 Dear Sarah,
My computer desktop makes my head hurt. I have documents
and e-mails all over the place, and it feels so disorganized.
I thought that having a computer would help me streamline,
but it hasn't. I admit I am not a neatnik. I admit I have
a hard time throwing things away. No one ever taught me
how to sort and store all the things I write and get. Arggghhhh.
Can you help me?
— Linda
Dear Linda,
Chill. You are in great luck.
Computers are heaven for people who have a difficult time
throwing things away. Why? Because you don't have to throw
anything away! Just put stuff into file folders, and store
it.
Here's the catch: you'll have to make friends with the
"O" word — Organization. It's not so bad, really. Think
of having a huge stack of plain empty folders. You get to
use as many of them as you wish. It's a two-step process:
First, you label them. Then, you stuff them. Then, you store
them on your hard drive.
A few tips to guide the way:
1) Remember, everybody's different. Make a folder for every category *you*
need. (There's no limit to the amount of folders you can
have.) Do you have stuff to save about pets? Make a folder
called "Pets." Do you have a special interest in small,
yappy dogs? Well, why make things difficult for yourself?
Why not have a folder called "Small, Yappy Dogs," and,
if you like, plop it into the "Pets" folder? Include lowly
housekeeping items: one folder for all your shopping order
confirmation e-mails; another for Newsletters; another
for e-Newsletters.
2) If you're perennially indecisive about these things, I
recommend you label one folder as "Sort Later." Then put anything
into that folder that you do not wish to deal with right away.
3) Commit to doing this task only when you are full of
energy and not in a rush. Organizing things into folders
is sort of like cleaning out your closet. Don't do it
on a day when you're already feeling frazzled. Do it on
a day when you feel like you've got time to spare.
4) I know you said you can't bear to throw anything
away, but please keep an open mind about this. You might
discover some things that you just do not need any more.
Put them in the desktop trash can. Even then, they won't
vanish: They can be stored there until you decide to empty
the trash.
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