It's a common feeling; you rush out of the house, running late for work or to meet a friend only to be struck by the fear that you forgot to turn your hair straighteners off.
Or perhaps you're on your way to the airport, off on holiday and suddenly can't remember if you left the hob/oven on after cooking your last meal.
Quickly you find yourself convinced that your house is going to be burnt to the ground by the time you return and you're kicking yourself for not triple checking all the plug sockets and appliances.
You could message your housemate or partner to check if you have been forgetful, or you might be tempted to turn around and head home for some peace of mind.
But it seems there might be a much easier way to calm your worries without ruining your plans.
Life hack experts over at lifehacker.com have suggested a simple solution to stop you from wondering whether you left something on.
If you're someone who knows this feeling only too well, they suggest taking a photo of your appliances before you go out.
In a post on their website, writer Nicole Dieker explained: "Before leaving the house, take a photo of your stove and oven dials—or your thermostat, or your iron, or anything else you worry about accidentally leaving on. If your brain starts to play the 'Did I really turn it off' game, you can simply tap your photo app and see for yourself."
She went on to explain that this is something she does herself and says it's really made a difference for her.
"I started taking pre-vacation photos after my landlord upgraded the heating system in my apartment building and gave us all new thermostats," she said. "This was in winter, right before I left on my holiday travels, and since the thermostats were so new that I hadn’t yet become accustomed to them I spent the whole first day of the trip worrying that I had forgotten to turn the thermostat down."
She added that she now takes photos showing her oven dials are all in the right place and her thermostat is off before she goes on a long trip - but claims she never actually looks at the photos.
Nicole believes this is because taking the photo and having the physical proof, "turns off" the part of her brain that later gets concerned about leaving something on.
Travel expert Sunil Metcalfe also spoke about the life hack with Reader's Digest.
He said: "Similar to forwarding your emails to your colleague or leaving your pet in the care of someone you trust, taking a picture of the locked back door, the closed garage door or unplugged appliance, allows you peace of mind to let go and be fully present.
"We’ve all had that gut-wrenching moment en route to the airport where you think you’ve made a critical error in preparing for your trip. Having a picture eliminates this moment of panic."
It's important to note that while some, like Nicole and Sunil, have found taking photos useful, this approach might not be helpful for all those who are experiencing anxiety.
You can read more about the symptoms of anxiety and when to seek help on the NHS website.
Do you have a life hack to share? We want to hear all about it. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
