When I moved recently, I learned two things. I discovered that if you have a home office, then when you move, you have to move both your home and your office. Maybe I could have figured that out some other way, but the move did create a unique opportunity. As many do, I used the move as motivation to sort through my accumulated junk and keep most of it.

Monitors about to be recycled at an event sponsored by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. Photo courtesy NDEP.
That's how I discovered my personal rules for accumulating junk. To get rid of my junk, I've been violating a different rule every day, and I'm getting pretty good at it. You probably have your own rules, but if you don't know what they are, you can use this list as a starting point.
Here are my rules (plus some others) for accumulating junk:
- I might need it someday
- I can't remember why I'm saving this, but it might be important
- I think I can get rid of this, but I'm not 100% sure
- I know I'll use this eventually, when I get the time (or energy)
- I don't need this now, but if I ever do need one, it will either be expensive or impossible to find
- Violate a different rule
every day, and soon
you'll have less junkRemember when we used these? Wow — I bet you can't even get them anymore. - Maybe I can sell this on eBay — oops, the going price is still too low.
- I borrowed this, and I should return it, but I'm so embarrassed that I've had it so long…
- I can't throw this out — maybe it isn't mine
- Hmm, I wonder where the missing parts of this are — maybe I'll find them
- I don't actually know what this is, but I'll keep it until I can figure it out
- Ah, this is that box of stuff I sealed up when I last moved, thinking I would toss it if I didn't open it in a year. Can't remember what's in it. Better not throw it out yet.
- This was a real bargain. Be a shame to get rid of it.
- If I lose X pounds, I know I look good in this
- This is a great book. I should read it. [RecycleBooks.org]
- This was a great book. Maybe I'll read it again.
- This was a great movie (album). I know I'll want to watch it (listen to it) again if I ever get another VCR (turntable).
- Who's that standing next to me in this picture? Better keep it until I can scan it.
- Ah, my first planner — maybe. You never know when you'll need an alibi for 7:30 AM, Tuesday, March 23rd, 1993.
- That computer has sensitive data on it. I better keep it until I can erase it. [GreenDisk, Tech Soup and the Computer Recycling Center]
- Look at that, the postal rates for 1987. Neat-o.
- I wonder how long I have to keep these financial records. Legally, I mean. Better keep 'em. [Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement]
- Another ballpoint pen. Might come in handy sometime.
- Wonder what's on this floppy (Zip disk, removable cartridge, mag tape)? Better keep it for now.
Throwing things away might take some practice. If violating even one of your rules is too hard, start with something easy. Pick up a dead leaf from the ground, and then throw it away immediately. Then work up from there.
After you've made some progress, you might find that offloading junk can create new problems. I now have a slightly used empty bookshelf. Should I fill it or get rid of it? Top
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Related articles
More articles on Personal, Team, and Organizational Effectiveness:
Discussus Interruptus
- You're chairing a meeting, and to your dismay, things get out of hand. People interrupt each other so
often that nobody can complete a thought, and some people dominate the meeting. What can you do?
How to Make Meetings Worth Attending
- Many of us spend seemingly endless hours in meetings that seem dull, ineffective, or even counterproductive.
Here are some insights to keep in mind that might help make meetings more worthwhile — and maybe
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Assumptions and the Johari Window: II
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halt discussions and save months of wasted effort. But even if you don't have someone like that, everyone
can learn how to generate brilliant questions more often. Here's how.
Bottlenecks: II
- When some people take on so much work that they become "bottlenecks," they expose the organization
to risks. Managing those risks is a first step to ending the bottlenecking pattern.
See also Personal, Team, and Organizational Effectiveness for more related articles.
Forthcoming issues of Point Lookout
Coming June 7: Toxic Disrupters: Tactics
- Some people tend to disrupt meetings. Their motives vary, but they use techniques drawn from a limited collection. Examples: they violate norms, demand attention, mess with the agenda, and sow distrust. Response begins with recognizing their tactics. Available here and by RSS on June 7.
And on June 14: Pseudo-Collaborations
- Most workplace collaborations produce results of value. But some collaborations — pseudo-collaborations — are inherently incapable of producing value, due to performance management systems, or lack of authority, or lack of access to information. Available here and by RSS on June 14.
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