“The contents of a junk drawer are a historic cache of information about a person. They raise questions about what makes us happy, what objects hold sentimental value and what makes us who we are—much like a time capsule or a scrapbook.”- The Junk Drawer Project
I’m obsessed with drawers right now. Not the sexy kind. I’m talking about junk drawers.
I’ve stumbled onto The Junk Drawer Project. This neat little art-slash-pseudo-psychological site takes a look at the junk drawers of random people. These folks have submitted photos of their junk, and then answered the following questions:
Who are you and what do you do?
What are three words that describe your junk drawer?
What is your fondest memory surrounding an object in your junk drawer?
What is the oldest object in your junk drawer and what are you saving it for?
What is the best advice you've ever been given?
Here are a couple of samples from the The Junk Drawer Project.
So...what did you learn about these folks? Do we think their junk drawers are a “time capsule” or authentic peek into their lives? Have you really learned something about these people?
This is my junk drawer
What does it say about me? Absolutely nothing.
This is my random crap that doesn’t file neatly into any other drawer, box, shelf, bag, or file. It says that I am storing too many used batteries for recycling, and that I can’t find a reason to get rid of the $1.45 I have in Canadian Tire money.
If the Junk Drawer Project were to really dig down on the psychology of the drawer, the more telling questions to ask would be:
Why are these items in here?
If the answer is “because they don’t fall into other drawer categories,” great. It sounds like you’re probably an organized person with a place for most of your other junk.
If you’re answer is “because I haven’t put this stuff away or thrown it out yet” you need to take some de-cluttering action in this drawer.
If the Queen [sub Ryan Gosling, Drake, Oprah, etc.] came over, would you be embarrassed to show them this drawer?
If the answer is “nah. It’s a harmless drawer devoid of X-rated weirdness or rat-infested garbage” great. Sounds like this drawer tells me you’re either organized or without the ability to be shamed.
If you’re answer is “yes! So embarrassing” then you * might * need to take some de-cluttering action here…
What would be the first thing from this drawer you would throw in the garbage?
Here’s where we really learn about the real you. Nah, that’s sarcasm. Just pick something from the drawer and throw it out. You’ll feel better for having lightened your hoarding guilt.
What would be the last thing from this drawer you would throw in the garbage? Why?
This is the most interesting question to ask about your junk drawer. Frankly, this might say the most about who you are, what you hold sacred, what items have meaning or utility in the kind of life you want to live.
My challenge to you is this: Answer those questions about your own junk drawer. Better yet, start to live a little lighter and clean that junk drawer out today.
If you want scientific guidelines for keeping a good junk drawer, check out this post called How to Make the Most of Your Weird Little Brain.
If junk just ain’t your bag, then help control it by using a Crap Basket.
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