I love looking through magazines and pulling out those great articles full of useful information and resources. I even kept them organized in an accordion file by subject like Travel and Fitness so I could quickly grab an article when I needed it. The only problem is, it’s been over 10 years- and I have never once gone into this nicely organized resource file- for anything. This file has been tucked away under my desk for 10 years, but based on an article from 2001- I started this reference file 19 years ago. What?! When I opened it, it still looked so useful. Real Simple magazine was obviously my favorite resource. I couldn’t possibly just throw it all away- but who I am I kidding? If I ever want to know something- I ask Google or Alexa. I don’t go looking through articles I pulled long ago that are now outdated. Time to admit reality- and recycle it all. If I start going through them, it will turn into hours down a rabbit hole of information that I haven’t looked for in years. Time to trust that I have never needed it before and I don’t need to waste the time on it now.

Whether you like to cut out articles, recipes, or save the whole magazine- there comes a time to let it all go if you aren’t using it. Keeping a big pile of things to read creates another task. If the pile only grows and doesn’t dwindle, it is time to be honest about how much you really do or don’t want to read it. The last few years I cut the habit of pulling articles and instead snap a photo to put it in Evernote, or I go directly to a link and save that if I truly think I’ll want the info later. Most times though, I just read and enjoy articles without feeling a need to come back to it. There will be more coming my way and I have to keep moving along. I don’t need to be the keeper of useful information. Google and Alexa have that job now.