There is a trick that Stephen Fry told in QI:

When looking for something say it to yourself.

The problem, apart from having put it down to deal with something else, the visualisation you have is at odds with what can be seen. I well remember looking for a book, that when found was face down, and of course, the back was not the image I had been carrying. Other times I marvel at why I put it there!

This week I was delivering a poster to a shop and put the folder down then asked about leaflets then opened the door for an old lady and decided to leave via the open door. All very logical, but no folder! I had been distracted twice. Fatal.

Other times the same scenario had undoubtedly occurred and try as I might, the sequence of events eluded me, despite re-tracing. Totally lost.

It's a bugger innit?