It's the time of the year when I start to think I have too much shit. I'm off this week and after laying around watching TV most of the time I decided I should get busy doing the things I usually do when I'm off this week between Christmas and New Years.
I went through my closet and took out all the shirts and pants that I no longer wear or like. I put them in a big bag and tomorrow I plan on putting them in the clothes collection bin that sits in the parking lot of my local Eckerd's Drug Store. I'm sure there are people who can use them.
This afternoon I went through all my files. I keep 3 years of receipts, statements, stubs, ATM slips, and the like. I have two sets of files. One set is for the current year. I have a file folder set up for each category (phone, bank, cable, cell phone, credit cards, etc.). Then I have another set of files that are set up by year. I have 3 such folders for the last 3 years. In each folder goes the statements, etc. stapled together for each category. Tonight I organized all the papers for 2004, stapled common statements together and loaded them all into the 2004 file. Then I took out all the files from 2001 and ran them through the shredder. Now I'm all set up for a new year of statements, receipts, ATM slips, etc. I like being organized and knowing where everything is. A little obsessesive, I know.
On Sunday I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and got some Rubbermaid containers to organize all my computer cables, parts, manuals, etc. I then cleaned off two shelves, organized all the items by computer item (iPod Mini, iPod, iSight, PowerBook, iMac, external hard drive, etc.) and put them in the containers. Now they are all organized and I can find the right cord for the right computer item without frustration.
If someone were to call and ask for some bit of information I'd know exactly where to go in my files to get it. If I need to back up the iMac, I know exactly where to go to get the external hard drive and the correct cables. I've always been a very organized person. However, I don't have all my CD's or DVD's in a database on my computer. I think that would be nice but I don't want to spend the time to do it. Then again, it's not like I don't have the time to do it while I'm off this week. I just don't want to spend the time to do it.
Most people do this kind of cleaning in the spring. I guess I do it now because I have the time and it's the end of the year. The end of the year makes me think of things I wanted to get done this year and new things I want to accomplish in the next year. I have to start making that list now.