Quick answer: The 2-second rule: if you couldn't find something you saved within about two seconds, it's saved in the wrong way or the wrong place. Things that pass are named, searchable and in one place; things that fail are images, buried tabs and untitled notes.
Here's a test that predicts whether you'll ever see something again: when you go looking for it, does it take two seconds, or longer? If it's longer, it's already halfway to lost.
Why two seconds
Two seconds is the gap between "I know where that is" and "I'll have to look for it". Past that point you're scrolling, guessing and switching apps, and most people give up long before they find it.
Run the test right now
Think of the last five things you saved: a link, a screenshot, a note, a file. For each, time how long it takes to find from a cold start. Most people find two or three take far longer than two seconds. That's not a memory problem; it's a saving problem.
What passes, and what fails
| Passes | Fails |
|---|---|
| A note titled "Boiler model number" | A screenshot of the boiler label |
| A link saved as "Ramen place Shoreditch" | A link texted to yourself |
| "Lease – Flat 3B.pdf" | "Scanned Document 4.pdf" |
| One app you always save to | Five apps you might have used |
It's not about searching faster
You can't scroll a camera roll faster. The rule is a diagnostic: if the way you save something can't be found in two seconds, change how you save it, not how hard you look.
The idea behind Snugit
Saving is always fast. Finding rarely is. Snugit was built around that gap: save anything from the share sheet in one tap, and get it back by typing a word, within about two seconds.
Download Snugit and run the 2-second test on it yourself.