> Memory hoarding is a mental compulsion to over-attend to the details of an event, person, or object in an attempt to mentally store it for safekeeping. This is generally done under the belief that the event, person, or object carries a special significance and will be important to recall exactly as-is at a later date. The memory serves the same function for the mental hoarder that the old newspaper serves for the physical hoarder.
I’ll admit too that I have had thousands of unread emails and tens of thousands of bookmarks.
You have to come to realize that it’s not all that important. And even if you can’t, there’s one way to start.
You fear that you’ll lose the data, that it’s important. So, save it all. Archive every single one of those emails, and export those bookmarks. Put them in a folder of their own and make a backup if you really care. Start fresh with a clean inbox and bookmarks folder.
If you were right, and you actually ever need the data it’s still there. But the more likely scenario is that you won’t, or it will be easier to just google the damn thing again. This is how you may begin to realize the behavior is irrational. It’s how I did.
From: https://ocdla.com/memory-hoarding-obsessive-compulsive-disor...
> Memory hoarding is a mental compulsion to over-attend to the details of an event, person, or object in an attempt to mentally store it for safekeeping. This is generally done under the belief that the event, person, or object carries a special significance and will be important to recall exactly as-is at a later date. The memory serves the same function for the mental hoarder that the old newspaper serves for the physical hoarder.
I’ll admit too that I have had thousands of unread emails and tens of thousands of bookmarks.
You have to come to realize that it’s not all that important. And even if you can’t, there’s one way to start.
You fear that you’ll lose the data, that it’s important. So, save it all. Archive every single one of those emails, and export those bookmarks. Put them in a folder of their own and make a backup if you really care. Start fresh with a clean inbox and bookmarks folder.
If you were right, and you actually ever need the data it’s still there. But the more likely scenario is that you won’t, or it will be easier to just google the damn thing again. This is how you may begin to realize the behavior is irrational. It’s how I did.