all times.
1) make a list of all the things that you’ve packed with you on tour. Check the list off as you return each thing to your suitcase before your departure. Maybe it doesn’t have to be everything, but key ones like wallet, cellphone, charger etc. could be worthwhile.
2) I always keep my wallet, keys and any elecronics in the front pouch of my backpack. So if they’re not in there, I know they’re not in my bag at all. If you keep all the most important stuff in the same place, you can easily figure out if you’re missing anything.
3) As soon as your phone is finished charging, unplug the charger and return it to your bag.
4) This is the best one, ALWAYS do a final sweep of a hotel room before leaving. It takes 2 minutes, but saves you from losing stuff. Check all the drawers, the closet, under the bed, the wall sockets, the bathroom once you’re packed and on your way out. It makes it virtually impossible to leave anything behind.
Posted by amycool on December 30, 2010
I shall sound like a terrible pedant once again but recently I notice the word loose (instead of lose) every day. I never used to notice this, so either I’m reading more on the internet, I’m getting more Truss-like, or perhaps people are seeing other people spell lose loose, and copying them, thus increasing the circulation of the mis-spelling.
Sorry, off-topic there. And certainly not an attack on mis-spelling as I often find an incorrect their/there/they’re in things I have written.
If I’m at home, my glasses have a little place by my bed where I’m 99% sure they will be. At work, they just stay on my face. It does make looking at a screen a bit more uncomfortable (I’m short-sighted), but I really can’t afford to buy new glasses right now.
I find that when I’ve lost something the best thing to do is to stop looking. Or often asking someone else makes it pop into my head. It’s the same with words with me. If I’m doing a crossword I can think and think, and then as soon as I start saying, “What’s the capital of…”, Kuala Lumpur pops into my head. But really you just need to really attend to where you’re putting things.
Cues help too. The front gate never fails to remind me that I have letters to post. Upstairs. The neighbours must think I’m a weirdo as I never get past the front gate first time.
Posted by Anji on December 30, 2010
I’m feeling the glasses pain. I got my new ones and 3 weeks later lost them and had to go order new ones. My solution is now not wearing the glasses which is just ridiculous. I even went and tried contacts but, it’s only distant things I can’t see, and to be honest it’s not even that bad to warrant glasses. I just squint.
A rant that doesn’t help you I’m afraid. However, I have quite good panic moments about having shut the front door etc, and I have to take a routine when leaving to know I’ve locked it etc. A key word helps me. Like saying Bananas as I do it, or tapping your nose or something that helps you remember and you only do with that one thing. Might help with your packing etc.
I’ll stop now, I fear because I feel like I have razors in my throat and can’t really talk I’m making up for it here. Sorry about that.
Posted by Helen on December 30, 2010
I am terrible with paper. Give me an important bit of paper to look after and you are basically entering yourself into a futuristic treasure hunt. I do have a tip though, using the logic (from the book) of none other than Mr Derren Brown:
Things are easier to remember if you remember them in context of something and if you assign a strong emotion and/or visual prompt to them. So maybe if whenever you put down your glasses you think of a way to remember them like…I am putting my glasses down next to the fruit bowl so that the seedless grapes can acknowledge their surroundings before I eat them.
I am afraid that is, quite honestly, the best I have got.
Posted by louisel on December 30, 2010
I’m always losing things as well, so I don’t think I can be much help. A few weeks ago I was talking on the phone to a friend and said to her “Arghhh!!! I’ve lost my phone!”, just for her to patiently remind me that I was talking into it. Oops.
One thing that does help me is telling a friend where I’m putting something. E.g. if I’m putting my train ticket in my bag, I’ll say “Right, my ticket is in the zip up bit of my bag.” I’m more likely to remember it if I’ve made a point of saying it aloud, but that could just be me.
