Hoarding seems to have become a hot topic these days. Television coverage of the phenomenon has led to an open discussion of the disorder. Some people are just unable to throw anything away.
And while my better half might suggest I suffer from a touch of the malady, I definitely suffer from it when it comes to computer files. It seems that I am unable to delete ANYTHING!
I continue to purchase drive after drive, the last two being a full terabyte of capacity. But filling them only takes a month or two.
And some of the largest files that I keep will never be useful to me. Many are large advertising layouts for now sold listings by defunct real estate companies. I keep the files for future use as “templates” even though I have rarely, if ever, modified one for current usage.
My email inbox has ten thousand messages in it, despite the fact that multiple spam sorters have filtered out the most flagrant violators. Even then Ifeel compelled to review them all “just in case!”
I am a virtual hoarder. These files are using up all of my storage space and cramping my virtual lifestyle.
I need help!
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Richard, this sounds like the makings of a new Realtor Reality tv show! There is help!
I'm the same way but I've been trying to mend my ways recently. Especially since I started taking photos in RAW (bracketed exposures so 3 of each!) I can't justify keeping 40MB worth of ONE shot, some of which aren't even any good.
Hoarders of the world, reform!
Well, you did accomplish one thing. You made me feel better about myself. I sympathize, I have the same tendencies.
Richard....you and I are TOTAL OPPOSITES when it comes to this topic.....after I read something I delete it....it's like "housekeeping" to me....it's like cleaning out a closet....I have the most organized office that anyone would want or NOT want!!! everything is in its place....past deal folders are organized with one year in each drawer and in alphabetical order by the last name of the buyer(who will be the next seller....and when that seller, past buyer, calls, the deal is at my fingertips)....no clutter....desk without papers....wastebasket empty.....DO YOU THINK I'M ILL??? that's how I work....can't work any other way.
HA! The mail system I use only lets me to to about 80% of capacity and I get notices to "CLEAN UP YOUR ACT" and nothing goes out. I get mail through my MLS system, my own server having a horrible e-mail system.
Forced discipline is my last hope.
Now if that only applied to the garage.
Hi Richard, the cure is simple: If you do not need it, DELETE it! :)
Good morning Richard,
I'm with Jackie..if you don't need it delete it! I'm like Barbra..I can't stand clutter..everything is organized..only way I can work effectively!
Richard, the solution should be the same as you might use with a box stored in the garage. File it with a date, month or year, or if you are so bad, even week. At the end of a reasonable time frame, not to exceed 6 months, look at the file but don't open it. If you can recall why you created it, save it, if not delete it without opening it. It's like tough love, but it's the only way. Good Luck
Many years ago, when I was building houses, a colleague look in the back of my van and asked: "How can you find anything in there? It's so crammed with stuff that it's almost useless."
To which I replied:
"But if I need ANYTHING, there;s always hope that it's in there!"
The same applies to my files ... if I really need something, it's always there. Somewhere. Now finding it is going to be a challenge!
You are probably like 99% of the rest of us...Keeps the hard drive companies in business! I do try to delete as I go but you never know when you may just need it!
Every now and then I must clean up my act. This week is one of those where I am doing house cleaning - physically and virtually...
Set your camera to 640 x 480. For online photos you don't need any more resolution than that. If it is for something printed, adjust to higher resolution. Photos that are a zillion megapixels take up a ton of space. Plus when you e-mail photos the smaller resolution will go through much quicker.
Awareness is the first step to change, Richard. Good for you :)
Richard, at least you recognize the problem...and if it's not a problem for you, I'm okay with it!
Clean it up Richard! If you need a guideline, go with the 5 year rule. If you've not used it in the last 5 years, you probably don't need it. The delete key is a very valuable tool!
Richard, in 1995 I got a magazine from an architect in South Carolina with house plans. In 2005, while preparing for a move from a 2,500 square foot house to a 250 RV, I purged lots of things. Threw away, sold or donated just about everything we owned. I hung on to that magazine though.
In 2007, I built a house from one of the plans in that magazine. A magazine that I had for 12 years. So I know what you mean about never knowing. However, there's a little bit of hoarding that runs in my family so I get rid of things often. I don't want to place too much importance on material things like others in my family.
Even though I may suffer from this disease too I will hit the delete key on old email files. Now AR posts that I find interesting have been bookmarked and don't stand a chance of seeing the delete key......
Richard, I don't keep stuff that has no future use when it comes to the computer...but clothes that is another story all together, my wife is trying to get me to -delete half my closet.
I can't stand an in box full of stuff! I try to clean it out daily...and I still have about 60 emails I am saving.... I have folders for the ones I want to save. But I eventually print out some of that stuff and file them just in case.... other wise it's delete....delete....delete!!!
Coming to you from Texas....
I delete and file things I need to keep in either listing or client folders and delete the rest. I copy all emails for a listing and buyer client to cd and file when something closes. Maybe that would work for you Richard. ten thousand... WOW.
Richard: The delete button is your friend. Just to make you feel great about that, delete this comment. I dare ya! :)
About the only thing I hoard is my fishing gear. My wife says that I should open a store and I could retire in a few days.
Richard, the delete button will set you free, I have gotten into the habit of deleting old files, I put them on a memory stick or old CD's just in case I might need them they are there, which by the way has never happened. Do it my friend you will feel cleansed...
Richard, I have no advice for you, I am sitting here laughing! But all those emails, oh my. I can't stand it when I am upwards of about a thousand of them. I wish there was a program to just take all those emails, scan them and put them into a word document.
OK, you made my day. I am sitting here laughing at you... I mean.. with you, yeah, that's it, with you.
Well since my computer bit it recently, my whole works is a total nightmare. I am thankful to have recovered any emails or files and I still don't know what I am missing.
And THAT is why you must keep it CLEAN! You don't want to end up like me...A WOMAN!