Making molehills out of mountains

    My study doesn't usually look like this - ordinarily the floor is clear - but these pictures show my 'to be read' piles today, in mid sort-out.

    Following on from this morning's post, I've been busy. I took all the unread blog-related books from where they had been parked on shelves and in ad hoc piles, went through them, weeded out duplicates and things I'm never going to read (they'll go to the charity shop), then divided the rest into 'very much want to read' and 'would like to read' and housed them all  - arranged alphabetically - accordingly.

     This wasn't just an exercise in moving things around; I've cleared my desk and in doing so defined my 'next actions', I've got a far more manageable amount to cover in prospect, and a sharper focus on reading what I want rather than what I think I 'should'. Also, freeing up space around the desk means I no longer feel hemmed in and oppressed by the mountains on all sides as I did before.

    I've spent a full day at this, and there's still some work to be done, but I've acccomplished quite a lot, and it's a good start, I think.   

Comments

[Barbara]

Glad you feel more on top of things. Not many people have the space for book mountains!

[Margaret Powling]

There's nothing like a good books-sort-out to make you feel better, I find.

[Dark Puss]

Keep it up, well done! Keep your desk completely clear at all times. I cannot stress how positive that will make you feel when you start work each morning. Trust me, of all the "magic" in time management (there isn't any by the way) that is the only one that really did anything useful for me.

[Cornflower]

I've tried the clear desk policy before, but the reason it didn't work for me and things piled up again was because I didn't have a proper system for handling all the incoming stuff - just keeping it off the desk wasn't good enough. The two books I've read over the last few days have helped enormously with establishing that; whether I keep on top of everything remains to be seen, but the clear desktop itself is only one part of the equation, the crucial other part is 'processing' what comes in, and I see now exactly how to do that.

[LizF]

I see why Dark Puss said putting them in the cupboard for a while wouldn't work!
Good work!

[Volet]

I desperately want to do some book weeding, but I'm a bit afraid to take a close look at what is lurking in piles and on shelves.

Glad your sorting out made you feel better.:)

[Dark Puss]

Yes of course dealing with the input is critical, even better if you can get the providers to filter it to a more sensible level!

[Dark Puss]

Dear Volet, you surely can't let things just go on as before. If you are using words like "desperate" then you are going to face the challenge. The other solution, but not one I recommend is to become completely relaxed about the piles! Clearly Cornflower was not but perhaps you are (or could be). I don't like piles of anything (except fine wines) and I live in such a small flat that it isn't an option anyway.

[Cornflower]

Do have a go! Seeing everything out on the floor like that was quite daunting, but I feel much better and more relaxed about it now that I've gone through it, had a bit of clear out and prioritised the rest.
There is still more than two years' worth of reading material here (and another book arrived this morning!) and doubtless some/much of it will never be read, but it has been a very worthwhile exercise nonetheless.

[Heather]

Seeing these pictures of your tbr piles has made me feel much better about my own, more modest, tbr collection!

[m]

Would you like to be my life-coach, Dark Puss? I have never achieved a clear desk. As I write, I have one little patch for my left elbow ...

[Dark Puss]

Dear m

I'm very happy to have a go as long as you realise I'm not professionally trained in coaching! It took me a few years to get to a clear desk after having come across the concept (and laughed at it). I'm never going back.

[m]

Dear Puss,

What is your hourly rate? I fear I am a hopeless case although my book piles aren't as bad as Cornflower's.

[Dark Puss]

Meet me in central London for free if you like. I'm partial to good coffee. Puss

[m]

Bring your duster and your Marigold gloves?

[Dark Puss]

My mind you can have for the price of a coffee. Manual Labour is charged by the minute!

[Sandy]

I sort of think that we all do the things we really want to in this life.

So I'm not going to try and change you Cornflower - just be happy you are blessed with all these books, friends and family and know you are coping with the pressures in the best way you can!

[Dark Puss]

Sandy sometimes we need help to reduce those pressures that are stopping us from the enjoyment that was part of the initial desire. I estimate that by poor management of my time and the pressures upon me I wasted approximately 1/3 of my first seven years as an academic (a job I love passionately) and worse it was making me tired, frustrated and even a little depressed. So if I seem to be trying to "change" Karen, then yes I am! Not in what she does but the way she has become entangled with it recently. I hope that clarifies why I pop up so often on these types of posts, I don't want anyone to have my experience if I can help them to avoid it.

It would appear that Karen is now taking the sort of action that will enable her to not only do the things we really want to in this life but it will once again become a fully enjoyable experience.

[(Diane)BibliophileBytheSea]

That is a lot of TBR's. I'm just about as bad. I love spending a rainy day sorting books.

[Danielle]

No wonder you were feeling stressed. It feels good to cull a little and shuffle things about in a way that you look forward to the books on your piles rather than oppressed by them! As much as I am often dying for some new book to come out I also sometimes wish publishers would slow down just a little bit too (or that I could have more reading time!:) ). Hopefully it is all much more manageable for you.

[Cornflower]

It's been a really worthwhile exercise, Danielle, though as you say, if publishers keep bringing out books at their current rate, the piles may soon get out of hand again!

[Dark Puss]

But you now have a proper "one-touch" system for dealing with the books at the arrival point so there is no need for any piles to get out of hand any more is there (nor for any piles at all)? I assume that as each book arrives you do a quick scan and triage it. If your "must read" number of books exceedes your "can read" annual capacity then you just take more per week to the charity shops.