I solved my glasses losing problem by getting contact lenses. My optician used to get seriously annoyed with me ringing up every few months to tell them that I’d lost them, or that I’d fallen asleep in them and they were bent/broken into several pieces. It might seem a bit drastic, but it does work
Posted by Someone on December 30, 2010
I feel your pain, man. I lose everything every morning. A statistical improbability it might be, but true also, it is.
I’ve stopped losing my glasses by not removing them from my head, whether perched in the standard pose, or atop it. Though my mum did frantically start looking for hers just yesterday, and your head really is apparently the last place you’ll look…
A place for everything and everything… y’know. That’s the only thing that works. Dull, though. I’ll stick with running about like an angry chicken. Much more fun… in hindsight.
Unhelpful comment. Apologies.
Posted by Miz on December 30, 2010
I used to have my glasses on a chain like a hot librarian, but then I lost the chain, and consequently the glasses attached to it. Oops.
Posted by A lot of Rachels on December 30, 2010
I’m bad with loosing things, I popped into my parents house whilst they were away and left my purse there and I couldn’t go back to get it as I was heading on holiday myself. For some reason I had taken my debit card/ID out so had those but had to wait until everyone was back in the country to get the rest of my stuff.
I don’t know what you call them but I keep my keys on the cloth chain things which lanyards are attached to which I then attach to my jean loop holes so my keys are always in my pocket.
How about some spec cords for your glasses, so you take them off and let them hang around your neck… they will however make you appear much older.
Posted by Megan on December 30, 2010
Oh, because my comment is already long than the entry on my own blog, another thing that might work for phones: if you can find a short (like, 2 to 3 inch?) USB charger cord, just leave it plugged into your laptop always. When I was travelling, this meant I could keep my phone charged and upload photos from my camera without worrying about cables.
I don’t know how/if iPhones can be charged through computers, mind…
Posted by Megan on December 30, 2010
Well, one thing that my friend has done (for her husband, though) is to set up a bowl in their front entry way as a sort of repository for essentials, so that when he gets in the door, his transit pass, wallet, sunglasses, keys, etc. all go in the bowl AND STAY THERE until he goes out again. That doesn’t work so well for glasses or out on tour, but might help you keep tabs on some things. I always keep my bus pass in the same pocket (my right jacket one). I haven’t lost it or forgotten it in a, frankly, miraculous-for-me amount of time. (Years, actually – but I only bus about three months a year.)
In fact, I really should do something similar, as I often forgot my keys, which is a really bad thing when one needs to lock up a bike and/or get into work many kilometres away. I have no idea where my spare glasses are, BTW, so I am extra vigilant about my primary pair. (Luckily, I only need them for reading.)
(Somewhat unrelatedly, and klassily, I went to the racetrack on Boxing Day and played the slot(aka fruit) machines for a bit. My friend and I were probably the youngest people there (we were meeting his olde relatives for buffet brunch). The hypnotised regulars in the casino-y bit can get premium cards with which to play the machines. I don’t know how they work exactly, but I do know that they come with a tether and clip attached so that these problem gamblers are a) not going to lose their valuable cards and b) ACTUALLY TETHERED TO THE MACHINES. Very disturbing.)
Posted by ChrisP on December 30, 2010
I’m hopeless with that kind of stuff too. Except I generally leave the important stuff at home, not the hotel. Whoops.
Top-Tip: Use the same list (mental or otherwise) you used to pack your stuff up in the first place to make sure you’ve collected everything when heading for home.
And as for the glasses, well, if the cost of buying 3 pairs more than necessary hasn’t stopped you loosing them, nothing will.
Posted by Neil M on December 30, 2010
I have similar vision and I was always losing my glasses and so simply stopped taking them off except in those situations where I knew it was necessary: swimming, bed, shower … at which point an OCD-like regime kicked in: bottom of bag, glasses case on bed side table, bathroom shelf next to toothpaste. Sad, perhaps, but I haven’t lost a pair in 15 years.
Posted by Neil M on December 30, 2010
http://www.piercedglasses.com/