College Clutter Crisis

Assignments can disappear in a pile of paper. Textbooks can get lost within a mound of laundry. And the cute junior that sits behind you in Psych 101, well that number got lost too. A cluttered college student can even lose their mind. Clutter is something that can pile up anywhere, even in the most scholarly of places, like a college campus. But, there is an answer to this disorder disaster. Sometimes writers pen stories in areas they are experts in. And sometimes, they must perform research when covering a subject where they lack knowledge. In this case, it’s the latter as this cluttered reporter set out to not only de-clutter her own desk, but also attempt to help college students find themselves beneath their own heaps. (Now it she could only find her pen…)

Jeff Reichl, of Luzerne, Pennsylvania, learned from his guidance counselor that ‘organization is the key to life’. Funny, Reichl now is a guidance counselor himself at nearby East Stroudsburg Area High School. But he admits, while in college, he was in fact not the most organized student on campus.

“My desk would pile up with papers, grad school info packets and mail. When I had to do a serious project, I had to spend about an hour sorting through things just to make room to work,” he explains. “Once I got to grad school, and held my grad assistantship in a real office, I began to become more organized.”

Reichl commented that he has not yet misplaced a student’s transcript. Getting your desk organized is easier than you think. Here are some tips.

Papers/Desk Clutter

This rule is very simple. There are only three things you can do with paperwork:

1. Act on it
2. File it
3. Toss it

For example, if you get a piece of mail, open it. That is actually one huge clutter problem for some- unopened mail that piles up. After it is opened, you must decide what to do with it. If it is a catalog or a piece of junk mail and know that you are not going to use, toss it, as well as the thought that, “But maybe I will read it later…” If it is a bill, write it out and mail it, or file it in a “bills due”. If you receive a memo or note, after reading it, toss it or file it away. If you get a paper back, file it away. This is how stuff clutters on our desks. Following this rule is a sure-fire way to eliminate clutter altogether.

Of course to file things, you will need to have a good filing system in place. If a dorm room’s space availability allows, try getting a two-drawer filing cabinet. There are also plastic, portable file boxes that could slide under a bed or in a closet. Have a file made for each class you take, as well as for any club that you are in. This is sure to keep you neater, more organized and make things easier to find. You know, for when your roommate asks for notes from that class you took last year…

Computer Clutter

It’s there. You just can’t see it. Computers may look neat on your desktop, but inside is a different story as they are another area that can become very cluttered. To keep more disk space available as well as help things run faster try these tips:

• Delete e-mail that was already read. This will keep your inbox clean.
• Reply to e-mail right away, so that your inbox does not get built up.
• Create a filing system- if you cannot reply right away, or need to save an e-mail, place in a folder made for that category. (Needs Reply, or Archives)
• Watch your send mail folder. Delete things from that as well. From experience, this reporter’s MSN mailbox filled up, and people’s e-mails bounced back because of this. What happened was sent mails with large attachments, such as pictures and .pdf files, clogged up all the space. So, be sure to delete anything unnecessary from there.
• Add to your address book often. Many times people will keep an e-mail in their inbox so that they have the address when ready to write back. Instead of that, simply save the address. You’ll know where to find it later.
• Put spam filters on your e-mail account to limit inbox space. Just don’t forget to check your junk mail folder for things to slip through- such as an e-mail from an old high school crush!
• Files- keep a disk or CD with your assignments from previous classes. This will keep you’re my Documents folder easier to navigate through, as well as allow for more space. In addition, you will have things backed up incase of failure.

Dorm Room Clutter

Well, that could be an article all it its own! Not everyone can have Martha Stewart as their cell, uh, roommate! Apartment living can still create clutter, but there is more space available. Dorm living can be challenger. But, there are lots of neat under-the-bed, in-the-closet and bathroom organizers that will allow you and any roommates to maximize the space available in your living quarters. Websites like ikea.com offer unique storage solutions. Since the desk can take up a big space of a dorm room, following the steps highlighted above is a great way to lessen the mess. In addition, be sure to have a hamper or hanging laundry bag, which will minimize the inevitable laundry pile. (Which should be done- and put away- often!)

Professional organizer Bridget Messino, who publishes a monthly Clutter-Free newsletter, offered some insight to organizing with limited closet space.

"Closet space comes is at a premium, so you must utilize every inch. The right type of hangers is key – an item like a multi-tiered shirt or pants hanger can save space and have clothes fit neatly in small spaces. Consider adding another rod for short hang items" she said.

In addition, she added that stackable shelves could fit inside a closet as well, and mentioned lots of hanging hooks in the bathroom for robes, wet towels and hanging caddies for sanitary items.

Clutter can pile up, but it can also disappear. Following these simple steps will allow for more organized quarters. Now- what are you going to do with this issue of the Beacon…remember- you have three choices.