If you came out of a different door than the one you entered through, try to navigate back to that door first so that you’re more likely to remember your route.
If you parked in a parking deck, try to remember the color of the deck, or how many flights of stairs you walked up or down.
This is most often the case in airport parking lots or other large lots where it can be easy to forget where you’ve parked. [1] X Research source
Remember that if you’re not within range, your alarm won’t be set off.
This strategy works best in smaller parking lots; searching through huge parking lots, or even parking decks, can take a long time if you have no idea where to start.
Places such as theme parks or superstores often already have landmarks (signs, pillars, lights, etc. ) with numbers, letters, or pictures on them in the parking lot to help you remember where you’ve parked. Many parking structures mark floors, rows, and spaces. If you have cues like these, note them, especially if you will be spending a long time inside.
Make sure to include identifying landmarks next to your car in the picture as well, especially if you are in an unfamiliar place.
There are many different apps, such as Google Maps or QuickPark, that will let you use your phone to locate your parked car.
If you don’t have a piece of paper, texting yourself the information is also helpful. Take a moment to write down your license plate number (if you don’t already have it memorized), just in case.
Saying something like, “I am now parking halfway down the row directly under the sign for the beauty parlor” will make you more likely to remember where you’ve parked. Making up a story or jingle about where you’ve parked is also a great way to boost your brain’s chances of remembering the spot.
