Dispensing with Piles

athree23 via Pixabay

The new semester started this week, bringing with it new students to meet, new ideas to try, and plenty of books, syllabi and assorted materials. If you, like me, have an I need to see it personal style and/or a drop and run organizational style, you know that all of those materials can lead to something less desirable than new adventures.

Piles.

As someone with both an I need to see it personal style and a drop and run organizational style, I have to work hard to overcome the urge to put things down instead of away, especially when I'm tired and/or overwhelmed -- both of which are as standard issue as textbooks the first week of class.

Having identified this tendency, I'm happy to report that, over time, I've gotten better at putting things away instead of down. Those with an I know I put it somewhere organizational style may find themselves with a similar malady -- fighting the urge to just put things out of sight or in a safe place to create a semblance of order.

While both piles and corralling clutter work in the short run, they aren't long-term solutions for capturing and organizing all of the unrelated miscellany piles often maintain. Whether you're piling or stashing, here are a few questions to ask yourself to take the first steps from keeping things under control to actual organization.

Is it always the same stuff? At my house, it's usually the homeless items that end up in piles (next to the things I don't want to forget to take care of). While I can't quite bring myself to get rid of the reminder piles, eliminating the piles of homeless items is as simple as finding them a home.

Is it always the same place? Most homes have spots that are clutter catchers -- the kitchen counter, the dining room table, the dresser in the bedroom. Ask yourself whether the items that are piled there should be stored nearby, or if the spot is merely convenient (or perhaps a temporary "safe place"). Then, organize accordingly.

Will a strategically placed container solve the problem? If so, maybe, just maybe you can keep the pile. Just make sure that the container is sized properly. Too big, and you'll lose sight of what you need. Too small, and you might as well just keep the original pile.

As an I need to see it/drop and run person, I've come to terms with the fact that piles are a part of my life. But, by asking some strategic questions and employing the right tools, I can keep them to a minimum. And, once my things have logical homes that match my styles, I can keep those piles from forming in the first place.

What have you done with your piles lately?