I mean a strong magnet on a stick saved me like @brown.olivia said, you always find more than you lose. It forces you to actually sort everything you pick up. I keep a tiny parts tray stuck to that magnet now just for that reason.
Oh man that is so typical. I swear every time I drop a screw it somehow lands in the exact spot where five other lost things are hiding. It's like the floor has a secret collection. And then you spend twice as long cleaning up stuff you weren't even looking for. Honestly I think the universe just enjoys watching us scramble.