Clutter

August 12, 2017

I'm cleaning up clutter on my computers.  Files that have sat there for a while on one are being sent to the computer where they belong.  This is taking a bit of time because I'm trying to put them into a reasonable order as I send them (via email--long story and unimportant). I sent 38 such emails this week, and I just opened those emails and saved the attached files, probably averaging about seven per email, to my computer.  I'm usually good at organizing, especially files. 

For the last four years, there's one area of my life where I had one massive folder with dozens of files and had to search for what I wanted.  Most of the time, that was easy enough, but one problem is that some files are on one computer and updated versions on another.  But I am now organizing these.  Part of the reason for this was I came into this situation four years ago, and it demanded immediate attention along with having a somewhat steep learning curve, all while still working on an advanced degree.  Then after graduation, I started a full-time job but still had this situation.  I was sometimes just keeping my head above water.  Another part was I didn't know how long the situation would last.  It seemed wasteful to organize files I might not ever access again.  But six months turned into another six months and now it's time to organize this part of my life.  After I get all of those files on the right computer, another project to be completed over the next couple of weeks, I can make good time on organizing on the correct computer.  This will help with stress on this endeavor over the next six months and beyond, if I'm fortunate to continue. 

There is, I believe, a correlation between clutter and excess weight, and this desire to clean up clutter is a positive sign.  And it doesn't matter that the clutter is electronic.  I spend a lot of my waking hours on a computer, dealing with email and files and communicating with others.  I also use a computer for my creative writing work and journaling.  Clutter on my computers ranks alongside clutter in my home and on my desk. 

Clutter and excess weight often happen because of a lack of paying attention, because of something being ignored or a person going numb to it.  And now, seeing and dealing with them indicate an awakening I'm glad to welcome.