5 Tips on How to Find a Lost Pen

We've all had this happen before.

You come back to your desk after pouring a fresh cup of coffee and you notice your pen is not where you expect it to be.

You pat your pockets, look through your bag, open the desk drawer - still no sign of your pen.

Your forehead becomes slighly damp with sweat. Your breathing quickens.

Before you know it, wild accusations are being thrown out like daggers to coworkers and family members. You've lost, or as I like to put it "temporarily misplaced" your pen. To prevent also losing your mind, take a deep breath and follow these five tips to search for your writing instrument in an efficient and cool-headed manner.

  1. Firstly, calm down. Losing, or thinking you've lost, a prized pen can be a cause for great anxiety, but taking a moment to relax and objectively assess the situation will help focus and have the clarity of mind to locate the lost item. Letting panic set in will cloud your thoughts and scatter your focus.
  2. Think, "when was the last time I used the pen?" This may be easier to imagine than when was the last time you saw it, because there is usually a paper trail to give you a better clue. If you were signing forms, the date on the form will tell you when the last time you were using your pen, and may also give away the location. If you keep a work notebook or journal out while you work, note the last time you used the specific pen in your daily writing.
how to find a lost pen
  1. Gently ask people around you if they have seen your pen. Pens can sometimes sprout legs and mysteriously appear on the desks of coworkers or in other places that you would never imagine to look for your pen. Be respectful and politely ask people who may have seen or used your pen before. Refrain from using an accusing, annoyed tone when asking the "suspects." Sure, they may have pen-napped your Waterman, but there are a majority of people that do not understand the value of a fine-writing instrument and will pick up and use anything they can find. Usually, they mean no harm and would have kindly returned it to you at some point. Adding personalization to your pen will help others identify your pen and return it back to you. Also, pen theives can't claim they didn't know it was your pen.
  2. Trace your footsteps. When you have an idea of when you last used or seen the pen, back-track your steps until you reach that time and place. Let's say, you reach into your pocket at your office desk and realize your pen is missing. You believe that you wrote a check yesterday at the bank with the pen. That is your end point. Think of all the things you did leading up to being at your desk. "I was in the break room talking to Kurt, then bathroom, then in a sales meeting when I took out my pen to lend it to the cute temp." Bingo.
  3. If all else fails, do a complete Spring Cleaning of your office or home. You remember all the crazy stuff you find when you move furniture around? That works for finding lost items as well. Instead of waiting for the next big move, rearrange some furniture or reorganize the cabinets and drawers to make sure that no stone is left unturned.

Have a story about a lost pen that magically found its way back? Please feel free to post your Lost and Found pen story in our comments section.

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