Afew weeks ago, a 19-year old college sophomore was found trapped in his room on the brink of starvation. He had spent four days pinned under a pile of garbage and his own clothes. He claims he slipped on a pizza crust (which was his only source of food while he was trapped, ironically) and toppled into a pile of junk that had been accumulating in his room since the start of the semester. Police have speculated he would have starved to death had his parents not visited that weekend -- his mom was appalled by the mess in the room and found him while she was cleaning it up.
OK, none of that was true. But the fact that it's within the reaches of our imaginations speaks volumes to how messy college students can be. I cannot see how any other demographic could have sloppier bedrooms than those you'll see in universities nationwide.
Knowing the telltale signs of a typical messy room in college is important. First off, the only clothes not on the floor should be those currently worn by the room's owner. You should be able to reconstruct his (or, in rare instances, her) diet over the last two weeks by collecting the empty food containers and rotting leftovers and estimating the age of each item. Most importantly, there should not be any open floorspace, but rather narrow pathways between the door, the bed and the computer.
You won't find it much prettier in many common rooms that students share in apartments or houses off Grounds. You can tell in an instant if there's been a party in a house within the last three months by the empty beer cans and partially empty bottles of liquor that will, without a doubt, still be lying around. More industrious students might attempt to build a pyramid out of the beer cans or line every window sill with the empty bottles, but tossing either of those in the trash would be out of the question.
Now, I'm not necessarily trying to criticize this aspect of college life. I have created more than my share of messes in my days. Last year, my room was home to more dirty dishes than the kitchen sink. I'd go months without making my bed (after all, it'd just get messy the next time I slept in it). My rule of thumb was that the floor is the biggest shelf in any room. Fortunately, I did stay somewhat organized by remembering that recently used objects will be closer to the surface of the piles of things in my room. In that sense, I knew that the distance off the ground of a particular item was inversely correlated with how long ago I'd thrown it there. Basically, I know how bad things can get.
Still, I've also felt the satisfaction of getting my room in order. Although I needed about three years to appreciate the freedom of not having my mom nag me to clean up my room, I did eventually find motivation to clean from within. If you've been neglecting your room for a while, you should make the same change I did. Whether you're trying to impress a visitor, increase floor space or just live like a self-respecting human being, you'll find there's much to gain from cleaning your pigsty. With that in mind, here is some advice you should heed when tidying your room:
1. Turn off your computer. If you're anything like me, the allure of AIM or surfing the web can be too much.
2. When in doubt, throw it out. Too much clutter will make any room look messy.
3. Cleaning your room is a good way of putting off more pressing matters like your homework and studies. Use procrastination as a motivational tool.
You shouldn't feel bad, however, if you're not ready to give up that messy lifestyle just yet. College is part of that narrow time of life when you've outgrown having your parents ride you to clean your room but aren't yet at the point where your spouse is pushing you to do the same. In fact, in 15 years you might be the one nagging your kids to clean their rooms. For now, the only person you really need to satisfy with your tidiness is yourself, and there's no problem in taking it easy for a while (or a few years). Just be careful of pizza crusts and getting trapped under your own clothes.
Daniel's column runs biweekly Tuesday. He can be reached at mcnally@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 3 days agoWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | 5 days agoWhat the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
