Your keys are one of the most important items you carry each day, allowing you to access your home, car, and maybe even certain workplace areas. Keys not only grant you access to places – they also allow you to lock things up once you are ready to leave. Calling a locksmith because you have lost your keys can be a terrible feeling, but fortunately, you can do a few things to help yourself keep track of them. Here are some locksmith-approved tips for keeping track of your keys and preventing lockouts.
- Go bright – Using a colorful, eye-catching keychain or lanyard can help make it easier to locate your keys quickly. You can also attach colorful key tags or caps if you carry multiple keys, which will help you easily select the one you need at any given time.
- Create a routine– If you struggle with constantly forgetting your keys, try creating a routine that involves checking for them before you leave home or work. Do a quick mental or verbal check to confirm they are in hand before you set off for your destination.
- Have a designated drop spot– Try setting up a specific area to place your keys when you’re not using them. This could be a hook or shelf by the door, a bowl on the entryway table, or a certain drawer of your desk at work.
- Leave reminders– If the previous tips sound great, but you still worry about setting habits to help you keep track of your keys, writing reminders on sticky notes that you post on your door, or setting an alert in your phone that goes off just before you usually leave your home or workplace can help you get in the habit of checking for your keys or placing them in the designated area.
Implementing some (or all) of these tips can help you avoid a panicked call to a locksmith for assistance with a lockout and give you peace of mind that your possessions are secure when you’re not around. It also never hurts to find a reliable locksmith in your area that you feel confident you can depend on for assistance if you ever do misplace your keys or get locked out of a building.