Many of us know that dreadful feeling—you push or pull the door shut behind you, and as soon as it latches, your mind lights up with, “No, the keys!” Whether you’re locked out of your house, your car, or even your office, the situation just feels terrible. Unfortunately though, getting locked out is bound to happen at some point in your life. But with a few tips and tricks, you can greatly decrease your chances of getting locked out.
Humans are creatures of habit, and we seem to do our best when we follow a routine. You may know some people who are lucky enough to have never been locked out of their house or car. Think for a moment—do any of those people seem rather organized? If so, they probably have a routine they follow whenever they leave the house or get out of the car. It’s your “wallet, keys” check, but on a bigger scale. If you’re in a hurry, you will have other things on your mind and may simply forget to check. But if your routine is tied to physical action, you may have the benefit of muscle memory carrying you through those stressful times.
First, have a set place for your keys. If you have a tendency to lose your house keys, keep a bowl on an entryway cabinet or have a hook by the door. Begin placing your keys in the designated spot the second you walk through the door. Anytime you see your keys out of place, immediately move them to the right spot. If you keep doing this, you’ll begin to associate the sight of your keys with their home by the door. If you have a tendency to leave your keys in the car, use a lanyard or carabiner clip. As soon as you turn off the car, remove the keys from the ignition and place the lanyard over your neck or clip them to your person.
Second, create a behavior pattern. We all have a tendency to visit the same places; we are always leaving for work, school, the store and other regular locations. If you have a routine for heading to each place, grabbing the keys can fit into this pattern. If you are going to work or school, try a pattern that involves taking your lunch, briefcase, backpack or tools. Then when you leave, follow the same actions. It could be using the restroom, putting on a backpack, tying your shoes, grabbing your keys and unlocking and opening the door. The key is to find whatever you need to do and making your keys a part of the routine.
If you’ve locked your keys in the car before, you may be hesitant to rely on a lanyard or clip trick. If so, create a small routine for exiting the car. Maybe you reset the temperature settings, turn off the car, put your key in your pocket, check your phone, grab any loose items, open the door, and use the door lock to secure your vehicle. If you try a pattern like this and it starts to feel like you’re going through the motions, you have created a habit.
Even with these routines, we know life happens. That’s why our staff here at 24/7 Locksmith is ready to assist whenever you need us. We offer services to the Central Kentucky area including Lexington, Nicholasville, Richmond, and Winchester. Whether you need a car or residential unlock or other services such as lock changes, new hardware or commercial services, give us a call—we can help at any time!